𝙻𝙸𝙵𝙴𝙻𝙴𝚂𝚂 𝙷𝙴𝙸𝚁//𝙿𝙹𝙼 𝙵𝙵

• The Last Nation Pt.1 •

Birds chirped from the round window beside his bed. He didn't even realise they still exist. Jimin let out a long groan into the pillow as he grabbed the roots of his hair. They had spent the night in one of the humble tree huts of Babylon. It was a small hut. A single bed cushioned with fluffy wool duvet and pillow, a small table with some natural shampoos from honey and mugwort, and a clothing rack with some warm and fuzzy scarves and jackets.

Citadel had attended to them generously but Jimin couldn't sleep a wink last night from the worries and anxiety. Even though Citadel'd told them that if the Last Nation was behind this, they can rest assured that his wife is possibly still alive. They wouldn't kill for no reason, unless you give them one.

The morning sun had risen and the fortress came to life once again. People hassled and bassled about their chores. Some attended to their farm animals, some harvested crops for winter, some weaved away racks of warm clothes. There was harmony in this fortress that no empire can achieve without giving up some power to mother nature herself.

Plants here blossomed unlike any other, animals were much healthier and produced better quality of food, and the people were at peace. They didn't seem to have any trouble reproducing too, considering the little birth and death count board on a tree. Jimin figured that it must have something to do with natural selection. These people were the best fit when it comes to surviving. Some of them were from the beginning of the apocalypse like himself and they no doubt were able to produce strong and capable children.

As he laid there on his bed and stared at the fortress beneath him, his mind wandered back home. My dear Leon. He wondered how he's fairing without both his parents gone. Jimin knew ditching your kid wasn't the brightest parenting advice but Leon was much safer in Venera alone than here with him.

He still couldn't help but worry about his boy. Leon wasn't the conventional heir that you would expect from an empire like Venera but Jimin knew that kid had so much more in him than he realises. Yes, Leon had asthmatic problem which in this day and age was heavily looked down upon. Gene pool cleansing is actually a thing but not everyone practises it due to its morally grey ethics yet its idea had spread like wildfire.

Jimin knew Leon was often bullied in school due to that but he hadn't stopped it. After venturing so far away from his empire, he realised that Venera didn't need another soldier as its ruler. It needs compassion. Someone like Venus. Someone like Leon.

Citadel made a great example seeing how well this fortress came about. The old man rescued countless people back then and was able to reunite nations and bring back hope for mankind. Leon could be a far greater ruler than Jimin is, and that thought brought a soft smile to his face.

After a quick rinse, Jimin put on a coat over his armour before sauntering down to meet the others. The branches of tree huts were connected by sturdy vein bridges yet Jimin found it difficult to balance himself on it.

He came down to the kitchen which was part of the base of Babylon that led to the outdoor banquet area. The little courtyard was filled without long tables and benches and was shaded by the leaves and branches of Babylon. It was empty though. Other than Jungkook and his mug of hot honey lemon tea.

Jimin sat down in front of his commander and just stared at him but the tattooed man kept his gaze on his tea. He hadn't said a single word since last night and his expression seemed...distant.

"Got a lot on your mind?" Jimin spoke first.

Jungkook took a second to answer, "Have we been doing all this wrong?"

"What makes you think that?" Jimin knew what Jungkook was referring to but he just didn't expect it to impact a man like Jungkook this much. I guess a field trip was all they needed for that frontal lobe to develop.