Pack Trials: Seokjin
Description: This wasn’t the way things should work. Are you in charge, or are you a tool? Will you actually find someone through these trials?
Warnings: Mentions of death
There are other groups in this, but this is a BTS part of the fic.
Introduction Here!
Posted: 08/05/2020
Tags: Hybrid AU, Hybrid!BTS, Hybrid!Reader, Readers Choice, Hybrid!Got7, Hybrid Everybody and their Mother, ReaderxSeokjin
Angsty/Fluffy/SFW: 7,160 words
A/N: Feels like I haven’t posted anything in months. (nothing like hitting post when you’re just trying to save a draft)
You groaned in frustration since screaming in frustration definitely wasn’t an option. That would draw far too much attention. The letters had barely cut into the number of men vying for you. If you were especially harsh with your judgment, you might be able to cut the group in half, but that would involve rereading all of the letters, and it had already taken you a whole day to read through them all once.
Plus you had to have the next trial ready to go the moment you ended this one.
You would have to be mean about the next trial. You would have to make them sing. Music was so important and you honestly didn’t think you could spend your life with someone who couldn’t at least carry a tune by your side. Sometimes music was all the packs had to get them through the harshest of winter storms without getting defeated.
You made your decisions, decided the next trial would be a musical competition—singing or instrumentation, or both if they are so gifted—and headed out after a nice nap. You paused near an encampment, realizing most everyone was sitting for a meal and made like you were just taking a quick, brisk walk around before going back to your tent and looking through your supplies to find something to eat.
“Hey.”
You jumped and turned to see Seokjin smiling at you from just inside your tent, out of sight from passers-by and holding a plate of something that smelled fantastic.
You smiled. “Strange place for you to eat your lunch.”
His smile turned into a grin that made his nose wrinkle a bit. “Just take it, y/n.”
“Thanks. I never stored some of the supplies gathered for that trial. I was too busy.”
“I noticed. I’ll spread a rumor about you needing supplies to the other suitors. You’ll have to turn gifts away.”
“Well, I do plan to spend some meals with the different groups of suitors. A sort of long-term trial, I guess you could call it.”
“The letters help?”
“Not particularly, but they cut down some of the suitors. And maybe don’t spread the rumor. I can trade for supplies. I still have goods that my father and I prepared.” You ran a hand through your hair. “So, how ridiculous did I look?”
“Not many people noticed you. We only did because we were talking about you. Worrying about you. We hadn’t seen you cooking and Jimin said your light had still been on late into the night.” He gestured for you to close your tent securely. “If anyone asks, I came to check on you because I heard something fall.”
You nodded, complying easily with his silent order.
“Are you okay?” He asked more quietly. “It’s been a pretty long week.”
You took a deep breath, letting it out again. “I suppose it could be worse.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Your father was murdered after disbanding your pack. You’re forced into choosing a mate before you’ve even been able to mourn. You give up sleep in order to comply to wishes that weren’t your own to begin with. They were your father’s. Don’t look so surprised. I was there, remember? I saw your face, your reaction to what your father said. Your world was torn apart, and yet you stand there acting as if you’re okay. Like it’s okay.”
“It is.”
“Y/n.”
“It is.”
“No, it’s not,” He whispered harshly. “Stop saying that it is!”
“It is! It is because it has to be!” You shook your head, turning away from him, your eyes burning. Your exclamation was met with silence.
His arms wrapped gently around your shoulders and neck, his head resting against the side of yours.
You pushed back a sob.
He hummed softly, pulling you back tightly against his chest. “I’ve got you.”
You shuddered with a sob, jerking your shoulder down so his grip would loosen and you could turn into his chest.
He helped you turn, tucking you to his chest and continuing to hum softly. “You’ve been so strong, just let go for a little while. I’ll keep you safe and no one will ever know. Lean on me, y/n.”
You clutched at his shirt, sobbing and shoving against him a little.
He just held you tighter, hummed a little louder.
You fell apart in his arms, everything crashing down on you while he held the pieces of you together. You muffled your sobs in his chest, hitting him now again as anger and frustration would flare up on top of everything else, and then drooping again as everything else overwhelmed that anger.
