Chapter Text
She was elegant in the aurora; pastel colors painting part of her face with cautious hues of oranges kissing pale yellows as the other half remained penumbra. Her tamed, raven hair hinting the secret of darkness that was wrapped neatly on the top of her head, secured with just two long metal sticks crisscrossing one another that glinted with the tiniest shift. Not one single stand of hair misplaced.
Her eyes were smothered with perspicuous storm clouds, and only when she smiled, white teeth bared, her body bending in half, did the boy witness the tremors of the air that was crackling around her; snapping, buzzing, like sparks of energy were being threatened with her ambience.
Quivering in his stance, he squeezed his hands together behind his back and pleaded with a worried lip to stay upright; coaxing to himself to keep still so his knees wouldn't buckle and cause him to crash to the polished wooden floor.
He tensed when he watched her arm extend towards him, the clinking army of silver bracelets that encircled around her dainty wrist in a crowd and the second her slender and pale hand touched his cheek, fingertips grazing down to his chin to grip at it with the slightest pressure, his vision blurred immediately, eyes brimming with tears.
Sucking in a breath at the sight of her arched eyebrows, he had already began to recite an apology on his tongue but before he could even part his lips, the woman withdrew her caress slowly, as this only deepend the pounding of blood in his ears as her right eyelid twitched. He had offended her.
The edges of her onyx stained lips tugged downwards, perhaps in distate with his reaction, maybe it could have been something else though he wasn't sure. The silence was tough to swallow and it weighted on his shoulders like a overbearing hug from a relative.
The boy begged his trembling figure to ease itself as she turned her head towards the source of this confrontation, he thinks he could apologize until his throat was raw and bleeding and his voice ceased to exist but it still wouldn't be enough to gain her forgiveness.
She sounded a hum, long and light, a furrow marring her brow as she straightened her lithe body. Exhaling a small huff of a breath, he realized that she was going to speak and he hopes he can manage to hear her over the sound of his own hammering heartbeart.
Her voice was just as beautiful as the lack of pigmentation of her flesh. "Did you do this?" She asked, her index finger pointing to the shattered vase that had done drawn its last breath before exploding into various and crooked pieces, decorating the ground in deep colors of golden umber and rich indigo.
There was no escape to this, the boy discerned, as his hands viciously shook, his entire body vibrating with what could only be described as his own hamartia but also sorrow. Mostly, he believes, it was sorrow.
He sucked in a large gulp of oxygen to swallow and force into his lungs, the stretch of his windpipe no match for the agony residing deep within the contents of the poorly pulsing heart in his sore chest. "Yes." He answered weakly, the strain fierce enough to have him shudder. "I did this."
The woman grinned, no trace of honest kindness radiating from it as her shadowed eyes glittered with something akin to nightmares when she stared his small stature down until he felt a whimper wanting to push past his mouth. He bit hard on his tongue to keep it lodged inside.
"You know what you have to do, don't you?"
"I do."
ㅇ
"Where the fuck is he?"
He almost didn't hear the plausible question because his eyes were glued to the hundreds of bodies being moved by the pounding music, their smiles and laughs combined with the taste of smoke on his tongue and a rainstorm of different colors flooding from above.
It looks like fun, he thinks, his head tilted to the left slightly, it looks fun to dance and sway and wonders what it would feel like to let his problems stray away from him for some time. To drink liquor until his stomach clenches, until his eyes are bloodshot from the cigarettes that were being burned too close to the filter in between his lips. It could be fun, he thinks. It wasn't much his scene, but he didn't mind clubbing every once in a great while. It gave him opportunities to meet different people. Friendly, and intimate.
"Jungkook said Hoseok Hyung might get held up again tonight." Another voice answers and this snaps Jungkook out of his trance. He blinks until his eyes are no longer dry and clears his throat, sniffing, turning around in the seat and leans on the counter where his sight lands on a man with vivid dark chocolate hair and a scowl on his lips. He holds a tall clear glass in one hand and a towel in the other, wiping the rim clean.
"Are you just saying that or did you forget to text him?" The man asks with accusing and suspicious eyes. "Again." He sets down the glass and picks up another one.
