The fear doesn't entirely melt away with Yoongi's reassurances. Jungkook knows himself well enough to know that it can't, even if that too makes him feel slightly guilty — maybe the thought did start in a place of self-defense, but it's all too easy for him to imagine his mother not being able to accept that part of Jungkook's identity, no matter how much she loves him. For her to want to stamp it out somehow, like she might be able to carve away all the parts of her son that don't quite fit or work.

Maybe Jungkook isn't being fair to her. But he's long since learned how dangerous it can be to hope.

"Well, there's no place where I feel safer than with you," Jungkook says quietly, squeezing Yoongi's hand. If all else fails, he thinks, they'll escape together. They'll have a place that's all their own.

It'll happen.

"C'mon. I don't want to keep your mom waiting too long," Jungkook smiles, ducking his head.