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The dim room felt stifling, the weight of nearly a week of silence pressing down on everyone like a suffocating blanket. The orange glow of the setting sun cast long shadows across the space, painting an atmosphere of desperation.

"It's been almost seven days!" Hyungsik's voice broke through the oppressive quiet, trembling with frustration. He slammed his fist onto the table. "What the hell are we even doing here? Waiting for a miracle?"

"We're being cautious," RM said firmly, his calm demeanor a sharp contrast to Hyungsik's anger. "Rushing out blindly isn't going to help anyone."

"Cautious?" Hyungsik laughed bitterly, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the edge of the table. "Cautious isn't bringing them back. It's just leaving them out there!"

"You think you're the only one who cares?" Suga snapped, leaning forward, his tone sharp. "You think any of us are okay with this?"

"Then why aren't we doing something?" Hyungsik shot back.

Jungkook, who had been sitting silently in the corner, finally spoke up, his voice quiet but cutting. "What if they can't make it back?"

The words hung in the air like a thunderclap.

"What did you just say?" Sehun's voice was low, trembling with barely restrained fury.

Jungkook hesitated, his eyes narrowing as he looked up at Sehun. "I'm just saying we have to consider-"

"Say it again," Sehun interrupted, taking a menacing step forward. His tone was quiet, but it carried the weight of a storm. "Go on. Say it louder."

"Enough, Sehun," RM warned, but the words barely registered.

"You don't know her!" Sehun shouted, closing the distance between them. "You don't know what she's capable of!"

Jungkook stood, his frustration boiling over. "And you think I don't care? You think I don't want them back? Stop acting like you're the only one hurting here!"

Before anyone could intervene, Sehun grabbed Jungkook by the collar, shoving him against the wall. "Don't you dare talk like that! You don't know her! You don't know what she's survived!"

Jungkook shoved back, his voice rising. "And you think you're the only one who believes in her? I'm not giving up, but we have to face the facts-"

"Stop it!" Hoseok yelled, rushing forward with Suga to pull Sehun off Jungkook. RM grabbed Jungkook, dragging him back as the room erupted into chaos.

"This isn't helping anyone!" RM shouted, his voice booming.

"Let go of me!" Sehun struggled against Hoseok's grip, his chest heaving. "He doesn't get to talk about her like that!"

"Enough, Sehun!" Jin's voice cut through the noise, sharp and commanding. "You're not the only one who's scared! We're all terrified!"

"Then why are we just standing here?" Hyungsik's voice broke, the anger in his eyes now mingled with desperation. "We should be out there looking for them!"

"And if we lose more people in the process?" Suga shot back, his voice steady but biting. "You think that's what Y/N or Taehyung would want?"

The room fell into a tense silence, the only sound the heavy breathing of the group. Jiwoo, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, finally stood.

"They'll come back," she said softly, her voice filled with quiet certainty. "Y/N will come back. She always does."

Hyungsik shook his head, his voice breaking. "You don't know that, Jiwoo."

"Yes, I do." Her gaze was unwavering. "She's survived things that should've killed her. And she'll survive this, too. She's not just strong-she's unstoppable."

Minho nodded, his voice calm but resolute. "She's not alone. Taehyung's with her. They'll find a way back. We just need to be ready when they do."

Slowly, the tension began to deflate, though it lingered in the air like a ghost. Sehun finally pulled away from Hoseok, his chest still rising and falling with the force of his emotions.

"I'm not giving up," he said, his voice raw but steadier now. "She's coming back. And when she does, she'll bring Taehyung with her. Like she always does."

The group exchanged glances, the weight of his words settling over them. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the room in darkness. They would hold on-because there was no other choice.

---

The day was beginning again, the skies still shrouded in gray, casting a somber hue over the townhall. Inside, the atmosphere was equally heavy, marked by silence and exhaustion.

Jiwoo sat with Haru cradled in her lap, the toddler half-asleep, her small fingers gripping her mother's shirt. Jin and Suga lingered near the fireplace, their expressions grim. RM stood by the wall, his arms folded, watching the door as if willing it to open. Minho and Hoseok were by the window, their faces etched with worry. Jimin and Jungkook sat on the floor, tension palpable in their hunched postures.