He held you the whole time, tightening and loosening as he needed, humming continually. When you calmed to hiccuping sobs, he kissed your forehead and guided you into sitting on your bed. “Eat this, then sleep. I want our medic to check on you.” He rubbed your neck in a way that made you sort of melt into his hold until he laid you back. “Or lay down now. I’ll bring you food when you wake up later, but try not to sleep until you get checked.”
“Why do I need to be checked?” You pouted.
“Because you look ill. None of us want you to be sick. Just get comfortable, okay?” He covered you up carefully, helping you shift the pillows so you were laying more comfortably. “I’ll be back shortly with the medic.”
You nodded, closing your eyes and focusing on the way his hand on your forehead was nice and cool.
“I’ll be right back,” He promised softly, then his hand was gone.
Your eyes snapped open, watching his back disappear through the flaps of your tent. You could hear a little commotion as he stepped out, and his voice as he called to someone, saying that you were unwell, which caused more voices to start talking.
He slipped back in with a medic just behind him. “I think it’s exhaustion.”
The medic, an older woman from the scouts, nodded and came to your bedside, checking your temperature momentarily and then your pulse. “Any aches or pains.”
“A minor headache,” You whispered.
Her sharp eyes studied your face for a moment before nodding. She gave you some herbs to eat, then sent Seokjin away to make an herbal tea and to see if anyone had some soup you could eat.
Once he was gone she sighed a little. “How are you sleeping?”
“I don’t know that I am,” you whispered back.
“Didn’t think you were. Seokjin isn’t going to like this, none of them are, but you know as well as I do that the trials cannot be delayed.” She held your hand gently, looking sad.
“My father is no longer here to keep the peace. Without him, everything rests precariously and the peace could be easily broken. I have to wrap these trials up within the week…but I don’t know how…” You trailed off as tears choked you.
She pulled you up into her arms so you were crying on her shoulder, releasing a calming scent. “When you were small, we always watched you, knowing you would grow up to be strong. You are so much like your mother. She was the defacto leader during the summers. Even the senior warriors charged with protecting us, from both packs, would defer to her judgment. Your father was able to bring about times of peace because of her. Did you know she chose him through the pack trials?”
You shook your head.
“She was an orphan, found by the packs during one of the trials. She was raised to a certain age in each of the packs, and given the choice of what pack to train in when she was old enough. She chose Jay pack, but everyone knew that she wouldn’t fight. She wouldn’t stay in one place. She became a trader, traveling through the packs with ease and familiarity. She was loved in all of the packs, and when she was old enough, she approached the leader and asked to hold the trials for her mate. She had all of the single men vying for her hand. Even Star Pack came and they rarely venture this far. She chose your father, because he made her relax despite the stress of the trials on her shoulders. She chose him because he spoke of peace among all the packs and free trade, which was not something that occurred then outside of your mother’s work. The packs would have an uneasy truce for things such as the trials, and after mates were chosen, there would always be a fight to see which pack the couple went to. Your mother was the first to leave her pack peacefully.”
“Really?”
“Mmhmm, we were all astonished when she just walked right up to him, looked him up and down and turned the the pack leaders and said, “I choose him. I’ll be going with the Arrow pack.” And then she took his hand and walked right out of there. She knew when she had the right one beside her, and you will too.” She smoothed your hair then lay you back down. “You just need to rest and clear your mind.”
The tent rustled as Jin came back in with the tea and a bowl on a tray. “Is she sick?”
“Just tired, as you said. Help her sit up, make sure she eats and drinks that, then let her sleep. I’ll check back a little later.” She patted your hand before getting up and heading out of the tent.
Jin set the tray on the table, then helped prop you up. He started feeding you, even though you mildly protested that you could feed yourself. “Stop fighting me, let me take care of you for now. You know you’re going to have to take care of yourself soon enough. Let me get you stronger first.”
You couldn’t really fight him. He was stronger.
“I wish your father hadn’t allowed all the packs to participate,” Jin whispered. “We all know you’ll be safe and at least relatively happy in Scout or Jay Pack. But can you even name someone from Stem pack that you’re completely comfortable around? Or Jellyfish pack? Don’t get me wrong, they’re nice guys. Truly. And they also want what’s best for you. The suitors all talk about you, and wanting you safe and comfortable with your choices, you know. But can you name one person that you’re comfortable around from either pack?”
