Uncovered Illusion - Taekook

"So how exactly are we gonna find them?" I ask Jungkook, as we step off the bus into the middle of the city, looking around at the crowds of people. He winces at the sheer amount of them, milling about like they have no idea what danger is, ignoring each other and only properly interacting when they collide or when they see someone they know.

It's oddly impersonal, but I guess that's the way a lot people are. I can't criticise them, either, because I'm the exact same. I avoid others too, only speaking to others when I have to. I guess it's our nature, a self-imposed isolation in large groups, even if we're mainly sociable creatures.

"I'm gonna be honest, I don't really know," he admits, "but I'd suggest just visiting one of them and going from there. Unless they've all moved within the last few months, we'll be able to find someone we can get to contact all of the others...unless they don't talk anymore?"

I shake my head instantly, knowing my friends well enough to be certain that they wouldn't just split into groups in such a way, even with everything that we've accidentally put them through. They're strong people, stronger than they realise, and the friendship they share matters more to them than they could possibly describe.

These things I have seen, and these things I recognise in them.

Jungkook nods, confirming that he's understood my response, before looking around to get his bearings, trying to find the best way to approach the situation. Trying to figure out who to go to first. And then it hits him, something so obvious we probably should have realised it earlier than now.

Jin is Jungkook's cousin. Their families still have contact with each other, despite everything that happened in the past, despite the fact that his mother is now dead. His father is probably able to get into contact with Jin's family for us, and help us find a way to meet up with everyone.

Unless they've all forgotten about us.

No. I can't think like that. If I give up now, just because I'm scared that I've been forgotten, that'll just take away from everything that they went through as a result of me. As a result of Jungkook. As a result of Green Arrow's messing with us. Mina's injuries, the trauma she now carries with her like a burden on her back.

And 21. She wouldn't want me to give up, not after the sacrifice she made for me. Even if she didn't want to live anyway, she made a choice that day. One I didn't want her to make, one I will never properly understand. But I saw something in her eyes, a kind of pride in herself that she managed to protect me. Even if she wasn't going to survive the experience.

Maybe she didn't want to survive it, anyway. I don't know.

"Hey, Dad, can you call Jin hyung?" A pause. "Yes, we're friends." Another pause. "Yes, and cousins too. I just wanna know where he lives, is all." There's another moment of silence, and then he's waiting for a good minute or so before he hears anything. He simply nods in understanding, pulling a ballpoint pen out of his pocket and writing something on his hand, probably the address required.

He then ends the call, and opens Google Maps on his phone, typing in the address in the search bar and loading up a route ready for us. He then puts the phone in his pocket, grabs my hand, and then starts to lead me away. I glance over at him. "Let me guess, you've memorised the whole route?"

He smiles a little, almost sheepishly. "Maybe." I just shake my head, a little amazed by the memory he seems to have. He frowns a little. "What?"
"Nothing. You're just...impressive, I guess. That's the best way to explain it. Shall we head to Jin's?"

He nods, his smile widening, becoming more confident as he leads me through a maze of streets and crowds and even a park. By the time we arrive, I'm nursing a stitch, which slices into my abdomen and makes me hold up a hand, pausing for a moment to breath and try and reduce the level of lactic acid in my muscles.

Jungkook lowers his head guiltily, his excitement clearly having taken over and made him move faster than either of us were expecting, too fast for me, anyway. "Sorry, I think I was just-"
"Don't worry, Kook, I understand. You're good." I straighten up as the pain lessens ever so slightly. He notices the change and squeezes my hand, raising an eyebrow. "Let the emotional reunions commence!"

We walk up to the front door properly, and then Jungkook rings the bell and stands back so that we can wait to see if anyone will answer. Much to my relief, Jin himself answers the door. He doesn't move for a second, too busy staring at the both of us, and that's when I remember that our hair colours have completely changed and we're holding hands. And we probably look much calmer, much cleaner than last time. Much more put together.Just a few differences. Nothing major.

"Um, hi-"

Jungkook is interrupted when Jin rushes forward without warning, enveloping us both in a tight hug.

"Holy fuck I missed you guys so much, how have you been? It's been months, where did you go, have you heard from your father, what's going on-"
"Hyung, we'll explain everything in a moment. Can you get in contact with everyone else for us?" I ask as gently as I can, even though I'm suffocating a little with this embrace.

Jin pulls away to nod in understanding, grabbing my arm and dragging me into the house, shutting the door behind him and then pulling out his phone and typing away for a few seconds. "I've told them you're here, and to arrive as soon as physically possible. Is that good?" he asks, a little breathlessly, and Jungkook nods, a small smile appearing.

"Thank you, hyung."
"No problem- wait. Since when did you call your elders hyung?" Jin questions, genuinely confused, and my boyfriend glances over at me for a moment.
"Since Tae helped me become myself rather than my brother."
"You did that for yourself, Kook. That wasn't anything to do with me."

Jungkook just raises an eyebrow at me, and Jin looks between the two of us, baffled. "What-" he starts, and I hold up a hand, shaking my head.
"We'll explain it to you when the others get here. It's a long story, and I don't want to have to tell it too much. Gets exhausting after a while."
"That's fair. But are you safer, now, than you were?" Jin checks. "Can I ask that, at least?"

Jungkook and I nod in unison. "We wouldn't visit until everything was relatively safe, that I can promise. We wouldn't want to get you guys hurt," I explain for the both of us. "We missed you, of course we did. But we also wanted to keep you alive. So we didn't really have any other choice, to be honest."

The rest of the group arrive a few minutes after Jin's settled us both down with a cup of tea and a chocolate cookie, and let us put our bags down for a moment to breathe. They rush into the room with arms already outstretched, leading to the biggest group hug I've ever been part of. I think I hear at least three people crying, and I'm not sure if one of them is me. It's possible, at this point.

When we all separate again, Jimin is the last to let go of me, and I don't tug myself away until he moves away himself, knowing that he needs the moment to just reassure himself that I'm really here. It's been a long time, after all, and after everything that was revealed last time, and the length of time I vanished for, it must be hard to process such a sudden development.

Namjoon offers me a familiar dimpled smile. "It's good to see you again, both of you. Am I right to assume that things have improved?"
"Completely," Jungkook responds after a few seconds, and the smiles this gets me, despite the tears on the faces of Jimin and, for some reason, Yoongi, hits straight at my heart.

These are my best friends. They've been more patient than I could ever expect them to be, more understanding, more faithful, than I deserve. In a world that, quite frankly, sucks, they stand out like rough diamonds in a coal factory. Sure, they're crying, and they don't look the same as they used to, but Jungkook and I are in a similar state.

Given the context, it makes perfect sense.

"So, before we start the story, I wanted to make something clear. Taehyung and I are now a couple. I know that seems odd, and it doesn't make much sense, given what we'd been through when we last saw each other. But once you've heard the story, maybe it will make a little bit more sense."

There's a moment of silence, as our friends think about that, and then Hoseok breaks into a wide smile. "You know, Kook, it does make sense. You know you can trust each other, after everything. Maybe now that there's less pressure and stress on you both, you can begin to live a normal life. I really hope you can."

I smile a little, wistfully. "I hope so too, Hobi hyung. I really do."