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The thing was, Jungkook wasn’t even really scared any more.
Or he was, but he was so scared and he’d been so scared for so long that it had faded from the utter terror of his ship being raided, on his very first run into deep space, the panic of the scramble for escape, the injury, the way the rest of the crew had left him behind to save himself. The horror of those first few days in captivity, treat like an animal, locked in a cage, loaded up like stock and shipped goodness knew where, well beyond anywhere where rescue would be possible, even if they did try.
From there, it had settled into the numbing background fear of everyday life. They’d treat the leg wound that had kept him from escaping and he was fed twice a day, but other than that he was kept in his cage. It was an eight foot cube, approximately. The floor was metal, the walls and ceiling bars, a little like an oversized dog crate. They hadn’t given him any blankets or cushions so he just slept curled on the floor. He was young and healthy but there was still only so long you could do that and now he just kind of ached all over all the time. They hadn’t given him any other clothes so he was wearing his torn uniform. There was a small box in the corner to serve as a toilet which they emptied when they fed him. There was never any privacy to use it, of course. He was packed in, surrounded by other crates, other aliens. Some of them were clearly intelligent, like him. Some of them tried to talk to him but he never understood them. Some of them acted more like animals. Some of them wore clothes, others naked. Some cried. They were the worst.
Jungkook didn’t cry. At first, it was probably shock that kept the tears in. Then he was just numb.
They’d landed on the planet during that seemed to be morning local time. It was the first time Jungkook had been on a planet since he was taken. He suspected, though he could never be sure, that he’d been through a range of processing facilities. There had been long periods of inactivity then time when the cages were moved and whenever that happened, the aliens who brought his food and the aliens around him seemed to change.
This was different, though. Being on a planet. In a really perverse way, this was what he’d longed for when he’d first signed up for the space force. An exciting new alien world, probably a place no human had ever seen before.
Now he was here, captive, exhausted, cold, overwhelmed by the noise and the bustle and all the alien faces that kept stopping to stare into his cage. And as much as he’d thought the fear had been as bad as it could and he was acclimated now, he could feel it starting to creep back up again as he gazed out through the bars of his cell.
This place was a market.
And he strongly suspected he was the goods on sale.
Most of the aliens milling around seemed mostly humanoid. Taller, stronger looking. They were all annoyingly attractive by human standards, too. Pretty lips, big eyes. As few of them stopped by his cage, looking him over. He wondered what they were sizing him up for. Was he about to be dragged off to work? A small, disposable worker for some horrible task they didn’t want to do themselves? He couldn’t imagine why else they might want him.
He was very much not focusing on the idea that they might be looking at him as a fascinating addition to their next dinner menu. Though the looks some of them gave him...
He pushed himself into the far back of the cage, bringing his knees up to his chin and curling into a ball. The being on his left had a similar idea but, instead of shaking like Jungkook, who’d had to jamb his hands between his legs to hide their trembling, that being was growling and showing its teeth. The being in the cage on his right had just give up and was lying on the cage floor, staring vacantly ahead. Somewhere further away, someone was screaming.
Around them, the aliens wandered between cages, pausing to examine them, moving away again. Jungkook watched them all. None of them seemed to pay any particular attention to him. He supposed maybe he wasn’t such a novelty, something like them but smaller and uglier.
Then one of them came to his cage and stopped.
This one was small for the aliens, maybe only a head or so taller than himself, with bright purple eyes, blonde hair and beautiful lips. He looked at Jungkook for a long time, tilting his head to the side. Jungkook met his eyes for a second then looked away, ducking his head. When he dared to look back, the alien had stepped closer and was watching Jungkook more intently. He smiled when Jungkook looked it him, and there was something so familiar about the gesture when he’d been surrounded by things that were so different for so long that Jungkook smiled back.
Then the alien left, and he quickly hid his face again.
Not for the first time, he wished he had a blanket. If he had one then he’d have rolled himself up in it and disappeared. Maybe finally cried, which he hadn’t done at all since they’d taken him. As it was, he just pressed further into the back corner.
But then the alien came back, towing someone else with him. Another alien, taller, darker skinned than the first one. They approached the cage together and the alien made eye contact again and smiled. Jungkook smiled back, less certain this time, but it made the aliens start talking, an excited flutter of noise that he obviously couldn’t understand at all. The first alien looked briefly disappointed, if that expression even meant that on an alien. Probably not. Jungkook knew he had to be careful about thinking that, just because they looked superficially human, they’d behave human in any way.
Outside the cage, a third alien joined them. This one’s hair was ruffled and when he grinned at Jungkook, his smile was like a box. He slid his arms around the first alien and they lent together, watching Jungkook, while the second alien left.