“Mark from Stem. He’s nice, and we’ve talked before since he’s a messenger. And N is kind too, for what little I’ve interacted with him.” You sighed, looking down at your hands. “They’ve all been nice. Especially the group that’s still in the competition.”
He set aside the empty bowl. “Do you know what you’re going to do for the next trial?”
“No.” You closed your eyes. “Can we talk about something else?”
“We’ve been making houses out of the wagons we pull. With beds and kitchens. Namjoon was going to talk to your father, see if he wanted some for his people. Now he and JY are negotiating instead.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Yoongi has one, and Jimin and Hoseok share one, and Taehyung has his. Namjoon usually stays with Taehyung, and Jungkook sort of floats around. They’re making me one, but they didn’t even let me participate in the planning of it. Apparently, it’s supposed to be a surprise. I don’t know what the big secret is. It’s not like it’s going to be much to see. Maybe a slightly bigger kitchen area than the ones before since I cook for our circle.”
“Because of the shortage of women?”
“That and we were a sub-pack before. One of the only sub-packs. Everyone in the pack is fine with us still sort of being our own sub-pack still because it’s in support of Namjoon, and it’s been helping our entire pack function really well. We’ve got young blood to train soon, but we’re not quite there. We’re growing stronger. Namjoon only brought part of our pack, a lot of our elders, and senior warriors stayed back for farming and such.” He moved to your chair after making sure you were all covered up and laying down again. He fingered the stitching on the quilt you had folded up, your project. “There are still problems, there always will be. But as long as I keep the boys from overworking themselves, everything should work out for the best.”
“And who will keep you from overworking yourself?” You asked, curling to the side to look at him more easily.
He just gave you a smile. “Who says I’m overworking myself?”
“I would say Jimin since I’ve seen him helping you when your neck hurts. Or back.”
He stared at you for a few second, then smiled again. “Have you been sneaking around camp?”
“I did during the hunting trial. Not often, but some nights. When I was feeling restless.”
He hummed thoughtfully, but then he just kept humming songs that served to lull you a little into dozing despite not wanting to lose the moment.
You wanted to keep talking with him. It felt so nice after basically being isolated, but you were so comfortable with him that it was quickly become impossible for you to stay awake.
When you did wake, it was because a medic from Jay pack was gentle waking you as she checked on you.
“I apologize, but it’s time to wake up.”
You blinked a few times, forcing your eyes open. “Yes. Of course. I’ll…be ready in a few moments.” Your voice sounded terrible to your own ears.
She paused a moment, then seemed to understand there was nothing she could do at the moment to help. “There’s some breakfast on your table, try to eat something before you come out,” She said kindly, then left you.
You pushed up, feeling as though you were well-rested while also feeling weaker than before. Your heart experiencing the same sort of conflict.
Everyone was waiting for you by the time you finished dressing and eating some of the food that was brought to you.
You dipped your head to the pack leaders, then took your seat.
“Y/n?” JY asked quietly.
“Sing. Anyone that moves me moves on,” You told him, voice feeling hoarse. “Special consideration for the first ten performers.”
“Are you ill?” He asked, sounding mildly alarmed.
“I’ll be fine. Please announce the trial,” You answered, trying to speak as evenly as possible with as little hoarseness as possible. “Quickly.”
“Right. Next Trial! You are to sing! Anyone who can move her, will continue to the next trial and the first ten performers will be given special consideration for their quick thinking and willingness to step up to the plate. Ten minutes to get instruments!”
For a moment, everyone looked frozen, then they went racing off to get instruments so that they wouldn’t have to sing acappella.
Jungkook and Yoongi had run to get the instruments for the Scouts, the rest all huddled together and talking song strategy—probably for those that weren’t exactly vocally gifted.
“A bold move, my lady,” Stem commented, sounding amused at the very least.
You nodded to him, not trusting your voice.
“Tea, my lady?” A girl from Jellyfish asked, approaching the dais with a tray of tea and snacks.
You nodded, gesturing for her to approach.
She set it on the table. “There you are, my lady. Some nice peppermint tea.” Then she showed you another bowl. “Also, some freshly harvested honey if you wish to sweeten your tea, and some lemon candies.”
