✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

After dinner, Y/N quietly made her way to her usual spot on the branch outside the treehouse. The night air was cool, and the world below was still. She leaned back, scanning the horizon as part of her nightly watch routine.

A sudden warm trickle down her nose startled her. Touching her face, her fingertips came away red. Blood. She quickly grabbed a nearby cloth, pressing it against her nose, her movements hurried but practiced. She exhaled slowly, trying to steady herself.

"Y/N?" Jin's voice cut through the stillness. He had spotted her and was already making his way over.

She quickly turned her back, hiding the bloodied cloth behind her. "It's nothing, Jin," she said softly, her voice calm but evasive.

Jin paused, his concern evident as he tried to step closer. "What's nothing? You're holding something-"

Before he could move further, Suga and RM, sitting nearby, exchanged a glance. They had seen the subtle way Y/N avoided Jin's questions and the cloth she tried to conceal. Suga didn't hesitate.

"Y/N," he called out, his tone firm but not harsh. Before she could climb further out onto the branch, he caught her wrist. "Come inside."

"Suga, I'm fine," she tried to protest, though her voice lacked conviction.

Ignoring her words, he guided her firmly but gently into the makeshift area of the treehouse. The others-Jungkook, Taehyung, Jimin, and Hobi-were seated there, talking casually, but they stopped mid-conversation as they saw Suga and RM escorting Y/N in.

"What happened?" Jungkook asked, his sharp eyes noticing the cloth pressed against her nose.

Y/N didn't answer, avoiding their gazes. Her face betrayed her discomfort as another faint trickle of blood stained the already-soaked cloth.

"Again?" RM muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

Suga pulled her gently into a seat. Without asking, he took the cloth from her trembling hand and began wiping away the blood. "Look at me, Y/N," he said, his voice quiet but insistent. She couldn't meet his eyes, her gaze fixed on the floor instead.

"Just rest," he said firmly after a moment, dabbing at her face with a fresh cloth.

"But I-"

"No 'buts,'" Suga cut her off. His voice softened slightly. "You've been pushing yourself too hard. It's showing, Y/N. Let us handle things for a while."

The room was silent, thick with unspoken concern. Hobi finally spoke up, his voice gentle. "Y/N, you don't have to do everything alone. Let us help."

Still avoiding their gazes, she sighed, finally nodding. But even in her agreement, it was clear that letting go of control-even just a little-was something she struggled with.

"I'll rest on my branch," Y/N replied coldly, her voice clipped and distant.

"You're staying here tonight," Jin said firmly, standing with his arms crossed.

"No," she snapped, her eyes flashing with defiance. "I said I'll rest on my branch."

Hobi stepped forward, his voice gentle but insistent. "Y/N, you've been carrying too much. Let us help. We've got your back."

Y/N's shoulders stiffened at his words. The blood that had been trickling down her nose now seemed to seep into her soul, filling her with a bitter, sharp resentment. She turned her head, locking eyes with Hobi first, then Suga.

"You've got my back?" she repeated, her tone sharp and bitter. "You've got my back now?"

Hobi froze, taken aback by the venom in her voice, but she wasn't done.

Her laugh darkened. "No, you don't," she said, the words laced with bitterness. "I've been the one holding you-all of you-up."

The room went silent.

"For years," she began, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion, "I've been searching for you, Suga, and you, Hobi. I didn't even know why. Maybe because I thought you cared. Maybe because I thought I did something wrong."

Her voice cracked, and her eyes grew glossy. "You left me. You abandoned me without a word. Do you know what it's like to wake up every day and wonder if the people you trusted the most are even alive? To question if I did something so terrible that you didn't even think I deserved an explanation?"

She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. No one moved. Even Suga, who usually had something to say, remained silent, his gaze locked on her.

"I used to lie awake every night," she continued, her voice quieter now, "wondering if you were okay. Hoping you were safe. Wishing-stupidly-that you had a reason for leaving me behind. That maybe, somehow, it was my fault."

Her breathing quickened, her emotions spilling out in sharp, raw edges. "But you know what? I thank you for leaving me. Because I wouldn't be the Y/N I am today if it weren't for you. I'm not the same naive girl who followed every word you said. I don't need you anymore."

