Chapter Text
One second Hoseok was standing in front of the burning fire as Hilda’s body turned to ashes then the next Jungkook was crying into Jimin's neck. The way his friend made himself small into Jimin’s arms and the way the blind man immediately began rubbing him, smoothing him looked so normal for the pair. He never saw their roles switch so quickly, so effortfully, and with ease.
“I know.” Jimin mumbled in Jungkook’s ear, kissing it slightly. Such public affection and Jungkook didn’t fight it at all. Tae moved to his other side quietly and Hobi wondered if Jimin even noticed but when Tae spoke and Jimin didn’t even flinched answered his silent question.
“You did everything to give her a chance to get to Valhalla.” Tae said low and Jimin nodded against Jungkook. Hobi scanned around seeing John and Njal were staring at the scene with understanding eyes but Hobi still stood guard because it’s what jungkook would want him to do.
However, there was no blame or hate in their stares over the firepit.
“Forgive yourself, love. I’m here, we’re here. Do you want to leave?” He asked so gently. It was in the way he spoke, so calm and pleasant, like he knew exactly what Jungkook needed in the moment of such weakness and vulnerability.
Jungkook simply nodded against him.
But within just a couple of feet that they took from the fire, Njal had called out Jungkook’s name, making them all pause. Hobi’s eyes went over to Jimin and his brow went up at what he saw.
The look Jimin gave Njal in the firelight even though he couldn’t see was strong and protective, all thoughts about how Jimin needed some special kind of care left Hobi’s mind. He began to realize that Jimin was far from weak or scared, he just needed time to come into his own in a completely new place. He helped him guide Jungkook back to the cabin.
“I don’t blame you and forgive you. We all do.” Njal told Jungkook in Jimin’s language so he would be able to understand it as well. It was a tactic, one that Hobi didn’t like because that meant it wasn’t just to make Jungkook feel better if it even did but for Jimin to know Njal was thinking about the situation on all sides.
Hobi took a step behind Jungkook and put his hand over Jimin’s that was on his lower back to get them walking. Tae was on Jungkook’s other side, after a couple of steps, Hobi looked over his shoulder and saw them all staring at the four of them. John had his arm wrapped around his future wife's waist as they turned their attention back to the burning fire.
The kids had glossy eyes but also peace in them, he could only imagine what those young kids have been through. He wondered just how abusive Hilda was to them since her greed for power completely took over her life and it cost her everything. He turned forward and helped guide the others back to the small cabin.
Once they got inside the dark cabin, Tae immediately began lighting up candles all over the place for light. Jimin and Jungkook got on the bed and Jungkook just sighed, running his hands over his hair and face. Hobi watched the way Jimin’s hands brushed against Jungkook’s knee before turning away and grabbed a cloth so his friend could clean his wet face.
“Here.” He told him, pressing the cloth and Jungkook took it, embarrassed by his outburst but no one said anything about it, not for a while that is. Hobi leaned against the wall right next to the bathroom door and kept his eyes on Jungkook as he wiped his eyes and cheeks. His head was dropped down, eyes closed, taking slow breaths.
He realized both men were sitting on their feet, knees spreaded out almost in between the other, they seemed to not have even noticed. Hobi knows for a fact that the two never noticed how much they mirrored each other's movements, maybe it was because of Jimin’s disability but it was something to witness.
“Do you want us to leave for a while? Maybe a shower or something?” Tae wondered once he finished lighting up a little over 13 candles, Jungkook shook his head.
“No.” He let out and Jimin’s thumb began rubbing over his knee, it was like the blind one didn’t know how to help, like he pushed Jungkook’s limit back by the fire. He did act differently, in a way none of them has ever seen.
“Okay.” Tae said before moving to sit on the edge of the bed and their eyes met. They had a way to communicate through their eyes, they always did even when they first met. So many years ago when Tae arrived and Hobi thought he was the prettiest being he has ever seen. Big eyes, small waist, stunning smile and a heart of gold, the sexual aspect came the second night Tae came.