Sehun was by the window as well, staring into the dense forest, his jaw clenched. He hadn't said much in days, but the weight of his worry hung around him like a shadow. Hyungsik was seated nearby, his arms folded tightly across his chest, his eyes tired but unwavering. He hadn't spoken in hours, but his gaze remained locked on the door.

Then it came-a sound that made everyone freeze.

Footsteps. Uneven, shuffling.

"Did you hear that?" Hoseok whispered sharply, turning to look at the door.

The sound grew louder, heavier, as though whoever was approaching was dragging themselves along.

Sehun straightened, moving instinctively toward the door. "Someone's coming."

The door creaked open.

Two figures stood in the threshold, battered and barely upright.

Taehyung leaned heavily against Y/N, his face pale, a deep gash above his eyebrow oozing blood, streaking down to mix with the dirt and grime on his face. His shirt was shredded, the fabric burnt and torn, revealing cuts across his chest and stomach, each one bleeding sluggishly. His right thigh was no better-gouges and cuts marred the skin, some still fresh, some already beginning to scab over. His knees were scraped, he had fallen or been dragged, the blood mixing with dirt and soot on his legs.

But it was Y/N who drew everyone's attention.

Her face was streaked with dirt and blood, a cut running down her cheek. Her shirt was ripped at the shoulder, revealing an angry burn on her upper arm. Blood soaked the fabric over her ribs, evidence of a deep gash. Her knuckles were scraped raw, and her left wrist hung at an awkward angle, likely dislocated. Her knees too were badly scraped, bruises darkening the skin.

Yet her eyes burned with determination as she stepped inside, half-carrying Taehyung to the couch.

"Y/N!" Jiwoo's voice broke the silence, both a cry of relief and disbelief.

Y/N ignored her, easing Taehyung down before straightening with a wince. Her sharp exhale betrayed the strain she was under, but she immediately walked to the armchair by the fireplace, lowering herself into it as if she'd merely returned from a stroll.

Sehun was the first to speak, stepping toward her. "What the hell were you thinking?"

Y/N leaned her head back against the chair, her voice dry as ever. "That I wasn't leaving Taehyung behind."

"You're bleeding," Suga said, crouching beside her, his sharp eyes scanning her injuries.

"No kidding," she replied. "I'll deal with it."

"You're in no condition to 'deal with it,'" Jin said, moving to check on Taehyung, who was half-conscious on the couch. "We need to take care of you both now."

Taehyung stirred weakly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "She... wouldn't let me give up."

Y/N smirked faintly. "Damn right I wouldn't."

Jiwoo, holding Haru tightly, spoke up, her voice trembling. "Y/N, you're-"

"-alive," Y/N interrupted firmly. "That's all that matters."

Sehun stepped closer, his voice tight with emotion. "You always do this. You come back like this, acting like it's no big deal. Do you know what it's like for us, waiting, wondering if this is the time you don't?"

Y/N met his gaze steadily. "But I did come back. That's the point."

Sehun's frustration cracked, and before she could react, he pulled her into a hug.

She tensed, a sharp gasp escaping her as pain flared in her ribs. "Ow-damn it, Sehun!"

He immediately loosened his grip, though he didn't let go completely. A smirk tugged at his lips as he leaned back slightly, meeting her glare with a teasing grin. "What's this? Not so invincible now, huh?"

"Shut up," she muttered, though a hint of a smile broke through.

Hyungsik, who had been standing quietly nearby, let out a short, frustrated breath. "This is ridiculous," he muttered, his hands shaking slightly as he walked over. "Do you really think this is the solution?"

Sehun gave him a sharp look, but before he could respond, Hyungsik's voice was already rising with frustration. "She's hurt, you're hurt, and all you two care about is acting like it's fine! Why can't we just be a team and not-"

"It's not that simple, Hyungsik," Y/N interrupted, her voice firm, yet weary. "I didn't come back for the applause. I came back for you all."

"I-" Hyungsik started, but his voice faltered. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to rein in his emotions.

Jimin, noticing the growing tension, placed a hand on Hyungsik's shoulder. "We're all on edge," he said quietly. "But she's here. That's all that matters."

"Yeah, well, that's one hell of a way to make an entrance," Jungkook muttered, a small, relieved smile tugging at the corner of his mouth despite himself.

"Glad you're back," Minho added, though his tone remained serious. "But next time, maybe don't try to kill us all with worry."