Jungkook bites his lower lip to keep himself from chuckling and glances to the person next to him, his arms are crossed over his chest where he can see the litter of beautiful heavily inked tattoos marking them, his muscles bulging as he rests his elbows on the bar carefully. His fingers tousling his ebony colored bangs as he sighs, rolling his eyes.
"Why are you living in the past, Hyung?" The man behind the counter snorts, mumbling under his breath and shakes his head.
"Namjoon, it was less that forty two hours ago. I'll kick your ass if you forgot to remind himㅡ"
"Help your Hyung out here?" Namjoon says interrupting his threat, bumping Jungkook's shoulder with his own. "Yoongi might sprain his wrist if he tries to punch me," Namjoon looks at Yoongi and smirks. "Again."
Yoongi looks like he's going to jump over the counter and strangle him but goes to open his mouth when Jungkook finally breaks out in a smile, catching Yoongi's attention. "It's true, Hyung." Jungkook confirms. "I heard the phone call when I was working morning shift at Namjoon Hyung's parlor."
Yoongi's eyes soften when Jungkook speaks and it takes him a couple long moments before he nods. "Okay, I believe you."
Namjoon scoffs. "What? Why do you believe Jungkook and not me?"
"Maybe because I like Jungkook more than you." The bartender shrugs but there's no hate laced in his voice. Namjoon doesn't seem affected by his words either and hooks an arm around Jungkook's neck and pulls him close to his side, ruffling his hair.
"I don't blame you," Namjoon says and Jungkook squirms in his hold. "The kid's hard to resist. Who wouldn't like him? I can't even be mad."
Jungkook blushes and pushes Namjoon away and he chuckles loud and deep, and Jungkook rests his head on his crossed arms on the bar, watching Yoongi smile at him with soft eyes. His cheeks flood with warmth from the attention.
"Do you why he's being held back by any chance?" Yoongi asks, nodding his head at a costumer. "Be right back." He says and walks away from the two before returning a couple minutes later.
Namjoon waves him off and takes his own shot glass in his large hand, bringing it up to his lips and tips his head back, swallowing the liquid in one go and sets the glass upside down and shakes his head. "Oh, fuck, that burns." He wheezes and Jungkook smiles wider at his scruched up reaction. Yoongi chuckles. "He didn't say much, really," Namjoon clears his throat. "Just that there were some papers that needed to be sorted."
"By some papers, I'm guessing that means a lot." Jungkook adds and Namjoon nods. "So he might not show tonight."
"I feel like they're overwhelming him." Yoongi sighs, grabbing a couple bottles of Scotch from the shelf behind him. "I need to call him or something, fuck, I've been so fucking preoccupied with this place." He sets up seven shot glasses side by side then he pours the golden liquid into them right to the brim without pause, going straight down the line. The scowl returns, more deep, more sad. Jungkook doesn't like it.
Jungkook frowns at his words. "Hyung," He says. "You're not awful. It's okay, I think he understands."
Yoongi chooses not say anything and leaves to give the customers their orders and Jungkook pouts, thinking perhaps he said something wrong since his Hyung didn't respond to him but Namjoon noticed his worried expression and helps.
"Hoseok Hyung doesn't handle stress very well." Namjoon explains, his hand patting Jungkook's shoulder. "He typically goes to Yoongi for advice and help but they've both been busy with work so they haven't contacted each other in awhile and Yoongi is the main one who checks up on him but he's here all night and tending to others."
Jungkook nods, glancing at Namjoon who gives him a smile to reassure him. "He does it all alone?" Jungkook adds. "He sorts papers all alone?"
Namjoon shrugs, looking around. "I think there's someone else who helps him but they're reorganizing an office that hasn't been used for awhile and there's important documents that needed to be decluttered and filed so it's taking them a long time and if they aren't done by the due date he might get written up."
Jungkook soaks in his words and sighs. "Why would he get written up for something that's going to take time if they just started?"
"I didn't say he just started." Namjoon points out and Jungkook feels his heart beginning to beat faster than the music pouring from the speakers.
"Will he get fired if he doesn't finish?" The young one asks, concerned, eyebrows drawn in as he peers at Namjoon.