And Jungkook was getting a little tired of being the main attraction. He curled up and hid his face again, shaking. Fuck, they looked nice but who knew? They could do literally anything to him. He was entirely on his own, small and unimportant and cut off from anyone who knew or loved him and he knew nothing about this species.
When he opened his eyes again, it was to the sound of his cage opening. He tensed immediately, but he was used to the routine now. One of his captors, the aliens who had brought him in, used a device with a lasso of thick rope on a stick to catch him, the rope tightening around him once he was over his torso, and pulling him out of the cage. Once he did, the other aliens, the beautiful ones, started to crowd around and fuck, Jimin did start shaking then, shuddering as they pressed in around him, eyes on him, hands reaching for him. He couldn’t even curl up, the loop of rope had his upper arms pinned to his sides.
But then, one of them made a sharp noise and most of them stepped back. Only the first alien stayed, approaching Jungkook slowly, like someone would approach a wild dog.
When he got close enough, he reached out and ran a hand over Jungkook’s hair. He touched so softly that Jungkook shuddered. He felt like it had been years since someone had touched him with affection. Then the alien cupped his cheeks, then looked into his eyes for a second. Jungkook, tired, overwhelmed, swayed on his feet, and the alien’s hands were there, gently supporting him.
Around them, the aliens spoke again. They sounded pleased.
Another alien, the one that had hugged the first alien, stepped forward then and took Jungkook’s hand in his. Jungkook turned to meet his eye and, when the alien smiled, he smiled back. The alien was seemingly delighted by that and squeezed his hand tightly.
He guessed they liked him. He hoped that was a good thing. He hoped he hadn’t ruined his own life unintentionally.
The larger one moved over to his captor then, the two of them speaking. As he did, Jungkook scanned the remaining aliens. Three of them. All beautiful, of course. One with am amazing bone structure, one almost as small as the first one with the darker hair and sharper eyes, and one who was so painfully handsome that he was difficult to look at but, when he saw Jungkook looking, he scrunched up his nose and made a face which made Jungkook smile.
And then the taller alien had apparently concluded whatever it was he needed to conclude as he turned and approached Jungkook, something held in his hand. Jungkook tried to step away but the two of them were holding him and the captor still had the loop around him. He wiggled back a little, tried to say no, even though he knew they wouldn’t understand his words, but the tallest alien still came. It turned out his had some kind of belt, which we fastened around Jungkook’s waist, which they attached to a length of cord, a leash. Jungkook suppose he should be glad that it didn’t go around his neck at least.
Then the loop was loosened and the captor was backing him away, leaving him out of the cage and roped to the new aliens instead.
The first alien seemed delighted by this, squeezing Jungkook where his arm was around him. The three that had been holding back stepped closer, all crowding in to touch him, stroke his hair, pat his shoulders or arms. It was overwhelming, but they didn’t keep it up for too long, drawing back and starting to move away. The first alien stayed with him, arm around his shoulder, and the taller one kept hold of the lead, and Jungkook didn’t know what to do other than let them hustle him away from his cage and his captors and into the complete unknown.
*
He was starting to think that he was a pet.
They’d lead him around the rest of the market for a while, the six of them always crowding around him, keeping him safely in the middle of them. They’d purchased some foods, the first alien stopping to hand-feed Jungkook something that had tasted sweet, having a soft center with a crispy shell. It had been the best thing he’d eaten in months and he could have eaten ten of them but apparently they were only a treat as they had one each then carried on.
Honestly, he was just glad to be included. Because, as much as anything, you didn’t buy nice little treats for the think you were taking home to cook for dinner.
They’d left the market on some kind of communal transport and Jungkook had found himself pulled up into the first alien’s lap. It had been weird, but he wasn’t the only one sat like that so, after a while, he’d relaxed a little. The alien spent the first part of the journey talking to the tall alien then seemed to make a decision, shifting Jungkook in his lap and pointing at himself, saying something.
The language wasn’t familiar. It was high and trilling, almost like music. The alien sat patiently, pointing at itself and repeating the word. It must be its name. Jungkook couldn’t even begin to parse some of the sounds, he was damn sure he’d never be able to replicate them, but eventually he tried, slowly, to say the parts he could.
“Jimin,” he said, sounding it out slowly. It wasn’t just right, but the alien, Jimin, looked delighted, so he said it again, pointing at Jimin so that he knew Jungkook understood it was a name. Then he turned to the tall alien and pointed at him. He looked surprised, but obligingly went through the same steps as Jimin until Jungkook’s brain formulated the language into a set of sounds he could actually approximate.
“Namjoon.”
The tall alien seemed delighted too, reaching over to put Jungkook’s hair. Then he reached down, took Jungkook’s hand, and pointed it to himself.
