Stay away from the castle for now. It won't go well for you if you come here.

I should have followed orders. There was no reason for me to show up. By now, everyone knew what I had done.

But I couldn't just disappear. Not again.

I couldn't imagine what Hoseok would think if I just walked out. Would he blame himself? Would he hate me? What about the others? What would they think of me? How would they react if I showed up?

I should have stayed away from the castle. I didn't belong there.

But I had to see her one more time. I had to see her with my own eyes.

I snuck into the castle. I saw why it was so easy for Jackson to do it. I'd have to give Jin some tips on how to improve that.

I wandered around the castle, trying to find Jin. Instead, found everyone. Talking about me.

"It's not your fault, Hoseok." Y/N said. "Please don't beat yourself up about it."

Damn, Hoseok. He had done so much for me.

"So what do we do now?" Jimin asked.

"Notify the police to have him arrested," Namjoon suggested.

"Or shoot him on sight," Jungkook said.

Well, he wasn't happy with me, was he?

"We're not going to shoot him," Jin said. "But we will have to take some action."

I screwed up with Jin. Maybe I should have made it easier on him. I didn't want anyone tracing it back to him - after all he had done for me.

This was the last thing I could do for him.

I stepped into the room. "I don't expect you to go easy on me."

Everyone turned towards me. The tension almost snapped me in half.

I saw Jungkook for a split second before he clocked me in the jaw. I winced and hit the ground, the pain in my ribs ripping through me again.

"I deserved that." I said.

"You deserve a lot more." Jungkook spat. "I'll give it to you. Just wait for it. How can you just walk back in here after what you've done!"

"Did you really do it?" Jimin asked, hoping for another answer than the truth.

I looked at Jin.

I told you to stay away. His eyes said.

I couldn't. I tried to say back.

I nodded at Jimin.

"Why?" he asked.

I looked at Y/N. She was bruised and scarred, but she sat straight up, looking me dead in the eyes.

How could a broken woman be so beautiful?

Everything in my mind went blank.

"You know?" I said. "I don't remember."

She looked away from me.

"No harm was supposed to come to her," I continued. "But since it has, I'll take responsibility for it. So, Jin? What's the verdict?"

He eyed me for a moment, understanding what I was doing. At the same time, I meant it. II caused all these problems by trusting Jackson. I was going to take responsibility. I couldn't run this time.

Jin put a finger on his lips, staring at me. He closed his eyes for a moment and then waved his hands at his guards.

"I don't want to do this, Yoongi, but... Arrest him."

A couple guards stepped in and brought my hands behind my back. It brought back old memories.

"I'll have the names and locations of the three that attacked her." I said. "Find me when you want them."

I turned to Y/N. "And if Jin doesn't find them, I swear to God that I'll track them down myself and make them pay for what they did. You have my word."

That was all I could offer her. I wanted to give her more, but she wouldn't take it from me even if I begged at this point.

I tried to smile as they pulled me away.

This was the last time I'd ever see her.

I didn't want to show how much that killed me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"How's the new apartment?"

I opened a beer as Jin asked me a thousand questions through my bluetooth.

"Better than an execution." I replied.

Jin chuckled through the phone line. "You won't be executed, Yoongi. This Jackson person, however..."

He trailed off. I couldn't even feel bad about it. Jackson was guilty of treason. That bastard was actually planning to...

If Jin didn't kill him, I would.

"How are your ribs?" he asked.

"Healed, mostly. It's nothing I haven't experienced before."

"Are you taking the medicines the doctor gave you?"

"God, when did you become my mom, Jin?"

There was a pause on the other end.

"Thank you, Yoongi." he said.

I sighed. "For what? Screwing up my job?"

"No. You didn't screw up. I did. You took broken ribs for her. Along with a few other injuries. If it weren't for me, none of this would have happened to either one of you."

Leave it to Jin to act humbly out of guilt.

"I'm not done yet." I replied. "Jackson is still loose."

"Yes, I know. My men haven't been able to track him or anyone else down."

I growled. "They've gone into hiding. I'll find them."

"I'd rather you didn't. I don't want you killed."

"I don't want anyone near her again."

SIlence drifted between us.

"You really care about her, don't you?" he said.

I took a large swallow of beer. "What do you mean?"

He chuckled. "It's not like you're incredibly patriotic. You're not taking broken ribs and tracking down gang members because you like me. Even though I am rather likeable."

I took another drink. I tried not to cough as it went down.

"I think she misses you too, Yoongi."

I pointed at the wall in front of me, as if it were Jin himself. "Don't say things like that."

He laughed. "You really do have a soft spot for her. You wouldn't have come back if you didn't."

"Keep your eye out for Jackson," I replied, changing the subject. "He got in the castle once. He'll do it again."

"You have my word." Jin said.

I pulled the bluetooth out of my ear and threw it on the counter. I thought about turning on the big screen to drown out the silence, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.

I wanted to see her again.

The fact that I never could was killing me.