She turned to Suga, her expression hardening. "You'll never know what I went through after you left. What it cost me. Because of that, I lost Sehun too. I don't even know why he left, just that he's gone too."

Her voice wavered, but she pressed on, bitterness and sadness mingling in every word. "You abandoned me when I needed you most. And now, you're here, acting like you have my back? Like you care? Where were you when I needed you the most, huh?"

She took a shaky breath, her tone shifting slightly, softer but still sharp. "But now... now I just want to live knowing I found you and you're safe. I've carried this pain, this anger, this weight alone for so long, and I'm tired. I don't want anything from you anymore. You'll never understand what I went through, and that's fine. I just want to move forward."

Her voice cracked again, but she didn't let the tears fall. "Don't stand there and pretend you care now. It's too late for you to play the part of the concerned friends."

She turned, for walking out of the treehouse with her head held high, the bloodied cloth still pressed against her nose. None of them stopped her. They didn't dare.

Suga's gaze followed her until she disappeared into the shadows. His jaw clenched, and his hands curled into fists. "We failed her," he muttered.

Hobi swallowed hard, guilt and regret etched on his face. "She's been carrying all of this alone. We should have been there."

For the first time in years, she let herself feel the some force of her anger, her sadness, her pain.

And for the first time, she didn't fully hide it.

---

Y/N took a few shaky steps toward the entrance of the treehouse, her heart pounding in her chest. The anger, the pain-everything she'd just released-left her feeling dizzy and unbalanced. Her body betrayed her as she stumbled forward, the blood from her nose still dripping steadily. The cloth barely kept up with the flow as she pressed it to her face, trying to hide her vulnerability.

But her legs couldn't hold her up anymore. The world tilted sharply, and before she could react, her knees buckled beneath her. She hit the ground hard, her body trembling violently as another wave of dizziness washed over her. She gasped for air, the blood continuing to seep through her fingers, staining the cloth.

Her breathing was ragged, uneven, and despite the pain and humiliation, she didn't want to stop. She wanted to stand up, to move away, but her body refused to listen. Every part of her felt like it was shutting down.

The sounds of hurried footsteps reached her just before she heard Jin's voice, alarmed and frantic.

"Y/N!" He rushed toward her, his voice cutting through the fog in her head. He crouched down beside her, his hands hovering over her. "What the hell are you doing?"

Before she could respond, Suga and RM were by her side as well, their expressions etched with concern and confusion.

"Y/N, what's going on?" Suga's voice was gentler now, though it still held an edge of frustration. He reached for the cloth she was gripping so tightly. "Let me help you."

She winced as he gently took it from her hand, his fingers brushing against hers with an unsettling tenderness. She barely registered the action, too exhausted and overwhelmed to protest.

Suga gently wiped away the blood from Y/N's face, his movements calm, though there was a quiet tension in the air. The others were still, waiting for her to react, but Y/N's eyes never left the door. There was an intensity to her gaze, something alert, something on edge. Her breath was slow, but her body was wound tight like a spring, ready to snap.

As Suga continued to dab at the blood, Y/N's hand slowly inched toward her waist. Her fingers curled around the familiar hilt of the dagger she always kept by her side. Her grip tightened just slightly, the cold metal reassuring her in the silence that followed her outburst.

Suga noticed the subtle shift in her, his gaze flicking to her hand before following her line of sight. He felt the atmosphere change in an instant, a low tension hanging in the air. His fingers paused, brushing against her skin.

"Y/N," he murmured, his voice soft, but there was a quiet understanding now. "You're safe here."

She didn't respond, her attention locked on the door, her body poised as if she could spring into action at any moment. She didn't even flinch when Suga's hand remained at her face, wiping away the blood that was still seeping from her nose. Her eyes narrowed, her instincts alert, scanning for any sign of danger.

The silence dragged on, thick and suffocating. Finally, RM spoke, his voice measured but filled with understanding, "She's not ready to let her guard down, not yet. She's been through too much."

Y/N's breath came in sharp, shallow bursts as her grip on the dagger loosened just a fraction. Her eyes darted between the door and Suga, clearly conflicted, but she remained still.

There he was. Park Hyung Sik.