“Jungkook,” Jungkook said, readily. They wrinkled their noses and so he repeated it, again and again. Eventually, Jimin tried out something that sounded a little like his name, only if it was sung by someone with the accompaniment of tiny bells. Jungkook smiled at it, close enough, and the two aliens, Jimin and Namjoon, smiled back.
And then they’d apparently reached their destination because his little group of aliens were leaving the transport, Jungkook with them.
They all spoke to each other as they made their way through what was apparently another town, exchanging what seemed to be pleasant words with a few people they passed. Then they were taking Jungkook through a large, ornate gate, down a path to what was, apparently, a large hall.
He slowed a little as they approached, dragging his steps. This was it. This was where he found out what they’d bought him for, if this was his home. If he was a pet, he hoped they were the kind of people who were kind to their pets.
He was just so tired of hurting.
Namjoon noticed him lagging and slowed down, waiting for Jungkook to catch up for him then surprising Jungkook by picking him up. He immediately squirmed, trying to get down, but Namjoon held him firmly and walked them back towards the house, Jungkook not able to do anything but let himself be carried.
The house, hall, wherever it was, was apparently mostly one big space. When they came in, the space to the right was dominated by a giant kitchen where the unbearably handsome one was already unpacking something he’d carried back from the market. Namjoon didn’t carry Jungkook there, though, but over to the left where the others had started to settle in a pile of cushions. He dropped him into Jimin’s lap, handing him the lead and then brushing his cheek carefully against Jimin's before leaving.
Jimin seemed delighted to have him, cuddling him close and talking animatedly to the others. He must have been telling them about his name learning trick as soon he found himself repeating it on all the others. Yoongi he got almost entirely but the others were harder. The boxy mouthed one’s name was almost entirely unintelligible so he only ended up with Tae. The angular one, the closest he could do was Hobi which seemed to delight the alien, and the beautiful one ended up as Jin, though he was aware that was only a mangling of the first symbol of the alien’s name. He seemed happy enough anyway, leaning in to rub his cheek against Jungkook’s, and they all took turns at saying Jimin’s strange pronunciation of his name.
By this point Namjoon, who’d been poking around in some chests built into the back wall, arrived and reclaimed Jungkook, pulling him up to his feet, and leading him off to a curtained off corner.
It didn’t take Jungkook long to realise he was in the bathroom.
It wasn’t quite like a bathroom he’d have expected, but Namjoon set him down on a counter then drew warm water into a bowl, the steam curling up from it, and set it down next to Jungkook. He took a cloth and dipped it in the water then gently pressed it against the back of Jungkook’s hand. Jungkook guessed maybe he was checking the temperature. He seemed satisfied anyway, taking the cloth away and then moving to unfasten Jungkook’s clothing.
Jungkook suspected this was the point he should have protested. Should have fought. But Namjoon moved with purpose, like he did this everyday and Jungkook, well, he was tired. He had to admit he was less scared here, in a home, with people who seemed fond towards him, but the fear hadn’t died entirely and it froze him. He sat stiffly as Namjoon took away his clothes, something even the first captors hadn’t done.
Namjoon was gently, though. When he’d stripped away Jungkook’s shirt, he took up the cloth again and began to clean him. He was careful with it, thorough. He refreshed the water a few times. He cleaned Jungkook’s hand and arms right, then his face and neck, then down his body. When he’d done, he pulled down a jar and unscrewed it, holding it under Jungkook’s nose. Jungkook sniffed, and it smelt nice. Floral. He smiled softly, barely anything, but Namjoon clearly noticed as he took some of the lotion from the jar and started to rub it into Jungkook’s skin.
And oh, that was a nice touch. A little like a massage. Jungkook found his eyes drifting shut as large hands moved over his body.
By the time Namjoon pulled him to his feet again, at least some of the tension he’d been carrying for months had finally released. Not all of it, he wasn’t insane. But he was tired, and Namjoon was careful with him. He let himself be turned so Namjoon could repeat the washing and lotion on his back.
And then Namjoon’s hands found his trousers.
The finally jolted him out of his indifference and he moved back but Namjoon just followed him, crowding him and fiddling with his uniform buttons then pushing them, and his underwear, free. Jungkook swallowed, then looked up at Namjoon. The alien was so much bigger than he was, at least half his height again. He felt small and silly, standing there with his trousers around his ankles.
Then before he could think, Namjoon scooped him up and set him back on the counter. He knelt down and carefully tried to tug the trousers off, realised Jungkook’s boots were in the way, gently removed them and then, carefully, slid Jungkook’s trousers over his feet and then peeled off each sock.
He sat there for a second, apparently contemplating Jungkook’s foot. He ran his fingers gently over Jungkook’s ankle, then leant down and pressed his cheek against it in a gesture Jungkook was really starting to wonder about.
Then he stood up, all business again, and retrieved his towel.