The first time he saw him looking at him over the fireplace, Hobi was captivated, he almost grabbed him without much of five sentences to the guy and took him into the woods but he didn’t, not that night. However, the way Tae’s tan skin glowed in the firelight always undid Hobi even after all these years. If the situation was better, he would’ve stared at his boyfriend during the bonfire.
Tae seemed to always know exactly what Hobi was thinking, even before he knew himself. He knew how much he wanted him then and would tease him about him until about three weeks into Tae’s stay he walked up to him and asked when he was going to invite him to his place and how much he wanted to see his bed. Hobi was hooked after that.
Then something changed after Tae got hurt because of him, Tae saw a side of Hobi that he never wanted anyone to see, not even his best friend. Deep down the Viking was terrified of losing those around him, the pain and sickness, how they could take over one’s mind and make them forget themselves… It was his greatest weakness and Tae saw it and helped him through it.
And his voice… Gods of Odin, Tae’s smooth deep voice always pulled him out of his head, he loved him for it… When the nights were bad, he would show up at Tae’s hub and his lover would sing to him until he couldn’t think anymore. Tae didn’t deal with bullshit, he told Hobi up front he wanted them to only see each other the first night they spent together and Hobi chuckled and mumbled of course.
The look Tae was giving him now was that he wanted them to talk alone but he asked if Jungkook wanted to be alone and when he said no that meant it was Hobi’s turn. He sighed, there was no fighting with Tae.
“We’re going to shower, okay?” He asked and Jungkook looked over at him and his eyes were red and heartbroken but he nodded after a second. Hobi nodded back before stepping forward and put his hand on Jungkook’s shoulder in understanding then grabbed Tae’s hand and pulled him up. He came gracefully.
They went into the bathroom and Hobi dropped his lover's hand to start undressing to actually shower, however when he took off his coat and glanced over his shoulder he paused. He was confused at first but a knowing smirk appeared on his face. Tae had his ear up against the door waiting to listen to the couple on the other side.
Slowly, he stepped over and put his lips to his ear and arm wrapped his waist.
“What are you up to?” He asked quietly in Norwegian.
“Shhh. I’m trying to listen.” He whispered, waving him off but didn’t push him away, making Hobi grin more.
“Naughty.” He said low and Tae pitched his waist with his fingers but again didn’t move it. Then he heard Jimin’s voice and both leaned closer to listen, either could help themselves.
“Are you okay?” Jimin asked in his native tongue.
“I don’t know what happened to me.” Jungkook answered quietly.
“That’s okay, Jungkook.”
“How is any of this okay?”
“It’s not but you’re okay.”
“She was my sister. She was supposed to be my sister, instead she wanted me dead. It's just so twisted and wrong. Why did this happen to me? Why me, Jimin? Why me?” Jungkook whispered.
Hobi and Tae met eyes because their friend sounded destroyed and completely shattered to pieces. Not like the strong heartless Bragi they knew and truthfully it was a good thing; to have a heart.
“I don’t know, maybe… It's to help teach you and get you ready for something great. I used to scream and cry to my god about why me… Why did I get beat for simply living? Why did my wounds never get cleaned and now scarred me for life? But then… How different would you have treated me if I didn’t have them-”
“Jimin, that’s not-”
“It’s okay, love. It’s not a bad fact. It made you see me differently, human. Being hurt the way we have, in different ways showed us that there’s bigger evil than our differences. Our past made us stronger and even though they still affect us now, we’re better people for it. We see the evil clearer and protect the ones we love.” He explained and Hobi never heard him talk like this. Gods’ no wonder Jungkook felt everything he did, how could he not?
“You know… I hate when you talk like this, so just wise and how you see the terrible and change it around.”
“It didn’t happen overnight, that’s for sure.”
“Was it hard, being alone at the estate with only Namjoon?”
“Yeah. For a long time, he had to help me just get out of bed and eat, clean myself, even drink water. Then one day I woke up and decided I wanted to win against what thoughts my father put in my head and learned every inch of that house so I could walk like I could see everything.”
“And you did.”
“Yes. I did.”
