Smoke Song

Fighting Back

"You alright?" Mingyu asked.

Jungkook looked up from his practice sheet, nodding. Mingyu smiled, patting his shoulder.
"They'll send in a report at the end of the day," he said, "I'll let you know when that happens."

Jungkook nodded and watched him leave, quickly returning his gaze to the paper once the door was shut and locked. The words flowed together, and he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. It was so hard not to think about Taehyung. About Yoongi. He still couldn't believe the older man was alive. How could he already be going on missions again? Wasn't he afraid?

Jungkook stood, flipping the paper over. He couldn't focus. He began to pace the room, singing to himself--well, vocalizing to himself--and trying not to think about all the things that could go wrong. All the ways he could lose Taehyung.

His heart began to pound when the phone rang. Without thinking, he walked over, picking it up, and accepted the call, pressing it to his ear.

"Hello," Soomin said, chuckling. "I thought it would be you."

The voice came not just from the phone, but behind him. Jungkook dropped the phone and whirled around. Soomin stood in the room he'd just left, phone pressed to his ear, sick smirk sliding across his face. Jungkook choked, staggering back, and Soomin advanced, expression not slipping for a moment.

Jungkook was afraid... then he was angry. Soomin had ruined everything. He always ruined everything. Jungkook was sick of feeling like a doll in his hands, sick of feeling played and running away. He opened his mouth and vocalized without thinking, blasting Soomin with a sudden wave of the same pressure he'd dreaded feeling for weeks on end.

Soomin flew backward, slamming into the wall and sliding down. Jungkook continued to 'sing', his voice pressing against the sides of his throat as it threatened to collapse from the tears bubbling up in his eyes. When Soomin opened his mouth to attack back, Jungkook pressed his hands to his head, closed his eyes, and sang louder. A deafening crack exploded through the house, and glass shattered. Two tunes mixed into a cacophony of sounds, and when Jungkook looked up Soomin was approaching, sick smile still on his face.

Jungkook backed away, yanking the door open, stumbling out into the street. Soomin followed, smiling. He knew he had the upper hand. Jungkook only knew one song, the song Soomin had taught him. And Soomin wasn't listening.

But Jungkook still sang. He sang out of pure, desperate desire to see Soomin fall again, to see that the man who haunted his dreams couldn't hurt him anymore. He sang in the hope that someone would hear him singing and come see what was going on. He sang to keep himself on his feet, to keep himself moving, to keep himself safe.

Because if he fell, no one would come to help him.

"Aw, Jungkook," Soomin said, not even trying anymore as he walked up to him. "I'm surprised you ever knocked those agents over. Where's my strong singer gone?"

Jungkook's voice stuttered and gave out. He tripped, falling back, and Soomin caught him, drawing him back up to his feet.

"They should have left someone to guard you," Soomin said. "It's almost like they don't care, isn't it? They think an empty neighborhood is enough to keep you safe."

"No!" Jungkook managed, yanking his arm out of Soomin's group.

"Aww, baby's first word." Soomin advanced on Jungkook until they stood nose to nose, Jungkook shaking as he struggled not to give in. "Aren't you sweet. Have you forgotten? I'm the only one who will come to your side whenever you need me."

Jungkook shook his head, pressing his hands over his ears, but Soomin pried them away, meeting Jungkook's eyes with a forceful stare. "Don't try to hide from the truth," he said. "You're lucky I found you, or you would be on the street right now. Dead, even. No one else wanted you. No one!"

Jungkook gritted his teeth. It wasn't true. Taehyung wanted him. Taehyung had always wanted him. Taehyung came to his side.

Jungkook just didn't need Taehyung this time.

He yanked a hand back and punched Soomin in the face. Soomin recoiled, letting go of Jungkook's other wrist, and Jungkook kicked him for good measure, backing away and running for the cafe. He'd lost some of his speed, but he still made good enough time to get around the corner before he heard Soomin's yell of rage. He ran until his lungs were ready to give out, and then the cafe was right there, right in front of him, and he stumbled to a halt in front of the door, taking a deep breath.

He had to do it. He couldn't hide anymore. Even if everyone recognized him and hated him on the spot, he had to get to Mingyu.

It was time to stop running away from the people who really cared about him.

This time, he would run toward them.

He pushed the cafe door open and strode in, eyes forward, slipping easily through the staff gate and coming to a halt in front of a shocked Mingyu.

"Min," Jungkook said, chest still heaving. "Min, O-outside."

"Min...?" Mingyu furrowed his brows, looking toward the windows. His mouth dropped open, and he cursed, loudly. "ANTI ON THE STREET!"

Everyone in the cafe leapt to their feet. Coffee spilled. Voices cursed in harmony. Muffins flew. Jungkook watched in wide-eyed shock as agents produced speakers and microphones, flipping through their devices to select songs as they poured out the front door.

Mingyu wrapped an arm around Jungkook's waist, pulling him back. "They'll probably blow out the glass again," he said, laughing. "You don't want to be too close."

Jungkook nodded, still staring at the crowd of agents on the street as they mobbed Soomin, hiding his figure from view. Mingyu shifted his arm from Jungkook's waist to his shoulders, shaking him gently.

"They'll deal with him. We should get to your headquarters. They're arriving soon."

Wonwoo ran past them, vaulting over the counter and nearly breaking the door as he charged out. Mingyu laughed, dropping his head into his hand and leaning on the counter.

"On second thought, let's wait for him."

Jungkook nodded, still staring. He could hear the music from outside pounding through the windows. Mingyu chuckled, tugging him backward, and Jungkook turned, following him out the back door.

"Come on," Mingyu said. "We'll wait in the car."