The door is a soft sound as it closes, and I make no attempt to look at Jimin until it does. For some peculiar reason, I wanted to delay having to look at him again— most likely because of his state.

It was like looking at a perfect example of what I had done to him, and that stung too much for me to just brush away.

Only when the door is secured and I'm sure that nobody has noticed— although V probably had— I turn to check on him with one eye closed.

A shaky sigh escapes my lips as I'm met with the same tranquil, expressionless face. The monitor besides him is giving steady beeps, but whenever the rhythm seems to fluctuate, it sends streaks of paranoia fluttering up my spine.

Will he ever wake up?

That single question continues to revolve around my mind as my eyes drift around the countless tubes attached to him. I'd hoped that the last person I'd watch lying on an infirmary bed would be V, but life didn't work like that.

Especially not in mine.

What have I done?

And even worse, most of Hoseok's equipment had burned down with everything else in the home the boys had lived in for so long. It wasn't surprising that V went berserk on me— he had totally good reason to do that.

He was the normal one— the others were just too nice to not say anything.

I'd cost them their home, their belongings, and now one of their own. It was a wonder that they hadn't given up on me yet and had sent me straight back to my father.

After all, who'd want to deal with a person so insecure and seemingly an intense magnet for trouble?

"Hey."

A hand suddenly drops onto my shoulder out of the blue, nearly making me fall back with the chair. Seeing how V's lips are upturned into a smirk, I can see that he completely meant that on purpose.

Idiot.

"He'll be okay." V says, noticing the sullen expression on my face. His hand is warm as it covers my shoulder, and I find myself automatically taking solace in the small gesture. "I promise."

Then he moves away from behind me, instead leaning over on Jimin's unconscious form to fix the crooked pillow. His silhouette glows against the sun, and I struggle to not stare as he pulls up the blankets all the way up to Jimin's neck.

For a split second, his eyes are shadowed as a faint sigh rolls through his figure. He tries to hide the sign of frustration, but it's not hard to see when I was looking at him so blatantly.

"It'll only be worse," He says, eyes still fixed on the sleeping boy. "If you keep thinking about it."

Eyes clouded, he takes my wrist in a way that makes me believe that the wall between us has completely been broken down.

But I'd celebrated too early— the moment he pulls me off the chair, his hand shifts off my skin and he's disappeared. Just like that— like a piece of reality that had happened so quick it felt like fiction instead.

Maybe it was too soon for me to expect him to open up completely.

Considering V's words, I rise from my chair and give Jimin one last look as I leave him to sleep. He was right— thinking about it wasn't going to change anything. It would just make things worse by worrying too excessively.

"Namjoon," I hear Jin say as I close the infirmary door behind me. "What happened to the assignment today?"

"I'm thinking of canceling— do we really need any more money?" Namjoon muses, his expression thoughtful. "Besides, they might find us again. It would be terrible if we all weren't here to protect Jimin, Tzuyu, and V."

"I don't need protecting," V grumbles as he fidgets with his brace again. From
the corner of my eye, I could see a bit of black poking out from underneath his sleeve.

"Sure," Yoongi drones as he lies back down onto the couch, complaining that it wasn't as comfortable as his beanbag. Only when Hoseok promises to buy him a new one does he quiet down, closing his eyes.

"Okay," Hoseok claps his hands together, looking at the seven of us. Sorry— six.

"I'm going to go grocery shopping— we still need to eat, don't we? And Jin hyung and Tzuyu can cook. Who wants to come with me?"

Namjoon slides off the couch and takes a jacket off the hanger. "I'll come— you never could do the taxes well."

"Don't forget my beanbag!" Yoongi calls drowsily, his eyes still closed as he fumbles to find a comfortable position. "And get some chips, too. I'm craving sugar."

"No wonder," Jungkook mutters under his breath, which makes Yoongi narrow his eyes at him.

Oh, come on. Not again.

"Excuse us," Jungkook says, a smile splitting his lips as he grips my arm. "Noona and I need to do something."

When Jin rises to follow, Jungkook adds with a note of obnoxiousness.

"Privately, hyung."

I shiver, feeling V's eyes burn holes into the back of my shirt. To be honest, I didn't think I could ever get used to his stares. They were just— too intense and too otherworldly, both negatively and positively speaking.

Jin looks suspicious, but Jungkook manages to successfully pull me into an empty room and makes sure to lock the door behind him.

"I swear— those hyungs like to intervene in other people's businesses." He explains as he draws the curtains shut, assuring me it's just regular protocol among the others if you actually wanted some privacy.

"You know, being an assassin and all. They like sneaking up on people—"

I could relate to that, I think, recalling how V had nearly given me a heart attack just a few moments ago.

"So," I drag out the word, looking at him curiously. "What am I here for?"

"Okay," Jungkook says quickly. Excitement decorates his face as he claps his hands together. "Now that you're with hyung—"

"Whoa." I hurry, my eyes wide at the sudden label. "Hold on. Whoever said that I was with him? There's nothing yet— he doesn't even—"

"He kissed you." Jungkook mutters, like that one thing explained everything else. "That says it all, Noona."

Defeat seems evident in my eyes as Jungkook continues. "So now that you are, you need to know some more things about V hyung. Like, you know, a 'Guide to Dating Someone Like Kim Taehyung.'

"No one said that we were doing that." I interrupt, uncomfortable with the word. "Where are you getting this, Kook? And who in the world is Kim Taehyung? I know a Kim Namjoon, a—"

"Kim Taehyung is V hyung, Noona. See, I have a lot to tell you— and warn you. He's not an easy person, but I'm pretty sure you've figured that out already, haven't you?"

I raise my eyebrows at his never ending smile, expression tentative. "Did V let you do this? You know, spill his secrets and tell a random girl all about his life?"

"You're not random, Noona. And besides," Jungkook grins even wider as he clasps his fingers together. "I had his permission ever since he put his lips on yours. So no more interruptions, okay?"

Okay?