Chapter Text
Prologue:
Jungkook was out of breath as he got into the car, hands shaking like an addict in withdrawal as he jammed the keys in, wheeling it in reverse, the soft whrr of the vehicle sloshing some of the snow on the sidewalk on either side.
He didn't know where he was going, didn't have the slightest clue where he was headed. It was better that way, he thought frantically. All the plans he'd thought out carefully went to shit anyway.
He stepped on the gas, cranking up the stereo as he operated the wipers. 'kitsch' blared out the speakers as it snowed outside, the streets a field of heavenly white as he kept going. He could do this, he kept telling himself. Just manage to get to a rest stop for tonight, just until it stopped snowing as heavily for a while and then he could start again the next morning. If things went well, he'd be out of the city by tomorrow morning and nobody would be the wiser.
If.
The streets were empty. It was, by far, the coldest night of the year. Nobody in their right mind would be driving around like a maniac at this time. If that wasn't reason enough, it was Christmas.
Christmas: which he was supposed to be spending with his best friend in their warm apartment. Where he'd unwrap the new video game console he'd got him. Where they'd drink warm milk and make fun of other people's Christmas trees until the night took them under her hold.
Not the Christmas where he'd be running away for his life, heart pounding as he hoped against hope that he'd never have to see said best friend again.
A flash of light.
A glint from a rear view mirror.
In the time it took between one blink and the next, Jungkook reflexively stepped on the brakes - hard, to avoid crashing into the car that'd blocked his path.
No no no please. How had they found him? How had they found him so fast?
What he wouldn't give for it to be the police stopping him right now, he thought as he shut his eyes closed - as if that'd make things less real.
"Jungkook," a soft voice called out, and the voice felt like it was coming from so far - from such a distance.
Or maybe he was just that weary, just that tired. He would give anything to sink into the arms of a friend right now.
Oh right, he thought plaintively. He didn't have any of those left.
"Jungkook, please."
Taehyung's voice was desperate, edging on panicked, like he wanted to bundle him up and drag him to safety.
He sank back into the leather of the car seats, breathing in the minty scent of its owner.
"Please just come out, we can talk about it."
It was a deserted road. The closest house was probably a mile away.
If he screamed, nobody would hear him.
"This isn't going to work," another familiar voice.
"Just let me deal with this Jin hyung. Stay out of it. Please! He's scared ."
A car door opening, then being shut.
"It's two am. What he is is frozen. Get him out of the cold first and you can worry about his precious feelings later."
Jungkook just realized how numb he felt. His lips were turning an alarming shade of blue, he realized with a side glance into the rear view mirror. Still, he remained inside the car.
More bickering.
Arguing.
Then a voice spoke over them, silencing the other two altogether.
"Jungkook."
And he stifled a sob, his thighs quivering despite his best efforts not to respond to his silky soft voice. To his seductive tone.
"Talk to me from where I can see you."
It wasn't a request. It was said matter of fact, a command that existed to be obeyed.
Jungkook took a shivering breath, his shivering hands reaching for the cold, dark metal in the front compartment, his hands closing around it with a strength he didn't mentally possess.
Bundling his coat tighter around himself, he opened the latch, stepping out of the car carefully, taking in all the stares on him.
Taehyung's relieved expression.
Jin's tensed state of mind.
And lastly, Namjoon. Sure, strong Namjoon, standing a few feet away from him, trench coat sweeping the snow covered ground as it brushed at his ankles, his face clear of any doubt, certain that Jungkook would stumble into his willing arms.
It would be so warm, his omega tempted him. No more running. No more wondering.
It would be a travesty.
With shaky hands, he pulled out the gun, pointing it straight towards Namjoon, ignoring the gasps of shock behind him and his own broken sobs.
"Don't!" He saw Jin pull Tae back by his arm. "His aim is unsteady as it is and he's unstable right now."
"But Namjoon hyung!"
"He's not going to shoot his own mate."
Jin's voice was filled with so much conviction his teeth hurt. He used his other arm to support the one that was still shaking.
Namjoon, however, didn't even stumble. On the contrary, he walked towards him, confidence radiating from him like a divine aura.
"Don't…don't come closer," Jungkook stuttered out. "Just…just let me go and I'll..I won't won't hurt anyone. Just promise you won't come after me and I…I…I…"
Namjoon stopped right in front of him, his chest pressed to the barrel of the gun as he gently raised a hand to stabilize its position against his own heart.
If Jungkook pulled the trigger, Namjoon would die.
"Go on then," he said softly, brushing aside Jungkook's cold, wet hair, running a warm thumb across his chilled lips and Jungkook's eyes fluttered reflexively.
He ignored Tae's high pitched screams in the background.
"All you have to do," Namjoon stepped impossibly closer, "is pull the trigger. Just one time and you'll never see me again."
Jungkook sobbed at the very thought.
"It's your choice darling," he licked the tears that'd started to stream down his face. "If you don't want me, there's no point living anyway."
No no, he didn't want him dead. Just gone. He loved him he wanted him he needed him.
"But if you don't," he warned, his voice directly into the shell of his ear, "if you don't kill me right now, right here," he kissed the corner of his mouth languidly, relishing in Jungkook's whimpers, " I'll never let you go. Death is the only thing that'll rid you of me forever."
The gun slipped from his fingers, falling to the ground as he fell into Namjoon's embrace, sobbing uncontrollably as the other man ran a soothing hand through his hair.
"Sshh little omega. It's time to go back home."
What home? He wanted to yell.
Still, the temptation of warmth and love and obsession was too strong to resist. He followed Namjoon blindly, let himself be led into a warmer car. He followed his mate.
He followed the scent of the begonias.
…