{only temporary}

In the grip of silent panic, everyone was frozen in conflict. No one knew what to do, Jimin had been infected and hope was slowly fading away. Anyone would usually suggest cutting off the limb, in this case Jimin's wrist. But it was pointless. The bite was at least ten hours old which meant that the infection had spread throughout majority of his body and had most likely just reached the brain. They didn't have much time. 

Brain seizing up Yoongi was still hovered above Jimin unclear of what to do. He could turn into a walker at any minute and here he was still holding onto him. What was he even doing?

"Bring him and follow me!"

Snapping out of his trance, Yoongi snapped his head in the direction of the voice. It was Tessa, gun raised in her hand- not at Yoongi and Jimin, but at the gathering crowd. Yoongi watched as she rolled her eyes in frustration, "Are you coming or what!?" 

Heart racing and brain on fire Yoongi slipped his hands underneath Jimin's form, pulling him into his tight embrace as he rose to his feet. In the chaos Yoongi didn't even spare a glance at Jungkook who had his gun raised alongside Tessa. It seemed that Jungkook was on Jimin's side as well. 

The three of them broke out into a sprint as they made there way quickly to the medical bay located across camp. The morning air was still crisp, an awakening feeling as they sprint across the camps centre where they only drew more unwanted attention. This only caused Yoongi to pull Jimin's form closer to his own, hiding as much of the boy as possible. 

Tessa approached a larger wooden structure, pushing open the wooden doors and directing Yoongi to a vacant bed. He was quick to place Jimin on the mattress whilst Jungkook guarded the door. Tessa on the other hand slipped out a key from her back pocket, dashing over to a cupboard and unlocking one of the metal draws. 

"What's in there?" Yoongi spoke with a hint of worry. Jimin was beginning to violently cough, a shiver running over his body as he worked up a sweat. 

"The temporary antidote." Tessa replied, pulling out a vile of liquid and inserting it into a disinfected needle compartment, "We had some shipped in a few days ago." She spoke, flicking the needle with her finger before making her way back over to Jimin's side. "Don't forget, this is a temporary vaccine that slows the infection, so it needs to be injected daily. I'm not sure of the science behind it. That's why we're calling in the creator."

Yoongi simply nod and moved aside as Tessa crouched beside Jimin's bed, taking a firm hold of his wrist. Finding the veins, she pricked the needle through the skin, slowly injecting the liquid into his corrupted system. Yoongi watched as Jimin flinched, but was quick to settle as if nothing ever happened, breathing slowing back to its normal pace. 

Tessa sighed in relief, "Thank God." she spoke, placing the needle on the table beside the bed, "Your friend almost died... if he was bitten in the neck or any further up, the infection would have reached the brain much faster."

It was true that Jimin was lucky. The higher the bite, the quicker it could infect the brain. No one actually knew how the virus worked, or what it actually was. He was hoping the creator of the temporary antidote would at least have more answers about that. 

"Oh my God! Is he okay?" Jungkook called, making sure the building was secure as he shut the door behind him, slipping his hand gun away. 

"He's fine- I think." Yoongi replied, still crouched beside Jimin's bed. Lifting his arm, Yoongi placed a gentle hand against Jimin's forehead, feeling that the males temperature was declining back to normal. 

"That was a close call." Jungkook said, breathing out in relief as he sat himself on a nearby bed. 

Jungkook had had his suspicions ever since he knew about the fate of Jimin's squad. With all the bloodshed he had witnessed in the squad van last night, he knew Jimin wouldn't have gotten out unscathed. What surprised Jungkook the most however was the fact that Jimin managed to hide it so well. 

"It sure was! Do you guys know how stupid of a stunt that was to pull!?" Tessa called, fists clenched by her sides. "The camp is probably in chaos right now! I wouldn't even be surprised if the leader of camp Beta barged in right n-"

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!" 

Tessa was abruptly cut off by the sound of the wooden door being slammed open. Slammed open with so much force that Jungkook and Yoongi wouldn't have been surprised if one of the hinges came loose. A tall slim male entered through the door, running a hand stressfully through his overly bleached hair. Both Yoongi and Jungkook stood up in fright, they could practically feel the male's authority radiating off of him. 

Tessa sheepishly smiled as she rubbed the back of her neck, "N-Namjoon! What brings you here so early in the morning?" 

Yoongi practically face palmed at how terrible this girl was at acting. 

With the way Tessa was beginning to stutter, this man obviously had high authority. The only person with a higher authority then herself was the leader of one of the major three camps in the area. 

Namjoon crossed his arms firmly across his body, "What do you mean, 'what brings you here.' The camp is literally in complete chaos! Apparently there's a stage three infected inside the walls!" The male was obviously completely stressed out, tousled bed hair and sweats making it obvious that he had been rudely awoken. 

Jungkook stepped forwards slowly, trying not to provoke the taller male, "As you can see," Jungkook gestured towards Jimin, "It's been taken care of." 

Yoongi and Tessa watched on as Jungkook and Namjoon's glares clashed violently with one another's. Namjoon's was so powerful and stern, but Jungkook's was so intimidating. 

Namjoon eventually looked past Jungkook to Tessa, "You gave him some of the temporary cure, correct?" 

Tessa nod, "Correct. He'll need a dose daily..." Tessa's words trailed off into sorrow. And Yoongi understood why. Jimin would have to take the antidote every day for the rest of his life unless they found a cure. It seemed too unrealistic... Jimin was practically a dead man walking and everyone was quick to realise that. 