“Thank you,” You said after taking a sip of the tea. You had a sneaking suspicion that some of the medical women from the different packs had gotten together to send this up without raising the suspicion of the pack leaders. Honey was a treat and no one would even think twice if you were to just eat straight-up honey when offered it.
You waited a while, noticing that someone was getting ready to perform.
Some of the performances were really good, others were…valiant efforts.
Namjoon sang so terribly, obviously knowing he wouldn’t get points for being on key and made the whole thing so funny that you marked him as through just for making you laugh despite how painful your throat was getting.
So after his, you were definitely treating yourself to some honey.
But you had to make an important distinction between the good performances and the ones that you felt in your bones.
Your boys from the scouts sang some songs that were so familiar to you that they were like old friends.
Taehyung sang your favorite song from your childhood.
Jin sang a song with Jimin that you were used to hearing your father sing.
A song your father used to sing with your mother. In it’s best form, it was a song that two lovers sang together, but the boys made it work and you were dangerously close to crying. Only your will keeping the tears from falling.
Many others sang equally well, some songs you hadn’t heard before but were quite willing to add to your memories to repeat one day.
But the duet was the one that stuck with you as you wrote down your final decisions and left while JY announced it to go make yourself some lunch. You weren’t certain what you would make for lunch but—
A pot of soup was boiling on your personal stove and a young girl from Jay pack bowed to you before scurrying off.
You quickly moved into your tent to savor the soup and brainstorm the next idea. Archery? That could work. Or completely backfire.
You ate as fast as you could and then hurried back to the arena, surveying it for ideas. Archery and then what?
“Singing, really?” Hoseok asked, a laugh in his voice.
You jumped and turned toward him, then quickly looked around to make sure he was the only one around. “First thing that came to mind.”
His smile disappeared. “You are sick. Hyung said he thought you might be—”
“I am not sick, I simply have a sore throat. It can be caused by any number of things. Now, what is your purpose in coming here.”
He studied you for a moment. “Hyung told me to check on you. He didn’t want you to get sick of him pestering you, I think.”
You sighed and rubbed your head. “Sorry, I’m just…I’m trying to think. Tell him I ate a full meal and I’m fine.”
“Okay.” He still sounded worried, but he left you alone after patting your shoulder in what you supposed to be a comforting gesture.
You stood there, trying to calm down after, trying to turn your attention back to the trials.
You wished you were back in bed, listening to Seokjin humming songs or talking to you.
A banner caught your eye.
“My lady? JY has sent me to assist you?”
You turned to Seungmin. “Get me a sheet and something to write on it with, as well as pen and paper, then spread the word that the next trial will be archery, followed by a trial where they will need pen and paper.”
He quickly bowed and dashed off to do as you told him.
You ran over a few questions in your head, possibilities for your test.
He returned with some of the other Jay pack boys that weren’t part of the trial to help carry the things you had asked for. “Anything else we can help with, my lady?”
“I’ll need this kept out of sight until it’s time for the trial, and someone to bring it out when it is time. However,” You paused to swallow hard, your throat getting scratchy again. “Right now I need you to go take this inquiry to JY.” You handed him a quickly scratched out note.
Another one took it and ran off after bowing.
You spread the sheet out on the dais, smiling as the boys quickly found rocks to pin it down for you. Then you painted on it, carefully, making sure everything was readable and clear.
You surveyed your work, smiling a little. “What do you boys think?”
“Milady is a skilled huntress,” Seungmin said simply, rereading it.
You nodded. “Alright, could you boys carefully move it out of sight?”
The boy who had run off when your message to JY ran back in with the rest of the Stray subpack that wasn’t part of the trial. “He said you have full permission!”
“Excellent, then you can take this to the meeting tent. And if you would, gather tables and chairs?”
Felix bowed quickly, grinning. “Yes, miss!”
They rushed off.
You sat down in your chair to quickly write down every question you could think of. Then you set it aside, sitting properly and waiting.
Slowly people trickled back in, speaking in hushed tones as they glanced your way.
The pack leaders stepped onto the dais, dipping their heads to you.
All of the contestants had their bows.
As expected, it didn’t really help. Most pack members knew how to shoot a bow out of necessity, so you only managed to cull a few from the herd.
You stood as JY announced who had been cut from the trials.