He washed from the foot up, working carefully and pulling Jungkook right to the edge of the counter to get access to the bottom of his thighs. Jungkook let it all happen, relaxing inch by inch as careful hands took care of him, washing away the accumulated grime of his imprisonment.
And then, without a second’s hesitation, Namjoon went to wipe his cock.
Jungkook yelped, jumping right back onto the counter. Namjoon started too, taking a step back, eyes widening, mouth opening. They froze there for a second, Jungkook with his legs protectively curled up in front of him, Namjoon with the wash cloth in his hand.
And fuck, the little surge of adrenaline has jolted Jungkook out of the strange headspace he’d slumped into and suddenly he felt small and naked and afraid, very aware that, if he chose, this alien could do anything he wanted to him and Jungkook would be completely unable to stop him.
Namjoon frowned. He dropped the cloth into the water then turned to Jungkook, pointed at his own crotch area, then made a hand gesture. Something like a diagonal slash but with a little bump in the middle. He repeated it a few times, then looked expectantly at Jungkook.
Not sure what else he could do, Jungkook lifted his hand and repeated the gesture. Namjoon stepped back, smiling. Jungkook repeated it again. He backed away again.
They sat there for a moment, Jungkook staring at his hand, Namjoon waiting. Had… had Namjoon just taught him to say no? When Jungkook had been so afraid, had Namjoon just handed him back this tiny little bit of control?
Namjoon took a careful step forward, and when Jungkook didn’t immediately no him he went and collected the flannel again. He wrung it out then, carefully, he stepped closer. Jungkook’s hand twitched, ready to make the symbol, but all Namjoon did was set the cloth on the bench next to him then back away, watching.
He was going to let Jungkook do it himself.
Jungkook didn’t waste time, grabbing the cloth and wiping himself carefully, then reaching around to get his ass too before Namjoon could get any ideas about that. When he was done, Namjoon handed him the cream and he rubbed that in too. Namjoon watched him the entire time, which was still embarrassing, but it was a lot better than having some alien touching him there without permission.
When Namjoon apparently deemed him clean enough, he took the water away and emptied it and this time he came back with clothes.
They must have been Jimin’s or Yoongi’s but they were still giant on him. The smaller aliens were maybe only a head bigger but they were broader, more substantial in some undefinable way and Jungkook found himself swimming in a shirt which, judging from what the others were wearing, was meant to be a little bit long but not that long. They tried the trousers but there was no chance they’d stay on Jungkook’s tiny hips. He’d never thought of himself as tiny before but standing there holding the trousers up with one hand, he felt it.
In the end, the shirt was long enough to keep him decent, even if it was a little undignified, and he let the trousers go. Namjoon made what seemed to be a pleased sound at that and then, before Jungkook could think, he was being pulled back up into Namjoon’s arms and carried through into the living area again.
And perhaps he should have protested, used his no sign, but Namjoon was strong and Jungkook’s body was still sore and he didn’t even have any shoes now, his were lying abandoned in the bathroom.
The rest of them were busy, moving around the space. Jin and Yoongi were in the area that was a kitchen, Hobi was sat by a low table on a cushion, looking at something on what had to be a data pad. Jimin and Tae were changing the sheets. Though perhaps it was more accurate to say they were moving the sheets around. Jungkook watched them. The sleeping area, he guessed it was the sleeping area, certainly wasn’t normal for humans. It looked something more like a nest. A soft floor, lots of pillows and a cushions, a raised, padded side to contain it, a canopy hung above it that could presumably be pulled down to keep out the light or give some privacy.
Not much privacy, though, there was only one sleeping area.
He looked at it and something in him stirred, wanting to panic about where he’d be sleeping. Because surely they weren’t going to kill him which meant that he was going to have to live here with them. The pet theory was getting stronger and stronger.
He thought maybe he wouldn’t mind being a pet. Wouldn’t mind people looking after him, after so long of being treat so horribly. He might not mind gently touches and warm hugs and a group of aliens he didn’t share a single word with, who’s language he could barely understand as words and had no chance to replicate, who’d all done their best to learn his name anyway.
Namjoon carried him over to Hobi and set Jungkook down in his lap. Hobi startled slightly, then leant in to rub his cheek against Jungkooks, wrapped on arm around him to keep him safe and close, and lifted the screen so they could both see.
It was video. Some kind of dance video, maybe. Jungkook had always like dance. In a kinder world, he might have tried to be an idol.
He’d never had that kind of choice.
He didn’t worry about it now, though. Instead he snuggled back into Hobi’s arms and watched the video, then the next one and the next one as Hobi skipped between them. After a while, Jimin came to join them, rubbing cheeks with both of them, then settling and having some kind of conversation with Hobi, gesturing at the screen as he did, his voice soft like a song.