"I mean, I hope not. The Company he works for is strict and likes things to be precise from what he told me." He says, eyes lighting up from the different colors flashing from the ceiling. "The owners do a walk in every other month to check up on their employees and to see if everything is up to standard, get rid of those who are slacking off soㅡ" Namjoon cuts himself off, his hands motioning in the air like he can't say the next words.
"So," Jungkook says slowly, mind putting the pieces together. "What you mean is that there's a strong possibility that Hoseok Hyung could be fired if he isn't finished by the due date for when they come to check?"
Namjoon nods.
"But Hoseok Hyung is one of the cleanest people I know and he's quick."
"Yeah, he is." Namjoon agrees. "But he doesn't work as efficiently when there's a lot of pressure on his shoulders." He clarifies. "Especially if not one but two of the CEO's, together, are going to pay his department a visit. . .I couldn't imagine what he's feeling right now and what's worse is that we can't be of help to him."
The conversation wanders off and it's probably better that it did before Jungkook began to think of it longer. Namjoon dismisses himself to the bathroom and Jungkook stays in his spot, his eyes accidentally scanning over the bottles of alcohol in a plodding manner, making his fingers twitch. He huffs and tears his gaze away.
He decides to watch Yoongi pour people drinks instead, to somehow substitute his thoughts about Hoseok and how there could be this terrible outcome to all of this. Yoongi is interacting with his customers professionally, smiling a bit here and there, nodding and showing off some of his simple flair tricks and the smug look Yoongi shows has Jungkook grinning with a shake of his head.
After a couple cheers and shots with the people, Yoongi saunters down with gleaming eyes and a tiny flush to his cheeks that can be seen even under the swarming lights.
"Where's Joon?" He asks, raising his hand in the air as a greeting at a man who shouts his name somewhere behind Jungkook in the crowd.
"Bathroom." He replies. "Hyung? Will you be okay?" He questions and when Yoongi gives him a confused look, Jungkook licks his lips. "Namjoon told me that Hoseok doesn't work well with stress and you feel bad."
Yoongi sighs, disappearing for a minute behind the bar to set more glasses on the counter. "I'll be alright, kid." He says, voice soft as he looks at Jungkook. "It's only Hoseok I'm worried about." He says. "He just got that job and he can't afford to lose it. It pays good money, and he needs that money."
Jungkook deflates a little at the sound of his Hyung's voice. It's casual, but if Jungkook were to peel back several layers, it would show raw despair for his friend and frankly, Jungkook can relate. He was there when Hoseok got the email saying he was accepted into the Company and he remembers how relieved and happy Hoseok was after weeks of anticipation, how he would refresh his email every hour on the dot, the daunting anxiety swimming in his eyes.
It was painful to Jungkook, seeing how distraught his Hyung was over this. He often shared the same feelings when he would stay over his house and he would physically have to pry him away from his computer so he could get him to bed; to rest and sleep and the only way he was going to do that was if Jungkook promised him he would check his email while he slept.
Jungkook did, of course, because he promised, because he knew how important it was to him so he did it.
It's been a long while since Jungkook has seen Hoseok and it'll probably be even longer since he won't be able to make it which he respects and because Hoseok is a hard worker but Jungkook understands Yoongi's pursed lips and furrowed brows.
Hoseok is overwhelming himself, overworking himself because he can't afford to be fired, not when he worked hard to get his position in the first place and to be let go over an unclean office? It wasn't fair. It wouldn't be fair.
Jungkook sighs, eyes catching sight of the shelf behind Yoongi and his fingers strain, splaying out over his thighs to keep himself grounded. He tightens his jaw and rips his sight away again beforeㅡ
"What's wrong?" Yoongi asks when Jungkook looks back him, perplexed by the young man's face. Jungkook tries his best to relax but his eyes shift over the the array of bottles again without his permission and he sniffs, eyes watering, chest aching. "Jungkook," Yoongi says, leaning over the counter, in front of him.
Jungkook's hearing is switching between the clubs music and static. He clears his throat, blinking hard. His eyes peer past the man, to the bottles, the shelf and his hands tense.
"Jungkook."
"Nothing's wrong, Hyung." Jungkook states, voice a bit thick. "The smoke is getting to me." It wasn't a complete lie but Jungkook realizes that Yoongi is holding Jungkook's face in his hands, his brown eyes staring intently into Jungkook's and the young man doesn't exactly know what to say or do but he makes sure to direct his sight elsewhere before he notices.