Y/N's breath hitched at the sight of him, her pulse racing as the memories of their previous encounter resurfaced. It felt like an eternity since she'd seen him, but the recognition was instant. Even the others could feel the tension, the undercurrent of something unsaid between them. The air was thick with the weight of unspoken history.

She cursed herself under her breath. What had she been thinking? Pushing herself too hard, trying to protect everyone when she couldn't even stand. Her body betrayed her, and now, she couldn't even protect them properly. She had moved in front of her teammates instinctively, placing herself between them and him-whoever he was-ready to defend them. But she could barely hold herself up, her legs shaky, her breath shallow.

Hyung Sik stood at the entrance, watching her. His gaze softened as he observed her, his eyes scanning her as if seeing past the physical struggle to the deeper pain she was hiding. She was weak-he knew that, but something inside her refused to lie down. Something inside her wouldn't let go, wouldn't give in.

Y/N swallowed hard, her voice ragged as she forced herself to speak. "Why are you here?" Her words were sharp, demanding, though they trembled with exhaustion. Suga was still there, holding her steady, but she couldn't quite feel his touch over the fire burning in her chest.

Hyung Sik bit his lip, clearly struggling with the situation. He could see the way Y/N was fighting herself, the way her guard was so high, so fragile, despite her weakened state.

"I told you before," he said slowly, his voice unwavering but soft. "And I'm telling you now too-I'm not your enemy."

The words seemed to hang in the air, but they did little to ease the tension in Y/N's chest. As soon as he finished speaking, her body gave way. She collapsed to her knees, her legs unable to hold her any longer.

But even as she crumbled, her eyes never left Hyung Sik. Despite everything-despite the exhaustion, the blood, and the hurt-she couldn't let her guard down.

"Don't you dare harm any of us," she hissed, her voice rough, her eyes flashing with defiance.

Hyung Sik didn't move. He just stared at her, his expression unreadable as he saw her struggle. It was clear she was fighting not only him but everything inside her, and he couldn't help but admire her resilience-even if it was breaking her.

He took a step closer, but he stayed crouched at a careful distance, just within her line of sight. His voice was steady but filled with an underlying urgency. "You need proper treatment, Y/N," he said, keeping his gaze fixed on her eyes. "You need medical help. And for that, you need to go to Minho's base. Not later. Now. Or... if you don't want to go now, then you can wait until morning."

Her eyes remained bloodshot and unblinking as she stared at him, the tension between them so thick it was almost tangible. Her heart hammered in her chest, but she couldn't let herself trust him-not yet.

"You were spying on us again, weren't you?" she accused, her words sharp with accusation.

The others in the room froze, confusion flashing in their eyes. How did she know?

Hyung Sik's gaze didn't falter. He had expected this, knew she would sense it. He was never going to lie to her, not about this.

"It's not what you think," he said quietly, his voice low, calm, but with an edge of regret. "But you're right. I've been keeping an eye on you. I know it looks bad, but I'm not your enemy."

She didn't want to believe him. She couldn't trust anyone anymore, not after everything. Not after the lies, the betrayals, the betrayals that stung so much deeper than any wound. She knew Hyung Sik wasn't the enemy, but she also knew she couldn't let herself be vulnerable. Not now. Not ever again.

Her chest tightened as she forced herself to breathe. There was too much at stake. She couldn't let her guard slip-no matter who stood in front of her.

The others watched in silence, but it was clear they all understood the weight of the situation. Suddenly, Y/N's nose started to bleed again-slowly at first, then more steadily as the tension took its toll on her body. She wiped at it hastily, but it was clear to everyone now that time was running out. The blood was a physical sign of just how much she had pushed herself.

There was no time to waste.

Hyung Sik took a few steps forward and crouched down in front of her, making sure to keep the proper distance, not wanting to startle her. He gently cupped her face in his hands, bringing her eyes to meet his. "Y/N, now," he urged softly, his voice filled with concern. "Please. You need help now. Let me take you to Minho's base."

Her eyes locked onto his, bloodshot and tired, but there was something in them-a quiet acceptance, maybe fear, maybe a flicker of trust. She could barely keep herself upright anymore, her body trembling from exhaustion.

