The door clicked open just after four. Jimin was the only one home, still in his workout clothes, towel slung over his shoulder as he wiped down the table from a spilled juice box. He heard the sound—small feet stepping slowly over the threshold—and turned around with a bright, instinctive smile.

But Jun didn’t smile back.

He stood there, barely inside, backpack hanging low like it weighed a ton, one sock slightly bunched around his ankle. A faint scratch ran across his knee, red and dusty like he’d tripped on the way home. His face was dry, but the marks were there. The tear tracks. The puffiness around his eyes. His lip quivered once, but he held it in.

Jimin dropped the towel without a word.

He knelt on the floor, opening his arms. Jun walked forward and folded into him silently, arms wrapping tight around his waist. No tears now. Just that stiff kind of quiet that made Jimin’s heart ache. He held him tighter, one hand moving slowly up and down Jun’s back, like a rhythm that could carry away whatever the day had dropped on his little shoulders.

"You’re home," Jimin whispered, voice low and careful. "That’s all that matters."

The front door opened again five minutes later. Taehyung came in with soft rustling—hair still damp from the rain, flowers in one hand and grocery bag in the other. He stopped mid-step when he saw them on the floor. He didn’t ask anything. Just knelt beside them, brushing the backs of his fingers gently over Jun’s arm.

"Junie," he said, voice barely a breath. "You okay, baby?"

Jun didn’t answer. But he leaned just a little more into Jimin’s chest, like that was answer enough.

Taehyung reached into the bag and pulled out a small wrapped snack cake with a fox on the front. Jun’s favorite. He held it up without a word, waiting. Jun didn’t move at first—then slowly reached out and took it. His fingers curled tight around the wrapper, like holding something was the first step back to being okay.

Jungkook walked in not long after, still wearing his scrubs from the clinic, smelling faintly of antiseptic and baby shampoo from a puppy he’d cleaned earlier. His gaze went straight to Jun. He didn’t smile—his face shifted into quiet concern as he crouched in front of them.

"Hey, buddy," he said softly, touching Jun’s knee. His eyes landed on the scratch. "What happened here, hm? You fall?"

Jun gave the tiniest nod.

Jungkook’s hand brushed over his hair gently. "That’s okay. Happens to the bravest kids."

He stood up, disappearing for a minute, and returned with a small first-aid kit and a warm washcloth. He cleaned the scrape with gentle hands while Taehyung distracted Jun with stories about a squirrel that stole his flower shop lunch. Jimin stayed there the whole time, arms never moving.

Hoseok came through the back door around five, jacket flung over one shoulder, phone still pressed to his ear. He saw the scene and froze. "I’ll call you back," he said into the phone quickly, then dropped to his knees.

Jun looked up at him for the first time.

Hoseok smiled gently. "Wanna tell me what happened?"

Jun hesitated—then shook his head.

Hoseok leaned in and kissed his forehead. "That’s okay, too. We’ll wait. You don’t have to say a thing until you’re ready."

Namjoon’s text came through the group chat a moment later: Closing early. Be home in ten. Bringing that galaxy blanket he likes. He might need it today.

Seokjin followed up seconds later: Just pulled muffins from the oven. One has his name on it in frosting. Literally.

Yoongi: On the way. Tell him I’m proud of him for coming home. That’s the bravest thing.

By the time Namjoon walked in, hair tousled from wind, glasses slightly askew, Jun was curled on the couch under a blanket, between Jimin and Taehyung, snack cake still clutched in one hand. Jungkook was kneeling by his feet, humming softly while Hoseok rubbed gentle circles on his back.

Namjoon walked over slowly, crouched down, and cupped Jun’s face in both hands. "Hi, my love," he whispered. "You’re so strong, you know that?"