“Do you want to learn some Norwegian? We need to review what you already know.” Jungkook asked softly, probably to help get his mind off of everything.
“I thought you’d never ask.” He answered and Hobi stepped back and Tae turned to him.
“Well… That wasn’t what I was expecting. No worry he hated talking about him. Poor guy is in love.” Tae pointed out and Hobi shook his head.
“He’s been in love probably since Jimin got sick.”
“Since he attacked me.”
“Don’t remind me of that.”
“I don’t have any scars.”
“I almost killed him.”
“Oh please. Get undressed and make out with me under the showerhead.” Tae told him as he began undressing.
Hobi watched, he couldn’t help himself, he loved Tae’s body and the way he moved while taking off his clothes. He began mirroring him, undressing as well, unable to look away like he was under a spell.
Tae deliberately turned around since he was naked and Hobi’s glance trailed down his back to the dip of his waist and the roundness of his ass. He turned on the shower and got in without looking back at him which made Hobi smirk, walking in after him.
The shower was quite small, they couldn’t fuck in here as they couldn’t stay in one position that long but making out and touching would be enough. Immediately, his hands went around Tae’s lower stomach as his lips attached to his neck and Tae sighed against him.
“I’m okay.” Tae reminded him and Hobi realized the spot he was kissing was where the knife was from the attack.
“I know. We’re okay. Sorry I freaked out last night.”
“Oh please, that was nothing. A nice walk in the woods.”
“You’re funny, no woods are just a nice walk.” He said smiling, in his neck and Tae chuckled.
“You didn’t freak out, we all know the tales of what those people do. They destroy your mind, it’s normal to freak out over it. I’m glad you’re feeling better now though.”
“I’m just separating my mind from reality. It’s a deep fear of mine. Besides, sparring with Jungkook always burns it away.” He told him and Tae turned to him under the water and wrapped his arms around his neck, pulling him in for a kiss.
They moaned into each other's mouths at first taste, Hobi could never get used to how good his lover tasted, felt, even the way he moved closer to him. As if nothing would be enough until one of them was inside the other.
Their lips and tongue begged for closeness as their hands pulled their bodies together. Tae’s hands dug in his hair, gripping it and Hobi loved his strength and how manly yet soft he was. Gods of Obin, he loved him so.
“So good, not enough.” Tae moaned and Hobi grunted, backing him up against the wall right under the water and Tae gasped with a smile. Then he broke their sharp and passionate kiss to trail his tongue along his neck which Tae found so sexy. His hand moved all over Tae’s chest and arms, feeling his muscle under his fingers.
He loved how firm yet soft his skin was, so addicting and beyond. He lost count of how many times he’s kissed every inch of his body; how many times Tae has done the same. He kissed his collarbone and backed up his neck right behind his ear and Tae's neck was bent bare, all for him.
“Tease.” Tae hissed but didn’t move, only pulled him closer.
“Beg for more then.” Hobi whispered, gently and edgy, impatient himself but loved the wait, the push and pull until one of them breaks; it’s always, well mostly Tae who has enough, first.
“Or I could just take it.” Tae mumbled before grabbing Hobi by the dick and moved him back until Hobi’s back was the one against the stone wall.
Hobi chuckled before grabbing his leg wrapping around his waist and Tae sighed happily at it. So much for not enough room, sometimes it just didn’t matter, not when the need was so great and how long it’s been. His finger wet from the water and they touched the rim of his hole.
“Beg, my heart.” He breathed against his ear and Tae took a deep breath before kissing him roughly than before, with tongue and teeth.
“Miss you, hyung.” He mouthed against his lips and the nickname from their culture in their homeland always tug something deep in Hobi’s chest.
“Not fair, I wanted you to be begging for my cock.”
“Too bad, hyung.” He said smiling and what a beautiful, cunning, smart smile it was.
“Suffocating and loving, you are.” He said putting his finger inside him. Tae bit his lip, moaning at the closeness and pulled Hobi closer.
“Two.” Tae ordered when he only had one finger in for three thrusts.