Y/N steadied herself slightly, her voice still trembling with exhaustion, but firm. "I can't leave them behind. I can't leave the treehouse like this... not now."

The others, standing in tense silence, could only watch as the weight of her decision settled in the air. The blood from her nose started to drip more freely, staining her hand as she wiped it away. Her head felt heavy, her vision beginning to blur from the blood loss.

As she spoke those words, her legs finally gave way. She staggered for a brief moment, trying to keep herself up, but her body betrayed her. Her knees buckled, and before she could react, she collapsed.

Hyung Sik caught Y/N instantly as she collapsed, his arms firm around her. He could tell she trusted him, even if just a little. He looked at the others, who were still standing in stunned silence, processing everything.

Without hesitation, he turned his gaze to RM, his voice calm but urgent. "We need to leave. You have 15 minutes. Gear up, take her belongings, and make sure the treehouse looks like it did when you first arrived. Don't leave anything behind. Meet me downstairs."

RM, still processing the situation, nodded firmly. "Understood," he said, signaling the others to move quickly. No words were needed now. They knew the urgency. They needed to act fast, and they were already preparing to do so.

Hyung Sik adjusted his hold on Y/N, making sure she was secure as he waited for everyone to finish what they needed to do. He kept his attention focused on her, ensuring she remained safe, even if only for this fleeting moment of trust.

As the others quickly gathered their things and prepared for the journey, Hyung Sik stayed close to Y/N, his attention never wavering from her. He gently wiped the blood from her face, his fingers soft as he worked to clean her up, though he knew the blood wasn't the only thing that had her tense.

He could feel the way her muscles were wound tight, every inch of her body on alert despite the exhaustion. It was clear she wasn't fully relaxed-her guard was still high, even in her unconscious state, a lingering reminder of everything she'd been through.

He leaned closer, his voice low and reassuring. "Don't worry," he said quietly, brushing her hair back from her face. "No one's going to be left behind. We're leaving and make sure evreyone, everything's secure. We'll get through this, together."

His words were soft but firm, an attempt to calm her even as he knew she wasn't completely at ease. But for now, the urgency of the moment took precedence, and he made sure to keep her steady, aware of the time ticking down.

---

As everyone worked in sync, the tension in the air was palpable. Suga, RM, and Jungkook prepared the horses swiftly, ensuring the saddles were secure and supplies were evenly distributed. They carried only the essentials-weapons, medical kits, and minimal provisions-knowing anything extra could slow them down.

Taehyung, Jimin, and Jin meticulously secured the treehouse, covering their tracks and setting traps to ensure no one could tell they had been there. Every detail was checked, from erasing footprints to camouflaging the entrance, ensuring their hideout looked untouched.

Meanwhile, Hobi climbed one of the tallest trees nearby, scanning the surrounding area with Y/N's binoculars. His keen eyes swept the landscape, ensuring there were no immediate threats. Though the journey ahead would take hours, the immediate vicinity needed to be clear for a safe start. Satisfied, he signaled to the others below.

Hyung Sik, holding Y/N securely in his arms, moved with the help of Jungkook and Taehyung. They carefully climbed down the treehouse, Hyung Sik adjusting his hold on Y/N to ensure she was steady. Once on the ground, he approached Orion, her trusted mare. He stroked the horse's neck gently, whispering soothing words as he mounted with Y/N in his arms.

The group was ready. Seven horses for nine people meant some would have to double up. Jin and Jungkook shared one of the stronger stallions, while the others each mounted their own. Hyung Sik kept Y/N close, ensuring she was safe as Orion shifted beneath him, ready for the journey ahead.

Without a word, the group moved out, the sound of hooves breaking the silence of the forest as they left the treehouse behind.

---

As they moved through the quiet forest, Y/N rested against Hyung Sik, her body leaning into him for support. Her head rested on his shoulder, her eyes closed, but her senses heightened. She wasn't sleeping-she never truly could during a journey like this-but she was resting, attuned to every sound around them. Every rustle, every whisper of the wind was noted, her instincts sharp as ever. The safety of the group was always her priority, even in this state.

Hyung Sik kept a firm grip on Orion's reins, his other arm steadying Y/N. Her presence against him was both a weight and a reassurance;