And slowly, piece by piece, the tension Jungkook had been carrying for so long began to slip away.
He felt safe.
He knew he was dangerous to lean into that feeling. He wasn’t really safe, after all. But he felt it, tucked up in Hobi’s arms, warm and clean and he could feel the threads of sleep tugging at him. It’d be so easy to curl himself up, turn around a little and nestle into Hobi’s arms, close his eyes and drift into sleep.
Before he could follow through on it, though, the food started arriving. Plates of things he couldn’t even begin to identify but that smelt gorgeous. Hobi handed the screen to Jimin who disappeared with it then the rest of them starting drifting over, all greeting each other and him with cheek rubs. They did that a lot. Here in their home more than outside. He tried to remember if he’d seen them do this to other people when they’d been out in the market but they felt like ages ago now, he couldn't remember.
So was it an affectionate gesture? And what did it mean that they were including him?
He didn’t get much time to worry as, once they were done setting out the bowls, Jin appeared at Hobi’s side and held out his arms. Hobi said something then shifted back, making space for Jin to lean down and scoop Jungkook up into his arms.
Jungkook reached up to wrap his arms around Jin’s neck as he was lifted. Jin was reassuring wide and very comforting to cling to. He was one of the taller of the aliens and easily carried Jungkook around the table, settling with him in his lap. Taehyung appeared with empty plates and distributed them. Jungkook watched, six plates. None for him. Oh. He hoped they knew he needed to eat. But, then, if he was a pet, naturally they wouldn’t give him the same food they had. They’d probably feed him after.
Visions flashed through his head of them treating him like a dog, expecting him to eat out of a bowl on the floor. He felt his eyes get a little wet at the thought which was stupid, he hadn’t cried at all since he’d been taken from his ship, too flooded with fear and adrenaline. Why was he suddenly feeling like this.
Before the tears could really get started, though, Jin lent across and picked two items from the nearest bowl. They looked a little like dough balls. He popped one into his mouth then held the other up to Jungkook.
Oh.
Jungkook glanced around. All the others were watching him. He opened his mouth and Jin popped the dough ball in.
And it was good. Really good. His eyes widened. It was crispier than it had looked in Seokjin’s finger and the inside was rich and flaky, decadent. He raised his fingers to his lips and smiled. Around the table, there was excited chatter. Taehyung, who was sat to his left, leant forward and grabbed another bowl, something that was maybe segments of fruit? He offered Jungkook a piece in the same way and Jungkook took it, then immediately wrinkled his nose. It was so sour, and not in a good way. In a way that he wanted to spit it out. But he’d been raised better than that so he forced himself to chew it, then swallow it.
He had a second as it went down to wonder if this was even safe, if the foods here would hurt him. He really hoped not.
He quickly made his no symbol and there was another flurry of talking. Taehyung looked disappointed and, in a fit of insanity, Jungkook leant over and rubbed them cheeks together. There was excited musical chirping from around the table and when he pulled back, Taehyung looked very pleased with himself.
They went through the rest of the plates like that, different aliens offering him bites and all of them watching his reaction. Namjoon taught him what he presumed was a hand gesture for yes once they had a few clear yes and no plates and they all seemed to enjoy feeding him. Then when he’d tried everything, Jin loaded up his plate with a selection of the things Jungkook had liked best and he spent the rest of the meal sat in Jin’s lap, fed from Jin’s plate.
It was definitely nicer than a bowl on the floor.
When dinner was finished he was passed along to Yoongi who took Jungkook into his lap, even though Jungkook wasn’t that much smaller than him. They made it work, then Namjoon appeared with some kind of game, laying the board out between them.
Jungkook watched for a while, but it was hard to follow when he didn’t know the rules so he turned in Yoongi’s lap and curled up, putting his cheek on the alien’s shoulder. Yoongi started to pet his hair which was also super nice. He felt comfortable, warm, looked after.
He could watch the others in the kitchen, Jimin and Tae were clearly meant to be tidying up but seemed to mostly be teasing each other and playing about. Jin was sat in a little alcove, pretending to read something but really watching them and smiling. Hobi was actually cleaning around them. He’d stop every so often and apparently scold them and they’d rub their cheeks on his and go back to cleaning for a little while until they distracted each other again.
It was so soft, so lovely. It felt like home. Not like his home, quiet since his parents had spent so long working to be able to afford their nice lifestyle, his education. But like what home should feel like. Full of laughter and affection and love.
He wondered if he’d get to stay here. He wondered if Jin would smile at him like that, soft and indulgent and loving. He wondered if he’d get to play around with Jimin and Tae in the kitchen, get to do little things to help out and feel how proud they all were of him when he did good.
He wanted that. Suddenly and intensely, he wanted that.
