Morning light spilled through the massive glass windows of the penthouse.
Normally the headquarters of the Seven Shadows Syndicate woke slowly. Quiet. Controlled.
Today?
Chaos.
"NO!"
Hoseok's voice echoed through the training floor.
Jungkook sighed.
Jimin laughed.
Taehyung leaned against the wall looking amused.
Namjoon rubbed his temple.
Yoongi didn't even look up from his tablet.
And Jin crossed his arms like a disappointed parent.
Because in the middle of the room—
Hoseok was dramatically clinging to a pillar.
"I don't wanna!"
Jungkook pointed at the training mat.
"You said you wanted to learn to fight."
"I changed my mind!"
Taehyung snorted.
Jimin whispered loudly, "Coward."
Hoseok gasped.
"I am NOT a coward!"
Jungkook raised an eyebrow.
"Then come here."
Hoseok immediately clung tighter to the pillar.
"No."
Namjoon finally spoke, voice calm.
"Hoseok."
The dancer slowly peeked around the pillar.
"Yes…?"
Namjoon smiled softly.
"You did incredible yesterday."
Hoseok's cheeks flushed.
The memory of the warehouse still made his chest tight.
The gun.
The fear.
The moment he protected himself.
But then…
The way they had all held him afterward.
Like he was the most precious thing in the world.
Jimin walked over and gently poked his cheek.
"Sunshine."
Hoseok pouted.
"Hmm?"
"You're training."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
Jungkook suddenly grabbed him around the waist and lifted him off the pillar.
Hoseok shrieked.
"BETRAYAL!"
Taehyung clapped slowly.
"Well that was easy."
Jungkook dropped him gently on the mat.
"Alright."
Hoseok sat cross-legged and glared at everyone.
"Traitors."
Yoongi finally looked up.
"You literally shot someone yesterday."
"That was different!"
"How?"
"I was scared!"
Jin placed a bottle of water beside him.
"And if that happens again?"
Hoseok hesitated.
His fingers twisted nervously.
Namjoon crouched in front of him.
"You won't always be with us."
The words were gentle.
But heavy.
"You deserve to feel safe," Namjoon said quietly.
Hoseok swallowed.
"I know…"
Jungkook clapped his hands.
"Okay!"
Everyone turned to him.
"Training rule number one."
He pointed at Hoseok.
"No dramatic fainting."
"I DO NOT FAINT!"
"You literally fainted last week."
"I was overwhelmed!"
Taehyung smirked.
"Same thing."
Hoseok glared.
Jungkook stretched his arms.
"Let's start simple."
He moved into a stance.
"Punch me."
Hoseok blinked.
"What?"
"Punch me."
"I'm not punching you!"
"Why not?"
"Because I love you!"
Jungkook sighed.
"Baby."
"Yes?"
"Punch me."
Hoseok slowly stood.
His tiny fists clenched.
"This feels illegal."
Jimin whispered to Taehyung, "Five dollars he misses."
Taehyung whispered back, "Ten."
Hoseok swung.
Very slowly.
Jungkook caught his wrist easily.
"…that was sad."
Hoseok gasped.
"Rude!"
Jungkook repositioned his stance.
"Feet apart."
He moved Hoseok's legs slightly.
"Balance."
Then adjusted his shoulders.
"Relax your arms."
Hoseok looked like a confused baby giraffe.
Jimin tried not to laugh.
"Okay," Jungkook said.
"Now punch."
Hoseok swung again.
This time—
Thud.
His fist actually hit Jungkook's shoulder.
Everyone blinked.
Jungkook nodded approvingly.
"Good."
Hoseok stared at his hand.
"…I did it?"
Yoongi deadpanned, "Congratulations. You assaulted your boyfriend."
Hoseok beamed.
"I DID!"
One Hour Later
Hoseok was lying dramatically on the mat.
"I'm dying."
"You're not dying," Jungkook said.
"I can see heaven."
"That's the ceiling."
"Tell my plants I love them."
Jin walked over with a towel and wiped his forehead.
"You trained for forty minutes."
"That's a lifetime."
Taehyung crouched beside him.
"Baby."
"Yes?"
"You're doing great."
Hoseok blinked up at him.
"…really?"
"Yeah."
Jimin nodded.
"You're stronger than you think."
Hoseok smiled softly.
Then suddenly—
His expression changed.
The room felt too loud.
Too bright.
His chest tightened.
Training always did this sometimes.
Too much stimulation.
Too many emotions.
Namjoon noticed immediately.
"Hoseok?"
But it was already happening.
His mind slipping.
Regression pulling him down.
Small.
Safe.
Soft.
Hoseok's voice came out tiny.
"Joon…?"
Namjoon instantly sat beside him.
"I'm here."
Hoseok crawled into his lap.