"Hey, what's going on?" A voice, Namjoon, asks and Jungkook can feel his presence beside him then his hand in on his shoulder, giving a light squeeze.
"I don't know." Yoongi mumbles, letting go of Jungkook gently. "He won't tell me."
Jungkook tries to smile. "Because there's nothing to tell." He clears his throat again, taking a deep breath then looks at Namjoon then Yoongi. "I'm okay, really, I am." He recovers within the minute.
Yoongi squints at him, but sighs, nodding, deciding not to push the subject and Namjoon sits back down in his previous spot and runs a hand up and down Jungkook's back.
"If you want some air just let me know, alright?" Namjoon says and Jungkook smiles a little. "Are you going home with Yoongi Hyung tonight, do you know?"
Jungkook thinks before shrugging his shoulders, glancing at Yoongi who is explaining what kinds of layers can go into a drink to a woman with fire red hair and a pretty face.
"There's still a couple hours to think about it, you know you're always welcome to stay at my place since Hoseok Hyung is busy. Did he remember to give you a key?"
Jungkook nods. "Yeah, but it gets lonely after while and I fall asleep before he comes home and he's gone before I wake up." He says and Namjoon tilts his head in understanding. "He makes sure to write me a note to eat and stuff, leaves me a couple dollars but I just put it right back in his room." He smiles and Namjoon laughs.
"Ah, you sweet kid." Namjoon smiles, petting Jungkook's nape a couple times affectionately. "I'm sure he misses you just as much as you miss him."
"Yeah," Jungkook says, reminding himself not to let his eyes look in front of him. He looks at Namjoon instead. His skin is smoothed over, tan from the sun, arms crossed on the bar as he bobs his head lightly to the music, his eyes looking around him in observation and Jungkook has always had a strong level of awe for him as a person. "I might stay with Yoongi Hyung tonight if that's okay."
Namjoon smiles at him. "Of course, kid, it's okay." He assures. Jungkook is glad he's amiable. "You finished your shift here?" He asks curiously, giving him a side eye when he throws back his head for another shot.
"A little before you showed up." The young man replies with a small nod. "I don't know if you can call it a shift, all I do is wipe down the tables and empty the cigarette trays."
"A job is a job no matter what the task." Namjoon clipped. "It may not seem like you do much but you help Yoongi and the business, just like you help me."
"All I do is help the person stand up and walk them to the mirror." He begins. "Are you sure you're not just saying that?"
Namjoon shakes his head. "A job is a job and you help us a lot, we like helping you in return."
Namjoon knew Jungkook wasn't complaining about his role in his tattoo parlor, Jungkook just had his doubts that he wasn't doing enough to help when he was there. Namjoon gave him that job, to aid the people to the body length mirror for them to examine Namjoon's work that would forever be engraved into their skin.
Jungkook didn't mind, he actually loved it, but that's all Namjoon could allow him to do, besides greeting the clients when they would enter and leave. Cleaning up minor messes. He just felt bad because he couldn't help more but he wanted to and Namjoon knew.
"Sometimes I feel like I'm cheating you guys." Jungkook expresses, shifting in his seat, leaning towards Namjoon as he leans closer to the young man to hear him clearer. Namjoon makes a face and Jungkook bites back his smile. "I get paid for doing small things. I feel bad."
"You shouldn't, really." His Hyung insists. "I understand where you're coming from but like I said before, you help us be presentable for business and you help the people by making them feel comfortable. I don't think you realize it, but hopefully you will soon."
Jungkook smiles when Namjoon ruffles his hair, bumping their shoulders together and he appreciates his reassuring words. He hopes he realizes it soon, too.
Hours pass. Jungkook is enjoying his time spent with Namjoon, watching as he was rolling the paper sleeves of straws into balls and flicking them at Yoongi's head. Jungkook laughs behind his hand when Yoongi snaps Namjoon's bicep with his towel when he catches him and the tattooed man shrieks with surprise declaring that it was Jungkook who did it but Yoongi snickers telling him that Jungkook is too much of a sweetheart to do such a malicious thing to his Hyung.