Yoongi took a step towards Namjoon, "I heard from my navigator that the creator of the only known antidote is arriving here, in camp Beta." 

Namjoon raised a brow as he uncrossed his arms from his body, "That's correct, why do you seek him?"

"Actually." Jungkook spoke, "We think there's a way he can create a cure."

Tessa's ears perked up, "Wait- that's why you came here? To find that guy?" she shook her head and gave a cocky smirk, "Hate to break it to you boys, but there are a lot of people seeking him out for a potential cure. He hasn't come up with one yet."

"We know." Jungkook spoke, watching as Tessa trot over to Namjoon's side, "But we have a breakthrough, like a SERIOUS breakthrough." Jungkook said, reinforcing his words to make the dire situation known. 

"It better be a serious breakthrough," Namjoon uttered, "Because I'm just about this close to kicking you and your buddies out of my camp." he said, holding his two fingers closely together to show how short their string was. 

"It is," Yoongi spoke, returning to Jimin's side, "Trust me." 

Namjoon simply eyed Yoongi before dropping his stance and letting out a sigh, "Alright, I'll trust you. You can stay here until he arrives within the week" he raised a stern finger, "but don't cause anymore uproars, got it?"

Jungkook and Yoongi were about to acknowledge Namjoon's words but were abruptly cut off by the sound of the door being slammed open once again, a messy orange haired male stumbling tiredly into the room, one hand through the sleeve of his sweater as he was in the midst of getting changed,

"Oh my God! Guys I heard the news and I rushed down here as soon as I heard what happened!" Hoseok called, pulling the sweater on properly, "Is Jimin okay!? What's going-" Hoseok's eyes met with Namjoon's, "...on."

Namjoon's stance immediately softened as his arms fell flatly to his side, "Hoseok?"

Hoseok stopped to take it all in. His face was suspended between grief and joy, brain taking him in and struggling to comprehend that he wasn't just looking at a picture he kept in his van, that this was real. Hoseok couldn't formulate his thoughts.

Hoseok's eyes slowly filled with tears. How the ground between them was erased, he'll never recall, but one moment they were standing apart and the next they had run to one another, arms wrapping tightly around one another in a tight hug. 

"Nam*sniff*joon" Hoseok sniffled, head buried in Namjoon's chest as the taller male gently stroked his orange hair in surprise. 

"Hoseok... I... I thought you were dead?" Namjoon spoke in disbelief as a glassy layer of tears began to blur his vision. 

Hoseok pulled away from the hug and wiped away his tears, "Me? Dead?" Hoseok chuckled, "Oh please Namjoon, it would take a lot to kill someone as swift and quick thinking as me."

Namjoon wiped his eyes before any tears could fall, "You've got a point." he laughed, "I see you've still got your famous orange hair."

"Yep!" Hoseok smiled through tear stained cheeks, "four years and it's still the same," 

Namjoon's smile faltered, "four years huh."

Four years. 

Four years of missed coffee dates, dance concerts and classes. 

Not that they really mattered anymore. 

"Wait- you two know each other?" Tessa spoke, pointing between the two teary eyed male's. Yoongi and Jungkook were also starring questionably. 

Hoseok smiled as he wrapped an arm around Namjoon's shoulders, causing Namjoon to crouch a little to Hoseok's height, "Guys, meet my best friend Kim Namjoon!"

"Wait- hold up." Namjoon spoke, "You're with those goons?" he said, pointing over to both Jungkook and Yoongi. 

Hoseok realised Namjoon from his hold, "Yeah... and we kinda need your help." Hoseok spoke with pleading eyes. 

Namjoon tilted his head in question, "What with? They explained that they needed to find someone, but nothing more."

"Well, about that actually," Yoongi sheepishly chuckled

Jungkook stepped forwards instead, "Hoseok and I are kinda runaways." he explained, "I guess you could call our whole squad unofficial, we weren't formed by a camp."

Namjoon was taken aback by Jungkook's words. Runaways? Hoseok wasn't the kind of person to ever go against authority. He always kept in check, but yet again, it had been four years. The Hoseok of the past could be long gone. 

Hoseok hesitantly nod as he shoved his hands into his pockets, "It's true," he spoke, slumping his shoulders, "In summary, basically a load of bullshit happened over at camp Delta. Jungkook was in trouble, like serious trouble and I couldn't just stand there and do nothing!" Hoseok explained, Jungkook giving him a sorrowful glance of guilt, "We escaped camp Delta, but assisting Jungkook has basically made us criminals in the camp. It won't be long until word gets out to your camp and Alpha." Hoseok finished, head hung low. 

Namjoon slowly placed a reassuring hand on Hoseok's shoulder, causing the male to raise his head. "It's fine Seok." he smiled, "I'll help as much as I can."

Hoseok felt himself almost tear up again at Namjoon's gesture. He was just like he was when he was nineteen. Hoseok remembered how they would eat crap, drink loads of alcohol and party like there was no tomorrow. It was a lot of fun. They always hung out at one another's places before classes and cooked up get-rich-quick schemes for when they were older. But that was all quick to change after the outbreak. Was Namjoon really the same person? He didn't know. He could only hope.  

"Thanks Joon."

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{Author Note}

The 94 line are finally reunited! 

I'm planning on uploading a Jungkook Mermaid AU as soon as I hit 200 followers! Get excited because I know I am!!

Update Tomorrow x

(SUPER unedited)