Eventually, the cleaning ended and the rest of them drifted back over to the sitting area. Tae appeared and said something to Yoongi, reaching down to pet Jungkook’s hair. Yoongi grunted, then lent back, presumably to let Tae pick Jungkook up, Jungkook was used to this by now.
He didn’t, though. Instead he took Jungkook’s hand and tugged him to his feet, then lead him over to an open area between the space the rest of them were sitting in and the beds. Jimin was there, he’d taken a box out of the wall storage, the same place Namjoon had gone to find clothes for him. Inside the box was, well, Jungkook wasn’t sure what they were. A mass of bright fabric. Jimin grabbed one, it looked to be a palm sized ball of fabric with streamers coming from it, and tossed it to Tae.
Tae caught it then, after checking Jungkook was watching, started playing with it. He was playing keep up, by the looks of things, kicking the thing and trying to keep it off the ground. He managed to keep going quite a while before he dropped it and looked very pleased with himself, beaming as Jungkook and bouncing over for cheek rubs.
Jungkook was very happy to give him cheek rubs, but then his eyes went to the cloth ball. Tae was distracted by something Jimin was doing so Jungkook went over to grab it. He was surprisingly heavier than he’d expected. Not too heavy, though. He tossed it experimentally from hand to hand then dropped it and kicked it back up.
This was familiar. He’d played this game enough as a kid, his friends betting snacks against each other and cheering each other on.
He hadn’t counted how many Tae got but he thought he did quite well, making it to eleven before the cloth ball flew out of range. Then he was surprised to be tackled by both Tae and Jimin, both of them rubbing their cheeks against his and making satisfied noises. So he guessed he’d done well.
He glanced back at the others to find them watching, all looking approving. And he really hoped he was reading these alien facial expressions correctly, it seemed too good to be true that their expressions were so close to human but all their actions seemed to match the expressions and, well, there was only so much thinking he could be expected to do.
Jimin had produced chalk from somewhere and made some marks on the wall, then took a ball himself and tried. It didn’t take long for Jungkook to work out that it was a leaderboard, and Jungkook had never once met a competition he wouldn’t try his best on.
And soon he was winning. He couldn’t read the alien numbers but he could still count and he easily outstripped both of them, which wasn’t exactly hard when Jimin was hopeless. Then the others came over to try and all seven of them were stood around, kicking the balls, laughing, trying to sabotage each other. They left him out of that until he poked Tae in the ribs when Tae was actually getting close to his record and apparently, after that, the kid gloves were off.
They played until they all got silly with it, until Jungkook ended up on his back, Jin ticking him so much he had to use his stop signal. Jin did, pulling back immediately and looking worried until Jungkook caught his breath again and managed to rub their cheeks together.
After that, they settled back down in the seating area. He ended up pressed between Jimin and Tae as they listened to some music, Tae’s hand on his hips, Jimin stroking his hair.
And it was nice. So nice. When they were playing, he’d even forgotten for a while how far away he was from his planet and how scared he’d been for so long, even though he could still feel traces of it in his body.
He really hoped they didn’t take him out after and sell him on, or send him to work in a mine or something. He thought it might break his heart.
Eventually the sun set outside the window and Seokjin started to rouse them all, getting them to stand up one by one and sending them off, then claiming Jungkook for himself, scooping him up again like the others had earlier and carrying him though to the bathroom.
Jungkook was very glad to find a familiar tooth brushing routine, it had been far too long and he wasn’t sure how he’d have explained what he needed if they hadn’t, and a toilet behind a curtain which he made use of, then Jin dressed him in a new top, something almost impossibly soft, and carried him over to their nest, where the others were already settling in.
And Jungkook barely even got started on worrying where he was going to sleep since Jin carried him right to the middle, set him down, then scooted up behind him and spooned him.
And oh, that was lovely. So warm and safe and comfortable. He glanced around at the others settling in. They were all being soft with each other, affectionate. Lots of cheek rubbing again, and they all came over to make sure he and Jin got cheeks rubs too. Hobi settled down behind Jin and seemed to slip into sleep quickly. Namjoon and Yoongi curled up near the edge of the nest, not touching each other but close enough to, close enough to share whispers in the space between them.
And then his eyes found Tae and Jimin.
And oh, that was another piece of anatomy they apparently had in common. Because Jimin’s shirt was up and Tae was stroking him.
And yes, they were proportionally larger there too. Jungkook knew he should look away, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t help but watch as Tae’s hand ran over Jimin’s length, touching him. Jimin’s eyes were closed his pleasure, his breath coming in short pants, his chin tilted up. He looked beautiful. They all looked beautiful, but caught up in his pleasure Jimin was even more so. And his cock, his cock. It was longer than human, and thicker, and ridged in a strange way and Jungkook wanted to touch it.