JY glanced at you to confirm that you wanted to continue with your plan.
You nodded, walking toward the stairs.
“The next trial will be conducted in the meeting tent, all participants in the trial should report there as soon as possible with the tools for writing.”
An immediate reaction was heard, gasps and whispers of disbelief, followed by contentious murmuring.
You smiled to yourself for a moment as you walked toward the Meeting tent, then quickly schooled your expression.
“Surely the pack leaders will be allowed to oversee,” Stem asked, mostly catching up.
“Surely not,” You replied, turning to face them. “And if you insist on doing so, I will enforce the rules of the trials. Did you know that a pack leader who tries to force something on the one holding the trials automatically forfeits his rights to leadership?”
He let out a choked sound of disbelief.
“It’s in the charter,” You added with the sweetest smile you could muster. “Now please, go relax with the rest of your pack. If this goes as I plan, then there shouldn’t be many trials after this one. Then we can all be on our way, back to our own territories to continue on with life. Don’t make it harder for me to choose someone from your pack by making it undesirable for me to answer to you.”
Jellyfish sputtered with laughter before he could help himself, earning a glare from Stem.
You raised your chin slightly. “I’ll take your silence as acquiescence.” You pivoted and strode away, heart racing. You just openly defied a pack leader.
Your suitors filed into the tent quickly, just a short while after you entered yourself, most stopping to stare at the words you’d painted onto the sheet.
Hoseok smiled, meeting your gaze and his grin widening.
You figured that meant he forgave you for snapping at him.
The men finally finished sitting down, pulling out papers and writing utensils.
“To begin, I will read off the questions you will answer. If you would be so kind as to write them down so I need not repeat myself all through the day, I would appreciate it.” You sat down, unfolding the page. “Question One—”
——
You finished grading the last one, setting it aside with the others.
Obviously they’d been careful with their answers, but some of them had been a little too…flamboyant.
The first question was find out what they thought your position in the pack would be should you choose them for a mate.
Your least favorite was someone who basically outlined a life of having pups and serving him. He didn’t word it that way, but that’s what you gleaned from it.
The rest of the questions were along similar lines, how they saw you, how they would react to you in various states.
Like question five, it asked what they thought would cheer you up if you were sad. Your least favorite answer for that one was “bring you the moon and stars”. You got the gist of what he wanted to say, but it was his fourth non-answer answer. The least effective answer someone gave was “bring you candy”. While you liked candy, you were not a child and candy was not enough to cheer you up.
You’d been vicious with your grading though, and you were almost certain that there would be backlash on this trial.
You finished your honey-tea and walked briskly to the arena, hearing panicked calls that you were headed that way. Well, at least you had everyone on edge. That might keep them from lashing out right away.
Or it might make them lash out more.
You might start a riot.
You definitely didn’t want to start a riot. A riot would lead to fighting, fighting would lead to a battle, a battle would lead to a war. A war wouldn’t solve anything, just bring more chaos and destruction.
You didn’t remember the stakes being this high for previous pack trials.
Then again, you didn’t remember ever seeing as many suitors as you had participating in the trials. Normally there were ten to fifteen suitors.
You were just now paring it down to that amount.
“Y/n,” JY called, then caught up with you. “A word before we go into this?”
You frowned slightly, but nodded, letting him pull you aside to an area where anyone could see the two of you speaking, but you would be able to tell if anyone was close enough to hear.
He glanced around once more, then met your gaze, not domineering, but concerned. “There’s been word…whispers, really, of going against your wishes. Now, the suitors and the former suitors don’t seem to have any knowledge of such a thing or any inclination to do so, but where there are whispers—”
“There’s a breath of truth. I understand.”
“There’s more.”
You felt your heart sink. “More?”
“Something I should have told you. There’s been a lot of unrest before these trials, skirmishes on borders and the like. Your father…he was worried before that the treaty wouldn’t hold any longer. And with the Arrow pack land now open the other packs might think to use this as an opportunity to push the Jay or Scout packs into the land vacated to expand their own hunting grounds.” He looked at the ground. “The trials were a bid to buy the Jay pack and the Scout pack time to fortify our defenses, if you had agreed. If you didn’t agree, we would have used the uneasy truce of the gathering to fortify our borders. Your father would have deferred into one of our packs, allowing you to join whatever pack you wished.”
