Beyond Repair (Min Yoongi)

26. Storm Clouds

Somehow, things felt much more normal after a day in the park. Throughout the rest of the evening, Yoongi became more comfortable in his own skin and much more physically affectionate. By the end of the night—around eight o'clock, since they were all so tired—he was even going so far as to initiate hugs with not only Jimin but the others, too. Yoongi's nightmares didn't get any better that night, but they didn't get worse, either, and Yoongi decided that after the chaotic few days he'd had, that was progress.

After breakfast the next morning, the boys collectively decided to hang out in the living room in their pyjamas. The four eldest members spent the morning on their phones, Jimin and Taehyung caught up on the latest episodes of some random TV drama, and Jungkook spent his time on the balcony, painting.

Yoongi hadn't been this comfortable in a long time. He was currently sprawled out across the sofa with his body reclined against Seokjin's chest and his legs draped over Jimin and Hoseok's laps. They'd settled into this position without even thinking about it, as if it had been second nature to cuddle like this all along. Though Yoongi was lying on top of three people, Jimin was the only one actively touching him—Jimin's fingernails traced lightly up and down Yoongi's outer thigh through his jeans as he watched TV, and in much the same absent-minded manner, Yoongi fidgeted with the rings on Jimin's free hand while scrolling through social media.

After the press conference, every social media platform had been flooded with condolences, best wishes, and theories from ARMYs all over the world. At this point, Yoongi wouldn't be surprised if the fans found and caught Lee Daejung before the police got the chance.

Yoongi had thought being back in the spotlight would make him uncomfortable, but it actually did the opposite—Yoongi had always been a very down-to-earth celebrity who adored his fans with all of his heart. Interacting with them was something he'd dearly missed. He had half a mind to do a live stream right then and there, still in his pyjamas first thing in the morning, but he decided against it, wanting to look more presentable in his first live stream since everything had happened.

Besides, he was waiting for a phone call.

Technically Namjoon was the one who would receive the call, but that was only because the police didn't yet have Yoongi's new phone number. Yoongi could only pay half attention to any one thing while waiting for Namjoon's phone to ring.

Between the background noise from the television and the multitude of online distractions at his fingertips, Yoongi would have missed the buzzing that sounded from Namjoon's phone if the leader hadn't answered right away. "Hello?" Namjoon said, standing up and leaving the room.

Jimin quickly grabbed the remote and paused the TV so they could all eavesdrop on what Namjoon was saying in the hallway.

Yoongi sat up, nervously biting his lip. "Do you think that's...?"

"Maybe," Hoseok said.

"Is Namjoon on the phone?" Jungkook asked, coming in through the balcony window, his previously white smock now blotted with bright blue and green.

"Yes, but we don't know who he's talking to," Seokjin told him.

"It's got to be the police, though. Not many other people have a reason to call him at nine in the morning," Taehyung pointed out.

"Whether it is or isn't the police, it's going to be okay," Jimin reminded everyone, his words aimed mostly at Yoongi, who had begun to tremble. "They'll call us, eventually."

"Thank you. Yes. Goodbye," Namjoon said. He came back into the room and looked straight at Yoongi. "They got him."

~∞∞∞O∞∞∞~