Y/N chuckled softly, though it quickly turned into a pained wince. "No promises."

Sehun finally released her, but his eyes didn't leave her face. "I'll hold you to that."

"Enough with the dramatics," Y/N said with a sharp breath, trying to sit up straighter. "Let's move on."

Her words, blunt as ever, somehow brought the room back to life. The weight in the air lifted just enough for everyone to breathe again.

Jin continued to work on patching up Taehyung, the sound of bandages being unrolled and the occasional grunt of pain filling the heavy silence. The others remained still, watching in quiet concern as the severity of their injuries became clear. They were all worn down-physically and emotionally-but it was Y/N who weighed heavily on everyone's mind.

Without warning, Y/N let out a soft, weary sigh. She stood up, her knees wobbling slightly as she moved, and her eyes scanned the room for a moment. No one said anything as she began to walk slowly towards the stairs, her movements deliberate but tired. Her limp was obvious, the pain from her own injuries evident in the way she struggled to keep her balance.

"Y/N..." Sehun began, his voice edged with worry, but she didn't stop. She didn't even glance back. She simply continued her path to the stairs, ignoring the questions hanging in the air.

Her footsteps echoed faintly as she ascended, each step slower than the last. Once she reached the top, she turned the corner and walked into her room. The soft sound of the door clicking shut was the only sign she had made it.

Below, the others exchanged glances, their gazes shifting between each other as they processed her sudden exit. The weight of the silence hung thick in the room, but it was Taehyung who broke it.

His eyes remained closed, but a deep, shaky breath escaped him. He swallowed hard, his throat tight. "You don't know what we've done... or rather, what she has," he muttered, his voice hoarse but tinged with an odd amusement.

Taehyung shifted slightly, wincing at the strain on his injured body. His eyes were focused on the ceiling for a moment, but he spoke as though he were reliving the event, his voice rough but filled with an unspoken weight.

The others watched in silence, waiting for him to continue, the tension thick in the room.

"I was drowning," Taehyung continued, his eyes briefly closing as the memory replayed in his mind. "I don't know how it happened-one moment, I was fighting the current, and the next, I was going under. The waterfall... it hit me harder than I expected. I could barely breathe. The water was cold, suffocating. I thought... I thought I was done for."

His hands gripped the edge of the cot, fingers trembling slightly as he recalled the terror.

"I was unconscious when she found me. She was exhausted, barely standing herself. We had been running, fighting-everything had drained her. But she still jumped into that water after me. Despite everything-her fatigue, the wounds she was carrying-she didn't hesitate."

Taehyung's voice cracked slightly as he spoke, the weight of the memory heavy on him. "She dragged me out of that water. I don't know how she did it. She was on the verge of collapsing, but she never gave up on me. Not once. Even when the current tried to pull me back in, even when she could barely keep her own balance, she kept pushing. She never gave up."

His eyes met Sehun's and the others, his gaze filled with a mixture of gratitude and disbelief.

"She saved me. And that wasn't the first time. I saw what she's capable of when it's just us-when there's no one else to rely on. I don't know how she keeps doing it, but... she always comes through."

A soft chuckle escaped him then, though it was tinged with exhaustion. Taehyung's lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "But I'm not gonna tell you everything she did after that. You wouldn't believe me. She'll tell you eventually, trust me... you'll hear it from her."

He paused for a moment, his smile growing faintly wistful, as though remembering a private moment that only he truly understood.

"All I'll say is... we kissed. And it wasn't just the water messing with our head." His voice trailed off for a second before he shook his head, as though trying to dismiss the vulnerability of the moment.

There was a quiet pause, and Taehyung's expression softened, the laughter in his eyes replaced with something more introspective as he allowed himself a rare, unguarded smile.

Taehyung's words hung in the air like a sudden storm, his casual mention of the kiss sending a ripple of surprise through the room. The atmosphere shifted.

Jin, who had been tending to Taehyung's wounds, froze for a second, his hands pausing mid-air. His eyes widened, then quickly darted away, a faint blush creeping across his cheeks. "Well... that's one way to put it," he muttered, his tone light but with an underlying hesitation.