“So bossy.”
“Thank you.” Tae said with a sinister smile and Hobi obeyed, needing to be inside him to feel sane and with him. Two then three and when he played with his prostate enough to get him whimpering.
“Hoseok.” Tae mumbled; Hobi picked him up, pushing him up against the wall before sliding his cock inside him. Tae reached out behind him with his foot to turn off the water, gasping.
He sighed when he was completely in and their eyes locked, they haven't ad sex in weeks; too busy, too much going on, but now… They were connected in everything they shared and held to value.
“I’m gonna marry you, one day.” He told him and Tae moaned in bliss, tightening his legs and arms around him.
“You better get on your knees to do it.” Tae said gasping and Hobi kissed and marked up his neck and collarbone, he wanted every single person to know that this wonderful man was taken by him.
“Only the best for you.” He let out before connecting their lips once more as he moved in and almost out of him. Tae vocally spoke about how he loved when Hobi pulled out but left his tip inside before pounding back in, pulling out slowly then repeating the motive.
Of course, it turned Hobi on like anything else, the phase between rough and fast to slow and sweet just brought him to the edge for so long. They continced to fuck in the one position for almost too long, good thing Tae turned off the water because it wouldn’t turned cold by now.
However, neither of them were cold because of their body heat. Tae’s arms were wrapped around his shoulders and neck, his cheek right up against Hobi’s, pacing and moaning right in his ear while kissing everywhere he could.
Soon enough, they reached their full and released on and inside the other with a blissful sigh and sweet name callings. Both were shaking so Hobi quickly pulled away from the wall with Tae still in his arms and sat him down under the faucet before putting it back on.
He kneeled down as Tae rested his head against the stone wall with his eyes hooded over with a smirk on his face. He cleaned him up and Tae reached for him, cupping his cheek, pulling him in for a kiss.
“Missed you.” Tae mumbled.
“I missed you too. You okay?”
“Yes. Fuck, that was good. Do you think we were loud?” He wondered, meeting his eyes and Hobi hummed.
“I think after everything they put us through, they can handle it.”
“True.” He said touching his arm and began to stand up and without another word they began cleaning themselves, then got out. They dried off completely, even towel dried their hair before getting dressed and Hobi realized Tae kept touching his waist or arm which made him stare at him.
“What?” He asked, wondering if something was wrong or that Tae needed to say something but didn’t know how, which wasn’t like him at all.
“I just… I don’t know what happens tomorrow now that Hilda… Now that happened, do we leave? Should we leave? What’s next?” He asked and Hobi didn’t know the answer to any of that. He didn’t know if they should even ask Jungkook based on what he’s going through right now.
“We’ll figure it out, we still need to find his sister but at least the people here have food and some protection so we could leave at any given time, but we got to make the plan with Njal.” He explained and Tae sighed.
“I forgot about that. Gods’, I just don’t like waiting anymore, the looks and uncertainty, you know I don’t like games.” He said and Hobi nodded, oh how he knew.
“It’s the calm before the storm, don’t worry, we got each other.” He told him and Tae nodded before hugging him again and Hobi closed his eyes, peacefully to have his partner for life with him.
“Come on, it’s probably late, you always get like this when you’re overtired.”
“Oh, true.” He mumbled as he pulled away.
“I did it!” Jimin suddenly shouted, making them rush out the bathroom to see Jimin smiling nearly on top of Jungkook who was smiling proudly.
It took only a second before Jungkook noticed them and slowly pulled Jimin off him. Hobi couldn’t ignore how red and exhausted Jungkook’s eyes looked but he was pushing through it in order to help Jimin with his Norwegian in hopes to feel better himself.
“Oh, hi guys. Guess what? Listen.” Jimin said excitedly, turning to them, clearing his throat.
“Hello, I’m Jimin, it’s good to meet you. My Norse is weak, please understand.” He spoke in their language with a little accent but he said every word quite well.
“Wow, that’s actually pretty good. Why couldn’t you do that before? Didn’t you say Namjoon tried to help you at your estate?” Tae wondered, sitting at the edge of the bed as Hobi moved to set up more candles because the temperature was dropping by a lot.