"Honestly," Jungkook laughs, his forehead resting on Namjoon's arm. "Why do you even try to throw me under the bus? You know he won't believe you and I thought you loved me."
"I do love you." Namjoon mumbles, still rubbing his other arm. "I'm just trying to show him you're not as innocent as you seem. I seen you cheat during Scrabble."
Jungkook laughs a little louder, his fingers tugging Namjoon's arm onto the bar top so he can trace his tattoos with his finger. "Hyung, that was, like, forever and a half ago."
Namjoon grumbles, but he's pliant when Jungkook moves his arm where ever he wants so he can look at all his tattoos like he had one hundred times before. He doesn't notice at first that people were slowly leaving, the bustling noise dying out only until a large group remained still dancing and talking and smoking. It's almost closing time but not just yet.
"Hey, Joon," Yoongi appears, wiping his hands on his towel before tossing it over his shoulder. "Could you help me carry some of these crates in the back?"
Namjoon smirks, tapping his finger on his chin, pondering. "I mean, I could. . ." He trails off, lips puckered in thought and Yoongi scowls.
"Get your ass up and help me."
"A please would be nice."
"Now."
Namjoon sighs, smiling at Jungkook's amused expression when he lets go of his arm and watches as he clumsily climbs over the counter and stumbles instead of just lifting up the bar top and walking through it.
"Jungkook?" Yoongi's voice is softer and Jungkook hums, brows raised in acknowledgement. "Would you please take over for the next few minutes while Joon and I get the crates sorted?"
"Yeah, sure thing. Do you want me to tidy up the shot glasses?"
Yoongi nods, smiling at his wide eyes. "Only if you feel like it, but I'm not too worried about those."
"I'll do them." Jungkook says, lifting himself off the booth.
"Wait, could you swap out these for me, please?" Yoongi asks, beckoning Jungkook to come behind the counter. As he does Yoongi shows him the order they just got in this morning, he hasn't had time to finish sorting. "Just for a couple minutes, I'll try and hurry."
Jungkook nudges him kindly. "I'll survive. I'll be okay."
Yoongi smiles at him, patting him on the back and leaves with Namjoon following close behind.
Jungkook has manned the bar a few times, but not enough to know how to do tricks with fire. That's Yoongi's specialty. Looking around and dipping his head along with the beat of the music, eyes drinking in the sea of neon colors that compliment the mild darkness. He sniffs, liking the way the bar top is clean and glowing a bright white.
No one sits in front of him, or calls for service and he loosens up a little, leaning back against the other countertop, that way he's facing the dance floor. It's nice, he concludes, watching the people let themselves get immersed, worry free for a day, having fun.
Then his fingers twitch again and Jungkook closes his eyes, taking a deep breath, clearing his throat, swallowing. It doesn't help, it's hard to let it go. He wishes he could and maybe he can if he really tried.
He's facing the shelf, overlooking the length and the urge to straighten them is far too overwhelming. He untraps his hands from his pockets and tentatively reaches out and his fingertips run along the cool glass before he's grabbing the neck of a bottle and rearranges it to settle in a different position. Then he moves to the other one, the one that has been bugging him since he noticed it.
The one he tried to ignore but couldn't.
He's fiddling with all of them, lining them up, analyzing their posture and position but some thing feels off to him, like there is a sensation digging into his shoulder blades. He moves the bottle then another and one more. Two more.
He hopes Hoseok Hyung is okay.
"I don't want to be that person," A voice he doesn't recognize declares and Jungkook almost misses it. "But no matter what you do, it will always end up the way it was before. An object doesn't have a place."
The sensation in his shoulder blades grows more prominent and Jungkook's brain doesn't remember thinking before his lips begin to move.
"Everything has a place, it's only the process of finding it that can be difficult." The boy mumbles, faultering his nimble fingers for only half a moment, refusing to meet the strangers floating gaze and resumes his fretting ways.
He hears a small laugh and then he recalls what his current job is and he turns around, exclaiming an apology. It's a man with black hair, or it could be brown, Jungkook can't tell. He smiles a little, his almond shaped eyes turning into gentle cresents for a second.
"I apologize." Jungkook professes again. "What can I get you, Sir?"
The man waves him off. "A bottle of Soju would be all. Oh, a shot of Whiskey, too, please, the peppermint flavored one if you still have it."