Arms wrapping around his neck.
"Up…"
Namjoon lifted him without hesitation.
Jungkook handed over a soft hoodie.
Jin brought a bottle.
Jimin stroked his hair.
Taehyung rubbed his back.
Yoongi lowered the lights.
Hoseok sniffled.
"Too big…"
"It's okay," Namjoon whispered.
"You did so well."
"Did good?"
"You did amazing."
Hoseok sucked quietly on the bottle Jin gave him.
His tiny brain calming.
Jungkook smiled softly.
"You know what?"
"What?" Taehyung asked.
"He's still training."
Hoseok blinked slowly.
"…huh?"
Jungkook grinned.
"Little fighters still learn too."
Hoseok giggled.
That Evening
The war officially started.
Yoongi placed a file on the table.
"Our warehouse was attacked this morning."
Jimin's smile vanished.
Taehyung's eyes darkened.
Namjoon read the report silently.
"Daejin's allies."
Jungkook cracked his knuckles.
"Figures."
Jin sighed.
"They're testing us."
Yoongi nodded.
"And they'll keep pushing."
Namjoon looked around the room.
Decision forming.
"We retaliate tonight."
Hoseok froze.
"You're leaving?"
Jimin walked over and squeezed his hand.
"Just business."
Hoseok's chest tightened.
He hated when they went on dangerous missions.
But…
He also understood.
They were mafia.
Danger was their life.
Namjoon kissed his forehead.
"We'll be back soon."
Hoseok nodded.
Trying to be brave.
Two Hours Later
Hoseok sat alone in the living room.
The penthouse felt too quiet.
He hugged a pillow.
"Stupid mafia boys…"
But then—
The elevator dinged.
Hoseok blinked.
"They're back already?"
He stood up.
Walking toward the hallway.
"Joon?"
No answer.
The door creaked open.
Two armed men stepped inside.
Hoseok froze.
"Oh."
One of them smirked.
"Well look what we found."
Hoseok's heart started racing.
Not again.
Not again not again not again—
But then he remembered.
Training.
Breathing.
Balance.
He slowly stepped backward.
"You shouldn't be here."
The man laughed.
"Cute."
They moved closer.
Hoseok's mind screamed to run.
But something stronger pushed forward.
He grabbed the nearest object.
A metal lamp.
The first man lunged.
Hoseok swung.
CRACK.
The lamp smashed against his head.
The man collapsed instantly.
The second attacker stared.
"…what?"
Hoseok stared too.
"…oh my god."
The second man rushed him.
Hoseok panicked.
But this time—
He didn't freeze.
He moved exactly like Jungkook taught him.
Step.
Block.
Knee.
The man staggered.
Hoseok grabbed the gun from his hand.
Hands shaking violently.
"STOP!"
The attacker froze.
Both of them breathing heavily.
And suddenly—
The elevator doors opened again.
Six terrifying mafia bosses stepped inside.
They froze.
Because in the middle of the room—
Hoseok stood holding a gun.
Two attackers on the floor.
Namjoon blinked.
Jungkook's jaw dropped.
Jimin whispered, "Holy shit."
Hoseok looked at them.
Then burst into tears.
"I DIDN'T MEAN TO HIT HIM THAT HARD!"
The six men rushed him instantly.
Namjoon took the gun away.
Jungkook pulled him into a hug.
Jin checked him for injuries.
Taehyung stared at the unconscious bodies.
"…our baby just committed assault."
Yoongi nodded.
"Proud."
Hoseok buried his face in Jungkook's chest.
"I was scared…"
Jungkook kissed his hair.
"You did perfect."
Namjoon looked at the attackers.
Then back at Hoseok.
His voice full of awe.
"Our sunshine just defended the syndicate."
Hoseok sniffled.
"…really?"
Jimin grinned.
"Yeah."
Taehyung smirked.
"You're officially dangerous now."
Yoongi added quietly,
"Terrifying."
Hoseok giggled softly.
Then suddenly yawned.
His brain finally relaxing.
Little space creeping back.
"Sleepy…"
Jin immediately picked him up.
"Bedtime."
Hoseok wrapped his arms around his neck.
"Mine…"
All six men answered softly.
"Always."
Later That Night
Hoseok slept peacefully between them in the giant bed.
Curled up like a tiny kitten.
Jungkook watched him quietly.
"He's changing."
Namjoon nodded.
"Growing."
Taehyung smiled softly.
"But still our baby."
Yoongi looked toward the city lights.
"The war's just starting."
Jimin squeezed Hoseok's hand.
"Let them come."
Jin kissed his forehead gently.
"No one touches our sunshine again."
Namjoon's eyes hardened.
Because somewhere in the city—
Their enemies were already planning the next attack.
And this time…
They weren't just targeting the syndicate.
They were targeting Hoseok.