“What role did the Scouts play in this plan?”
“Namjoon was aware, but reluctant about your role in the plan. His second hand…or his third hand? I can’t keep track of their hierarchy, anyway, he objected politely but fervently.”
“Yoongi?”
“No, the other one from his subpack, uh, Seokjin?”
You frowned. “They didn’t know until the day I agreed?”
“They knew we were going to try and buy time for our packs to strengthen, but not your part in it.” He looked a little nervous.
Maybe he could tell that some small part of you wanted to rip his throat out right then and there.
“I am not a pawn on your chess-board of warfare,” You said, your voice surprisingly calm, with only a slight bite to the word “pawn”.
“No, you are no pawn. You are a king, if you are lost, so is everything else,” He answered, voice urgent.
“You are wrong,” A soft voice said.
Both of you flinched, turning toward the intruder.
Jin looked between you, then settled on you. “You’re drawing a crowd.” He tilted his head toward where people were watching from a distance, uncertain whether they should continue to the arena or stay and watch.
You let out a huff, then started walking. “We were done here anyway.”
“Y/n—”
“No,” You snapped at JY, whipping around to face him. “No, you gave up the right to use my name when you decided to use me in your scheme. Do you understand the torment I put myself through for this? I lost my father, and it is only now that you tell me the stakes? I have grown weary of your games and deceit. Do not believe me ignorant of your own self-interest in this game of suitors.”
JY looked surprisingly ashamed.
“Y/n,” Seokjin said softly. “Not here.”
You glared for another moment at JY. “I’ll let you come up with a cover story for this spat.” Then you turned and strode toward the arena. You spotted one of the Scout boys that you had spoken to before, Yeonjun, and flicked your fingers to beckon him.
He hurried over.
“I need your voice. Think you can announce things for me?”
He blinked in surprise, then nodded. “Yes, my lady. Is everything alright?”
“Just a bit of a sore throat.” You led the way onto the dais, sitting down and handing him the list, but gesturing for him to wait.
JY came in with the other observing leaders, sitting in the seats behind you.
The suitors lined up in front of you.
You waited until everyone seemed to have quieted, then gestured to Yeonjun.
He stepped forward. “When your name is called, please step forward. If your name is not called, you have not advanced to the next round.”
There was surprise on the faces of some that made it through, and on some of the faces that did not make it through.
But your gaze kept falling back to one person.
“My lady, the next trial?” Yeonjun asked in a whisper.
You stood, resting a hand on his shoulder. “I can take care of that. Thank you for your assistance. Give this to Namjoon, and this to JB from Jay pack.”
He bowed and rushed off.
You went down to look over the suitors, maintaining a distance from them, really only caring about one. But you needed to buy time.
You approached Jungkook, resting a hand on his shoulder. “You’re dismissed from the trials. Report to your leader.”
His eyes widened. “Y/n.”
“Go,” You whispered, more forcefully.
He bowed and walked away.
You went up to the next, Jackson. “Which is more important, pack or individuals?”
He frowned. “Individuals make up a pack. So, individuals.”
You nodded slightly, moving to the next suitor, Suho. “During lean times, which is more important: laughter, or song?”
Suho’s eyes widened, and he didn’t seem to know how to respond for a moment. Then he frowned slightly. “Laughter?”
You tilted your head and walked past Seokjin to Jinyoung. “Do you actually care for me?”
His mouth opened, but you could see in his eyes.
You nodded. “You are dismissed, report to your subpack leader.” You walked away from him, going down the line of suitors, skipping others now and then asking questions, not always because you wanted to know their answer, but because you needed to buy time. And if you didn’t like their answer, then dismissing them was beneficial. You had everyone’s attention focused on you instead of the slight thrum of secret activity outside of the arena. Instead of noticing the way the Scouts and the Jays were slipping out of the crowd.
You definitely had their attention when you dismissed Jackson, the last Jay pack member up there.
You came to a halt in front of Seokjin finally, studying him for a moment. You’d pared it down to five suitors, but you had yet to ask him a single question.
He met your gaze, unchallenging, gentle, lacking his usual…vibrance. He dipped his head to you after a moment, then met your gaze again.