Jungkook crouches, opening the cabinet and taking out a glass to set it on the counter then turns around, reaching out to grab the Soju bottle in his hand, the desired flavored Whiskey in the other, no longer troubled with their presence and has no struggle finding them since he memorized their places.
"Would you like ice with either of these, Sir?"
The man shakes his head and Jungkook sees the crease in between his brows. He looks troubled. Jungkook tips the Whiskey bottle into the shot glass, filling it to the brim, same with the Soju, he places the glasses carefully in front of the customer who thanks him.
Jungkook makes sure the person is content before he places the bottles back on the shelf, in the correct spot, when he turns around the man is hiding his face in his hands.
He's not sure whether to interact but he does so anyway. "Sir," Jungkook prompts, leaning over the counter a little. "Are you okay? Need some water?" Maybe this person wasn't used to a place like this. It was a lot for Jungkook on his first day. The smell, the loudness, the crowd, all together? It really amps up the heart rate.
The man shakes his head once again, mumbling something Jungkook can't understand, removing his hands, sniffing, grabbing the glass of Soju and lifting it to his lips, tilting his head back as he takes large gulps of the liquid but Jungkook keeps his concerns to himself and diverts his gaze to his fumbling fingers.
He drinks more than half in less than three minutes and Jungkook hides his amazement.
"Hard day?" Jungkook jokes, or attempts to and regrets it when the stranger nods, shrugs his shoulders. "Sorry." He mumbles, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Lost a friend today." The man allows, Jungkook looks at him, heart clenching slightly from his words. He lost a friend? "He really tried his best but I guess it wasn't enough. Tried to reason with them, wouldn't listen to me this time."
"I'm sorry." Is all Jungkook can manage to utter since he doesn't know the full story.
"Yeah," The man sighs. "Me too." He drinks the rest of his Soju in one go, smacking his lips when he finishes. "How much do I owe you?"
Jungkook recites what Yoongi had told him to say in genuine instances like this. "It's on the house."
The man pauses half way reaching into his jacket, probably for his wallet. "That's nice but I insist."
"So do I." The young man responds but urges further when the man looks pointedly at him.
"Thank you."
He slaps his hand on the table top and pats it twice before getting up from his stool. Jungkook doesn't know how Yoongi manages these types of situations.
"I'm sorry about your friend."
The man adjusts the collar of his jacket, running his hand through his hair. "Thanks." Is what he replies with and disappears. When Jungkook can no longer see him, he grabs the glasses, beginning to clean. Jungkook just hopes that man will make it home safely. He hopes he'll be able to heal overtime from the tragic news of his friend.
The remaining people are leaving and the bar is finally empty. Jungkook removes himself from behind the counter, goes around to grab his own towel and spray and a trashcan and begins to wipe down the tabletops and emptying the cigarette trays. He's a little less than half done when Yoongi and Namjoon emerge from the back, bickering, making Jungkook smile to himself as he moves to the next table.
"Were we really gone that long?" Yoongi asks, his voice clear and open, walking over to the massive radio to turn it completely off. "Everyone is gone."
"What did you expect?" Namjoon says. "Took you four whole minutes to bend your knees and five to lift."
"Fuck you, asshole." Yoongi spits, slapping his arm as Namjoon belts out a healthy laugh. "The disrespect I tolerate. Wow."
Jungkook smiles wider. "Hyung, I finished with facing the liquors so you don't have to do it tomorrow night."
Namjoon snags the trashcan from Jungkook and starts emptying the trays for him. He wipes the tops faster but sufficiently since he has help. He gets done a lot quicker. He tosses the rag into a plastic bag for laundry and empties the trashcan.
"Did you know that you're my favorite?" Yoongi murmurs as Jungkook walks by.
"Yeah," He answers easily. "Did you know that you're all my favorite Hyung's?"
"Okay," He says. "That's enough, I might cry." Yoongi slips the bills in his back pocket.
"Hyungㅡ"
"Ah," Yoongi holds up a finger. "Just kidding. We all know Namjoon is the crybaby." His voice is soft when he speaks to him and Jungkook pouts, looking at Namjoon for backup but his other Hyung stands beside Yoongi with a glare in his eyes.