Which was an absolutely stupid thing to be thinking. He was… well, he didn’t know what he was to them but not a lover, surely.
And Jimin clearly already had a lover.
Only Jimin’s eyes opened and found his. Jungkook gasped, and Jimin smiled. He shifted closer, reaching out his hands across the sheets, and Jungkook reached back, taking it, feeling Jimin’s fingers tightening against his.
And perhaps Hobi wasn’t as asleep as he’d thought, as suddenly there was a hand on his hip, squeezing gently. Jin’s arms were still around him, and when he glanced up Namjoon and Yoongi were both watching. Yoongi met Jungkook’s eyes for a second, this untangled himself from the blankets he’d been lying in and came over. He knelt over Jimin, reaching down to add his hand to Tae’s and none of them seemed surprised by this, none of them objected.
Jimin didn’t have a lover, he had lovers.
Jin, pressed right up behind him, was starting to get hard. He could feel it, pressing against him. And oh, there was a thought. It might be a bit much to let them fuck him but if he could touch it…
Namjoon stirred, sitting up and pulling his shirt up. He was hard too, and even bigger than Jimin. Which made sense, he was so much bigger than Jimin in all ways. Tae let go of Jimin and rolled over, crawling to sprawl along Namjoon and taking Namjoon’s dick into his hand.
And Jungkook was hard. So very hard. He should be using his stop sign. He should be scared. He wasn’t, though. This just felt right, somehow. More of what they’d been doing already. Soft, gently.
Jin shifted a little, and his hand brushed the bottom of Jungkook’s shirt. Jungkook stiffened, then turned so he could see the alien. He was careful not to let go on Jimin’s hand as he did. Jin was watching him intensely, but he didn’t move his hand, just left it there. An offer.
And Jungkook realised he was waiting for a yes, waiting for permission.
He made his yes sign.
Seokjin pulled up Jungkook’s top, looked down at him, and Jungkook, well, he wasn’t small by human standard but clearly he was the outlier in this room. Jin didn’t even hesitate though, reaching down and wrapping his hand around Jungkook and oh, yes, that was good. Warm and tight and just, so good. He rolled back on his side just in time to see Jimin come, his fingers tightening around Jungkooks as he did, his entire face a picture of bliss.
Jungkook swallowed. It was somehow both the most beautiful and hottest thing he’d ever seen.
Hobi squeezed his hip then let go. Jungkook made a little sound of protest, he’d liked the weight of Hobi’s hand there, but he wasn’t going far, just climbing over to take Jimin a tissue. He wiped him down with lots of sweet little noises as Yoongi sat back, clearly very satisfied with himself, then turned his eyes to Jungkook.
Jungkook swallowed. He wondered if this was what it felt like to be prey, the way that gaze pinned him.
Yoongi moved across the bed, keeping eye contact with Jungkook as he did. He settled by Jungkook’s hip, then looked at him and made both the yes and no signs. With Jin’s hand already on him, with his brain already scrambling, it took him a second to realise Yoongi was asking for permission.
He signed yes.
Jin let go of him then, which was terrible, but before he could do more than make the vaguest protest Yoongi was leaning down, taking Jungkook into his mouth and oh, oh. He gasped, hand that wasn’t still locked with his scrambling for purchase until Jin took it, rubbing it against his cheek. And he was sure, now, that was a kiss.
And then his world narrowed down to Yoongi, who was apparently intent on giving Jungkook the best blow job he’d ever had in his life. His month was so wet around Jungkook, his tongue so clever, and he looked so pretty, so perfect with Jungkook’s dick in his mouth.
Jungkook had to look away. There was no way he was going to be able to hold on if he kept looking. He looked over to Jimin instead, who was now quietly getting Hoseok off as they rubbed cheeks. Past them to Taehyung and Namjoon who were touching each other, both of them watching him.
They were all watching him, he realised. Hoseok and Jimin glancing over, Taehyung and Namjoon just doing it blatantly. Their eyes were hungry as they watched him, like they all wished they were the ones holding him, the ones touching him.
And then he had a horrible thought. What if this was it. What if they’d brought him here just for this, for a fun fuck, and then they were going to get rid of him, send him away.
And just like that he burst into tears.
He signed stop, but Yoongi was already pulling back anyway. He pushed them all away, crawling away to the back corner of the nest and curling up into himself, pressing his face into his knees. It was all just suddenly too much, too big, too scary.
What was he going to do it they didn’t keep him?
They probably wouldn’t now. Now he’d made a fuss, a scene. He’d probably be back in a cage, starving, cold, in pain. They’d all been having such a nice time. He’d been having such a nice time. He didn’t know why he was crying.
Something warm settled around his shoulders. He looked up to find Jimin draping a blanket over him. He was smiling softly, and when he saw Jungkook was looking at him he knelt down and tucked the blanket in more securely, then reached out to stroke Jungkook’s hair.