“You said he was wrong,” You started softly. “That I wasn’t the King. What piece would you say I am?”
“You’re the Queen,” He answered, just as softly. “You’re the strongest player, but if you’re lost, the game cannot be won. You have the free-est range of movement and your adaptability and deadliness is incomparable.”
“Have you been acting as a rook or bishop, protecting me and the King, or are you a King?”
“I don’t know,” He said, a hint of a smile on his face.
You nodded, then turned slightly, to walk to the next suitor.
But you stopped.
The crowd was so quiet, every eye on you. The packs outside of the arena needed you to hold out longer.
“It’s okay, y/n. You’ve done more than they should have expected from you,” Jin said softly.
Your breath hitched.
“You don’t have to choose. It’s okay. You can walk away from it. No one with a heart could blame you,” He continued, a little louder, but not enough to make sure his voice reached you and maybe be overheard a little by the closest suitor. “You don’t have to choose.”
You swallowed and turned away, toward the dais. You went up there, grabbed your notebook, and looked at the leaders.
You dipped your head, then went back down to the suitors, who had bunched up a little whispering just a little while Seokjin shrugged.
They got quiet again as you came to a standstill just four feet from them.
You flipped through your notebook, glancing over the data and mostly just putting on a show for people.
You nodded firmly, tucked your notebook into your pocket, walked forward briskly.
Seokjin blinked down at you, confused.
“Take me home,” You whispered up to him. “I choose you, so please take me away from here. And never make me come back.”
He glanced at the other suitors, who seemed equally surprised as him, but also sympathetic after hearing your words.
You tugged his hand. “Please tell me you choose me too.”
He met your gaze again, and nodded. “I do. I choose you. I chose you.”
“Then take me home,” You told him, a little more desperately. More emotional. You were unraveling faster than you wanted to.
“Y/n, if we start to walk out of here…” He trailed off, glancing guiltily at the others.
“Go,” Suho whispered. “We’ll hold them back. That’s all we can do for you.”
Ken nodded. “We’re sorry it came to this, y/n. I hope…I hope we can meet peacefully again someday.”
“Maybe when the leadership changes,” You whispered, understanding.
“Go,” Suho whispered again, nodding. “And may happiness meet you both.”
Seokjin dipped his head to them, then started walking briskly out with your hand firmly grasped in his.
You caught up to fall in step with him, head held high because there was no time to show weakness.
Once the two of you were out of the arena, he pulled you into a run—the noise from the arena rising in volume from the surprise and indignation.
“Why me?” He asked, a little out of breath as the two of you hopped into the van that was waiting.
You slammed the door shut, and fell back against him as Jungkook floored it. “Because you saw when I was falling apart.”
He wrapped his other arm around you, pulling you properly onto the seat then helping Taehyung buckle you in. “That’s a silly reason.”
“Too late, you can’t take it back,” You told him, curling up to rest against him, head on his shoulder.
He draped a jacket over your head. “You know…”
“I know. You’re not normally this serious. I do know. I miss that side of you, but considering it’s missing because you’ve been worried about me, and the war…”
He gently kissed the top of your head.
It was early morning when you woke up, deep in Scout territory, and you were alone in the van, laid on the seat with someone’s coat to keep you comfortable. Smelled like Jin’s.
You ventured out of the van, taking in the pale shape of trees and the murmurs of those around the various campfires. The scents of different meals just hints on the chilly breeze that blew through camp. It looked like a semi-permanent camp, like a few people were always stationed in the small grouping of cabins way off to your left, made to support those who came temporarily. And maybe that was a forge near the cabins, or an outdoor oven, but the early morning light made it hard to distinguish.
You followed your instinct, moving along the paths created by the different camps, searching for the proper one.
“Hey,” Jin said brightly, falling into step with you. “Good morning.”
“Good morning,” You replied, studying his face.
“Did you sleep well?”
You nodded. “Apparently.”
“Would have moved you, but I didn’t want to wake you. You needed the sleep. I’ve almost finished breakfast.” He led you to a slightly larger camp, one the boys obviously shared that was actually in the opposite direction than the one you had been walking. There were three wagons, and two tents, one of which was slightly larger than the others—the smaller having the appearance of a command tent.