"The disrespect you tolerate all right."
Jungkook smiles, he loves them so much.
Yoongi locks up the club, yanking on the doors to make sure they're properly closed. "Joon changed his mind and will be crashing with us tonight." He informs.
Namjoon slings his arm around Jungkook, pecking his temple and the young man whines gently, making Namjoon chuckle but Jungkook nods. "Could you text Hoseok Hyung and let him know I'm with you? My phone is doing that stupid thing, again."
"Sure, I can do that." Yoongi smiles, gesturing for his car. Jungkook opens the door for Namjoon and he blushes at his Hyung's cooing and slips into the back seat.
"Oh, tell him I made him some stir fry before I left. I'm sure he's hungry." Jungkook adds in, leaning forward, hands on either side of the passenger seat. Hoseok would definitely be hungry when he returned home from work. Sometimes he forgot to eat during the day so Jungkook would always make sure he had food waiting for him.
"Such a sweet kid." Yoongi sighs and Namjoon hums in agreement.
Jungkook is awoken by a voice drenched in sleep. A clear whisper in the still night, but his body doesn't move. It's still paralyzed with slumber along with half his mind.
His eyes are barely open, barely but he can see the soft glow from Yoongi's room. He doesn't mean to listen in on the conversation but it's all he can hear.
"Calm down, what happened?" Yoongi asks, sniffing, Jungkook hears him shifting on his bed. "Where are youㅡ yeah, he's with me. Joon, tooㅡ yes, I made sure he ate. Willㅡ No. Are youㅡ For fucks sake, just come over, okay? We can talk in the room, it's okay, they're sound asleep."
Namjoon snuggles into Jungkook, smacking his lips lightly, his arm curled around his torso and Jungkook is careful not to disturb him when he also adjusts his position. He tries his best to fall back asleep, but his mind is waking up even though he's still really tired so he just lies there, comfortable and warm from Namjoon's body heat.
It's when he hears tires on gravel and headlights shining on the wall in front of him and Yoongi's approaching footsteps that he snaps his eyes closing and evens out his breathing.
He can feel Yoongi looming over them and a gentle shake to Namjoon's forearm and the stir of his Hyung's body when he inhales sharply.
"Whatㅡ"
"Sh," Yoongi says as quietly as possible. "I need you in my bedroom, we got to talk."
"Oh," Namjoon hums lightly. "What about Jungkook?"
"Let him rest, come on, be careful."
Jungkook's heart feels like its going to beat out of his chest. He feels Namjoom very carefully unwrap itself from around him and shifts as silently as possible until the his warmth is gone and Jungkook is suddenly cold, shivers racking his body.
The door handle twists and opens. Yoongi is the first to murmur a couple words.
"Just leave your things on the coffee table, let's go in my room to talk."
"Where's Kook?"
Jungkook wants to spring up from the couch but contains himself as best he can because the whole shift in the air makes him think that isn't wise. When he hears Hoseok's familiar voice, Jungkook is soothed. It sounds a little rougher than usual, but it's not too different.
Frozen in his place, he hears shuffling and then there's a hand on the side of his face, it's warm and Jungkook wants to open his eyes and greet his Hyung in an embrace but he doesn't. Hoseok's fingers run through his hair, pushing it off his forehead.
"Do you think he's mad at me?" Hoseok whispers, fingers lightly scratching his scalp.
"No, Hyung." Namjoon says softly, somewhere near but far. "He understands. Come on."
Hoseok sighs, pressing a gentle peck to Jungkook's cheek and removes himself from his side but not before covering Jungkook up with a blanket.
There's more shuffling and Jungkook takes the chance to squint his eyes open at the last second just when Yoongi closes the door almost all the way, it's cracked. Then they talk.
They talk for a long time, and Jungkook only makes out bits and pieces, strains his hearing, wonders why Hoseok would ask if Jungkook is upset with him. Why they didn't wake Jungkook up when they knew Hoseok was coming over. What was going on?
Jungkook gasps when he hears a sob from behind Yoongi's door.
"I didn't finish." Hoseok rasps out, voice croaky. Jungkook's heart falls. "I didn't finish. They showed up a day early and I didn't know. I didn't finish in time and they let me go."