“It seemed it was the way my mouth was shaped, Jungkook helped with that.” Jimin explained and Tae smirked looking over at Jungkook.
“Oh, by his own lips or what?” He joked and Jungkook shot him a look with a redder nose and Jimin blushed.
“No, he used his fingers but not like that. Oh god.”
“It’s okay, he’s joking.” Jungkook said, rubbing his back and Jimin relaxed immediately. They were more touchy than ever.
“Do you actually know what you’re saying, which word is which?” Tae asked.
“Yeah, I think so. Test me.” He said and Tae adjusted himself as Jungkook stared at Jimin with care, patience and thankfulness. His eyes gave him away, it was so clear.
“What’s understand?” Tae asked, the first word in Jimin’s language then the next in theirs. Jimin bites his lip, thinking hard, closing his eyes to mumble his sentence to himself. Hobi lit seven more candles, putting them on the floor so they could feel it and also to see the ground if they wanted to walk around even though the space was really small.
“Understand.” Jimin answered in his language and Jungkook smirked with proud eyes.
“Okay. Fine. How do you say, name?” Tae asked, testing if he could say the words without each other.
“Navn.” Jimin mumbled unsure but the three of them smiled.
“Good. So good.” Tae said cupping Jimin’s cheeks in glee, making the blind man giggle.
“Let’s go to sleep.” Hobi told them after they giggled up a small storm.
“Yeah.” Jungkook added and Tae moved off the bed and onto the floor as Jimin laid down, pulling the blanket around his shoulder.
“Hobi, did you message Yoongi?” Jungkook asked.
“Yeah, I wrote to him before the fire started. He’ll probably write back tomorrow.”
“Okay, good. Everything’s okay. You can sleep.” His friend told him as he was still standing and not moving. He didn’t realize, he still was on edge since they arrived until he said that but he didn’t move.
“Are you okay?” He asked and Jungkook nodded.
“Are you?” He asked and Hobi hummed.
“So sleep, I feel like we’re going to have a big day tomorrow.”
“Okay.” He said, looking down to Tae, who had his eyes closed but his hand out on Hobi’s blanket ready for him. Jungkook laid down and wrapped his arm around Jimin’s waist and buried his head in his neck and Hobi shook his head, knowing he was going to do the same.
However, when he laid down Tae pulled him to his chest, locking his fingers in his hair and Hobi sighed, half on top of his boyfriend. He took another breath as Tae played with his hair and kissed his head, slightly telling him everything will be fine, since they had each other.
They both were worried about different things but they balanced out the others fears and concerns.They were equal to a fault.
“Tomorrow will be better, right? No tears for us, right?” Jimin’s voice whispered in the low lighting, Tae’s hand stopped moving for a second before continuing. Last night, Jungkook listened in on their conversation, it seemed like it was their turn.
“It’s gonna be. I can’t cry anymore, it’s weak.” Jungkook mumbled.
“It’s not.” Jimin told him.
“It is because before everything, I didn’t cry for years.”
“I know but you lived in a routine and you didn’t get focused on killing your sister and also marrying a blind Christian.” Jimin pointed out which was true.
“And our parents, wanting us dead.” Jungkook added.
“Exactly… But tomorrow will be better, right?” He asked again.
“We’re alive so that’s enough. Sleep, doll.” He whispered and Tae turned his head down into Hobi’s hair to stop himself from chuckling at the nickname.
“Goodnight, love.” Jimin answered in their language and his punctuation was really good, he was going to pick up sentences soon.
“Fuck, goodnight, you are so lucky we aren’t alone you sneaky little menace.”
It seemed like the bad Viking named Bragi really liked being called love, especially in his language. Something Hobi to tease him about when the time was right.
“What? Me? I’m an angel.”
“Go to sleep before I make you scream.” He said and Jimin giggled and both Tae and Hobi tried to not laugh along before it became silent and the four of them drafted off to sleep.