Namjoon's lips pressed into a tight line as he looked over at Taehyung, but the surprise in his eyes was unmistakable. He cleared his throat, straightening up. "I-uh, didn't know you were so... open about things, Taehyung," he said, trying to play it off with a half-chuckle, but his eyes avoided meeting anyone else's.

Jimin's reaction was the most dramatic-his eyebrows shot up, and for a brief moment, he opened his mouth, as though to say something, but quickly shut it, opting instead for a short, awkward laugh. He scratched the back of his neck, still not meeting anyone's gaze. ""Well, looks like Taehyung's in a talkative mood today..."

Meanwhile, Yoongi's lips curled in a half-smile, but there was something unreadable in his eyes. He let out a soft breath, exhaling through his nose like he wasn't entirely sure how to respond. "You two... better make sure you're ready for whatever comes next," he muttered, the smirk barely visible before he quickly looked away, seemingly unfazed by the confession but certainly not able to mask the intrigue.

But the most noticeable reactions came from the group who'd been silent, exchanging fleeting glances. There was a barely contained tension in their eyes, and though they tried to hide it, it was impossible to miss the slight shift in their postures.

Minho, ever the professional, simply lifted an eyebrow and smirked, though the way his fingers tapped rhythmically against the arm of the chair hinted at something more than just casual indifference. His gaze flickered to Jiwoo and then to Sehun, before he quickly returned to the floor. "Nothing to say here," he remarked with a nonchalant shrug.

Hyungsik glanced at Taehyung and Y/N's direction but quickly looked away, his expression betraying just a hint of surprise. The corner of his mouth twitched, but he too kept his cool, shaking his head slightly like it was no big deal.

Sehun, on the other hand, remained entirely unfazed. His expression was as neutral as ever, but there was a flicker in his eyes, almost as if he knew more than he was letting on. Jiwoo, too, exchanged a fleeting glance with Sehun before her attention shifted elsewhere, a subtle smile tugging at her lips as if she shared some quiet amusement with him.

The rest, though... couldn't quite keep their reactions hidden. Eyes wide, cheeks slightly flushed, and awkward coughs-everyone else in the room seemed to try to play it off, but their forced smiles, their inability to meet anyone's gaze, spoke volumes. There was a sudden sense of awkwardness that had been unspoken before.

Jungkook, trying to break the tension, chuckled nervously. "Guess we all know Taehyung's not shy now, huh?" He laughed, though it came off a little too loud, almost to cover up his discomfort.

Taehyung just leaned back in his seat, feeling both the weight of the moment and the humor that came with it. He let out a low laugh, as if to acknowledge the teasing that was sure to follow. "Relax, everyone. It's not that big of a deal... or maybe it is?" he added with a wink, watching their reactions with amusement.

For the others, though, they had to pretend like it was all nothing. They quickly turned away, avoiding any more glances in his direction, though the playful tension in the air couldn't be ignored.

Taehyung couldn't help but burst into laughter, his earlier teasing turning into genuine amusement as he noticed the reactions around him. He leaned back, his chest still heaving from the chuckles, then waved his hand dismissively, as if apologizing for the playful confession.

"Alright, alright, I'm kidding," he said, still laughing, but his tone softening as he saw the mix of confusion and tension on everyone's faces. "Sorry, sorry. I really didn't mean it like that."

He paused, his smile fading as the reality of the situation settled back in. His voice softened, and for a moment, the room fell silent. "It wasn't... a kiss or anything like that," he continued, his words quieter now. "My heart stopped-my pulses were barely there. She had to give me CPR... and mouth-to-mouth..."

The others stayed quiet, processing his words, but Taehyung's eyes flickered with something deeper now. A slight shudder ran through him as he recalled the moment, the terrifying feeling of slipping into unconsciousness.

"She just... did it," Taehyung continued, his gaze fixed somewhere distant, lost in the memory. "She said it so casually, but I could see it in her eyes-her fear. The fear of losing me, of not being able to save me. It was the first time I saw that kind of raw fear from her, and it... shook me."

There was a long pause as his words sank in. The room, which had been filled with tension moments ago, now felt eerily quiet. The others exchanged glances, their earlier laughter forgotten as the reality of what had happened became clear.

Jin was the first to break the silence, his voice softer now. "You sure you're okay, Taehyung?" he asked, concern replacing the teasing in his tone. "That's... not something easy to go through, even for someone as