And it was so tender, so soft, it was only making Jungkook cry more. He wanted this. If he was honest, he’d been wanting this as far back as he could remember, even before he left earth. He’d been waiting for someone to be tender with him, to take care of him, to treat him like he was worth something to them, like he made them happier just by being here.
But it was an illusion, it had to be. And if he let himself trust and then they sent him away…
Jimin pulled the blankets tighter around him, then hummed in satisfaction. He leant in and pressed their foreheads together and said something. Jungkook didn’t know what, obviously, but it sounded to nice, so tender. He reached up and cupped Jungkook’s face for a second, wiping tears with his thumbs. Not angry, not walking away. Just being there.
And Jungkook wanted him to be there. Wanted to be held.
He reached out.
And perhaps Jimin had been waiting for the gesture because he didn’t hesitate, pulling Jungkook in close, settling him on his’s lap and holding him tightly, letting Jungkook tuck his tear stained face into his neck and holding him while he cried.
After a while, someone started stroking his hair. He looked up and Namjoon was there, looking concerned and talking quietly to Jimin. He turned his head and rubbed his cheek against Namjoon’s palm, which made Namjoon smile and lean in, rubbing their cheeks together gently then pausing, lips next to Jungkook’s ear, just staying with him for a minute.
It was calming, reassuring. They didn’t seem to be cross with him, even though he’d ruined everything. And how stupid was it that, after everything, it was getting a blowjob that had broken him. It was just that everything had gotten so big, so out of control.
It was just that he was so tired of being scared.
Hobi came over next, and Jungkook’s tears had started to dry. He was sure he must have looked a mess, he could already feel the beginning of a headache, but Hobi didn’t seem to mind, rubbing up and down his back and brushing their cheeks together delicately. Jungkook put an arm around his neck to keep him close for a minute then, when he pulled back, mimed a drink. Hobi’s eyes widened and he leapt into action, coming back soon after with water which Jungkook drank thankfully.
And they had to like him, right? To want to keep him? If they hadn’t, if he was just a sex toy to them, well, he’d thoroughly proved now that he wasn’t suited to the role.
But still they were there, bringing him water and holding him and comforting him. He didn’t know what he was to them, what had made them pick him, but they seemed to like him, to want to care for him.
Across the room, his eyes found Tae. He was huddled against the wall, sat with Yoongi rubbing his back, watching Jungkook. There was something haunted about him, scared. Jungkook didn’t want to see any of them scared. He liked them all so much.
He wiped his face, feeling how puffy it was, but at least the tears were stopped. He leant in and nuzzled Jimin’s cheek again, then stood. Jimin didn’t try to stop him, none of them did. They just watched him cross the room to where Tae was sat.
Tae watched him come, staying small and folded into himself. Yoongi watched him too, eyes sharp, face neutral. Jungkook paused for a second when he got near to them. Then took the last few steps, lay a hand on Tae’s shoulder to stabilise himself them climbed into Tae’s lap. Tae seemed surprised, though his hands came up to steady Jungkook. Jungkook smiled, then leant in and gently rubbed his cheek against Tae’s. He pulled back and for a second he thought Tae was going to cry. It was strange, Tae hadn’t done anything. But, then, maybe he just had a soft heart. And he supposed Tae had been the one touching Jimin, the thing that had started all this. But it wasn't like Jungkook had protested.
He’d been enjoying it right until he wasn’t.
He leant over to Yoongi too, just in case the other alien was worrying. He stayed in Tae’s lap but rubbed his cheek against Yoongi’s, who responded in kind, and then Tae suddenly rocked forward, wrapping him arms around Jungkook and pulling him in tight, clinging to him.
Jungkook clung back, one arm around Tae, one around Yoonig.
And like that, being held between them, it was hard to imagine this as anything dangerous, anything that could hurt him.
He might not know what the future held or even what was going on really but he knew, could feel in Tae’s hold on him, that for now he was safe. For now he was held and cherished and for now he didn’t have to hurt any more.
It was a while before anyone disturbed them, Jin again, getting them all moving back towards sleep.
This time there was nothing sexual. This time the seven of them curled up together. Jungkook ended up in the middle, pressed between Jin and Taehyung, safe and held, the others watching over him.
He had no more control over his life than he’d had that morning, scared and alone in his cage, but in every other way possible things were so much better. He’d never felt so warm, so loved. In the morning, he was going to give them all cheek kisses again. He was going to let them carry him, baby him, care for him. He wanted to try again, touching them, giving them pleasure, letting them touch him. Maybe he’d ask Tae to do it, maybe that would be nice.
Whatever happened, he’d made the most of it.
Whatever happened, he’d be cared for.