Hobi woke up before Tae and sat up noticing all the candles were out and only a little light was coming from under the door. He looked over at the bed and saw that Jimin was sleeping alone and narrowed his eyes. The bathroom door was still half open so he got up and went outside.
It was barely dawn out, the sky still dark blue and no color in the sky but Jungkook was leaning against the wall and looked over to meet his eyes. He didn’t close the door so when Tae or Jimin woke up they would know they were outside. He stepped next to him and leaned against the wall as well.
He looked forward and saw that the bonfire was in view and looked back to Jungkook, wondering if that’s what he was looking at. If he was thinking about it all over again.
“Want to talk?” He asked in their language since Jimin wasn’t awake.
“No, I just wanted some air before we needed to go and eat. After that we’ll have the meeting.” He explained and Hobi hummed, not pushing him.
“How long have you been up?”
“Not long. I never thanked you for coming with us. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you and Tae.”
“Of course, man. It’s nothing.”
“We both know it’s becoming a lot more than nothing. We need to be on guard today, during the meeting but don’t tell Tae or Jimin. They need a good day.” He said completely disregarding what happened the past two nights but Hobi understood; if their lovers were good, they could handle their mess.
“It’s nice out, not freezing, it won’t last long.” He pointed out and Jungkook nodded.
“Jimin might need another cloak for his back but we’ll figure that out when we leave.”
“When is that going to be, Tae wants to know?”
“Two, three days. The meeting could take all day because we have back-up plans when the invasion starts and make sure Njal won’t double cross us.”
“And find Rune.” He added; Jungkook nodded.
“You know, they’re kind of incredible… Tae and Jimin, holding us together the past few days… I worry, they’re gonna break… I can see it, Jimin… He’s on edge, dealing with things differently, I don’t think he’s processing anything and gets upset about other things and Tae… Tae seems completely fine when we both know how he gets when he feels weak.”
“Don’t forget how you get when you don’t want to deal with your own problems that you become focused on fixing others like a mistake in one’s routine.” Hobi added and Jungkook crossed his arms, puffing out his chest and arms.
“Whatever, man. I’m hungry.” He said before walking back inside to wake up the others and Hobi let him.
Breakfast was quiet but Hobi noticed how touchy Tae and Jimin actually were getting like something would happen if they didn’t touch them. It got worse when Njal and John and his future wife came to the hall to eat themselves.
Tae’s hand was glued to his knee and next to Hobi; Jimin’s arm was behind Jungkook’s seat, holding the wood between his sweater. Njal nodded to the group as did John but they talked with their people and were giving them some space after everything.
“Breakfast is good and there’s plenty, thank you.” Tae complimented and Njal smirked.
“Thanks to Njal.” Liv said with a smile.
“We came just in time. When do you want to have the meeting?” Njal asked looking between Jungkook and Jimin then to Tae and Hobi last which was strange but he ignored it.
“Now, we’re done eating if you’re up for it.” Jungkook answered.
“Now, is fine. Where can we go to talk?” Njal asked, looking at John.
“The war room where the maps are.” John answered and within minutes they walked to the cabin hall and gathered around the table. However, within the first two minutes of just setting up the maps of the Jeon village, there was a loud tapping coming from the window.
“It’s a crow.” John said and Jungkook and Hobi met eyes.
Yoongi answered his message.
“It’s for us, go Hoseok.” Jungkook said and Hobi looked at Tae who nodded before he went outside to get the letter that was tied to the crows leg. He unrolled the letter and began to read.
Hoseok.
We are well, things are quiet, the chief and his wife have left us to our duties. Tell Jimin, Namjoon misses him dearly. I know what he had to do and hope he is doing okay… That you all are. However, I have urgents news.
I had a vision, Rune needs help. Immediately. Hilda’s guards will return this evening. I know Njal is there. He is ordered to come here before the sacrifice and if he has a problem tell him it’s an order from his old Seer. Rune needs you all to come right away.
I draw a map to get to where she is from the Dragon Village. Leave before the sun gets above the trees and you will find her before nightfall. Ride fast and dress warm. See you soon.