Jin led you to a chair beside the fire, where you could take in their whole camp, then went inside the larger tent (which you could see had an old cot against one wall and all of their cooking supplies filling the rest of the tent). He came out with two blankets, draping one over your shoulders and laying the other over your legs, before hunching over his veritable kitchen of campfire cookware that was set up, all with some sort of food on them. “This spot is a breakaway point. Some of them will head to where most of the women, children, and elders were waiting. Others will split into hunting groups. Our group will be splitting off as well, us and our sub-group in training. We’ll be heading to the crafting camp first, apparently my wagon is finished. Don’t know why it took so long. I really only need a bed.”
“You’re sore,” You said, then glanced back toward that cot. “Did you sleep on that thing?”
He shrugged. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not.”
“I am.”
“You’re not.”
“I—” He broke off, blinking up at you in surprise just before his dramatic rebuttal. “This is payback isn’t it?”
“Just a bit,” You answered, smiling a little as you got up, keeping the blanket around your shoulders. “Can I help?”
“Oh, no, you should—”
“What needs to be done,” You insisted. “I have hands. I slept clear through dinner yesterday. I’m hungry and helping will make it go faster.”
He chuckled and gave you a job.
The two of you cooked in silence, greeting the boys as they woke up and joined you all for eating.
He didn’t say much the rest of the morning, a few jokes here and there, goofing off with the other boys.
They split up in the vehicles to go to the crafting camp, Jin driving one vehicle, Jungkook driving the one that was pulling Namjoon’s wagon, Hoseok driving the vehicle pulling his and Jimin’s wagon, and Yoongi driving the vehicle pulling his own wagon.
And it was just the two of you in the vehicle, but it was a while before the silence was broken.
“You seem like you’re feeling better,” Jin said quietly.
“I am. Sleeping helped.” You watched his face. “You have questions.”
“A few.”
“I was serious about choosing you,” You told him quietly.
“But—”
“Seokjin-oppa,” You murmured. “You’ve always had my best interests at heart. If you don’t want me—”
“That’s not what I said,” He said quickly. “I just don’t want you to be unhappy with me.”
“I won’t be. I have the wherewithal to find satisfaction in whatever situation I may be, so long as I never have to deal with all that had to do with the trials. Ever.”
He glanced at you, pulling in alongside the other boys and turning off the van before facing you. “I want you to be more than satisfied. I want you to be happy.”
You studied his face, one that you knew so well and yet was so foreign. “I think I have to learn how to be happy again. Think you can help show me?”
He smiled a bit. “I think I could do that. But the boys say my jokes are pretty bad.”
You considered that for a moment. “Well, I suppose we’ll find out if I think they’re bad as well.”
Both of you jumped when Jimin slammed his hands against the window on the driver’s side.
“Come on! You have to see your new trailer! Eyes closed! You too, y/n! It’s your home now, too,” Jimin laughed out, opening the door.
You got out, following over to a spot and letting Taehyung cover your eyes.
They were scrambling in front of you, doing something or other.
“Okay!”
You opened your eyes to see the biggest wagon yet.
“What…is this?” Jin asked beside you, sounding confused.
You looked at Namjoon, then the wagon. You grabbed Jin’s hand.
“It’s for you, hyung,” Jungkook said, laughing a bit.
You pulled Jin to the wagon, letting Hoseok open the door for you, but you pulled and shoved Jin ahead of you so he could see it first.
Jin was so astonished that he was silent as he looked around.
You grinned, seeing the love for Jin in every part of it. How much they must rely on him still since they made sure there was space for all of them in there, without crowding Jin.
Jin was focused on the kitchen, then he seemed to notice you again, and he stared at you.
You held his gaze, smiling still.
He walked toward you, pushing Jimin out and closing the door, locking it so they were all out.
“Jin?” You asked, surprised.
“They’re noisy. It’s our first time in our new home,” He said, shaking his head. “Come on. This is our home. Welcome to our home.”
You smiled. “Welcome to our home.”
Maybe it wasn’t the same as ‘I love you’, but it was something that the two of you shared in a new life together.
A home.
–
Masterpost.
Masterlist. ~ Introduction.
Tagging: @bryophytas @young-yellkie @alex–awesome–22 @bryvada @missmoxxiesworld @knjhe @i-dont-even-know-fck