"They showed up a day early? What the fuck, that's not fair." Yoongi scoffs. "I thought you were supposed to get a write up?"
"I should have, I think." He replies hoarsely. "I should have done better, too, I guess?" Hoseok whispers. "There was so much to finish, there still is so much to finish butㅡbutㅡ"
It's Namjoon who speaks up next. "Hyung, hey, come on." Jungkook thinks Namjoon is hugging Hoseok and Jungkook wants to do the same. He wants to be there for his Hyung, too.
"Did they even give you a chance?" Yoongi inquires.
"Only one CEO came, he's a lot more aggressive than the other one, but no, I tried. I promise I tried."
"We know, we know." Yoongi says, voice gentler. He imagines that Yoongi is crounching in front of Hoseok, hands on his knees, looking up at him. "Can't you talk to the other CEO? Isn't there another way?"
"Noㅡ Iㅡ" Hoseok sighs, exasperated. "I don't know. I don't know." He cries again and the sound is absolutely heartbreaking to listen to. Jungkook feels like his soul is cracking with every sniff that Hoseok emits and this is terrible.
It wasn't fair.
"I couldn't even get through half of the documents, there was so much to sort and I didn't know where to begin and it was so difficult to concentrate knowing I only had a limited amount of time to finish that damn office."
It wasn't fair.
"Did that one guy help you at all?" Namjoon asks. "Seokjin-ssi?"
"He did, he tried to. Tried to defend me but the Boss wouldn't listen to him." Hoseok replies, cursing at himself and apologizes for being loud. Yoongi reassures him. "I have to give that office key back tomorrow morning, first thing. Barely had time to pack my shit."
"I'm sorry, Hyung." Namjoon whispers and Jungkook is as well. This was the worst news.
Yoongi says something that Jungkook can't hear well but catches on the last part.
"I'll sleep out in the living room."
"No, Hyung, I'll be okay."
"Hoseok, I'm not letting you drive. You're staying." His voice is stern. "Joon, stay in here and keep Hoseok company, I'll sleep in the living room."
No one objects further, Jungkook takes many deep breathes, his brain processing all their words, more Hoseok's than the others. His Hyung lost his job because his Boss showed up a day before the due date.
It wasn't fair. Not to his Hyung who didn't get a chance to defend himself. He freezes when the door opens, gentle footsteps walking back and forth until he hears Yoongi grunt, shuffling, somewhere across from him settling on his love seat.
Jungkook peaks open his eyes and the house falls silent, besides the snoring, and all the lights are off. It gives Jungkook time to think more, contemplate. Hoseok said there was nothing he could do and if he just had a bit more time to prove himself maybe things could have turned out differently and honestly, that's all it took for Jungkook to make up his mind.
He takes a long deep breath, his fingers twitch in front of him as a single thought remains in his head but before he acts upon it, he waits longer, until he's positive no one is longer awake.
Jungkook gets up, gets his shoes on, shrugs on his jacket, as quietly as he can, picks up Hoseok's car keys and a seperate single key and sneaks his way out of the house.
The Company is so much bigger than the pictures on the internet and inside is a maze Jungkook is sure he could get lost in more than twenty different ways if it weren't for the office key telling him the exact floor and room.
He's on the correct floor, now he stealthily walks down a hallway, searching for the correct room number. The lights of the building are off, no sound, no nothing. Jungkook's grateful that Yoongi remembered to charge his phone for him with his extra charger.
His phone's flashlight is more than enough and he had to mentally delete all the scary thoughts from drowning him. Like the possibilities of getting caught by security, being filmed on the cameras, tripping an alarm. It was terrifying but Jungkook was determined.
He sighs in relief when he sees the door, shoving the key inside and twisting it. He decides since no one is here that he can close the door and flip on the light switch. He slides his phone in his pocket and immediately sees Hoseok's effort.
He wasn't exaggerating at all. There really was so much more to file and sort.
There was papers scattered everywhere. Stacks of them. Piles. It makes him dizzy.
Jungkook exhales through his nose as he walks closer to all of it, fingertips grazing the papers. His eyes scanning the lettering. His mind is alert now, his fingers are twitching at his sides and with a deep inhale, Jungkook clears his throat and the sound of static fills his ears and he begins to get to work.
He doesn't know how long he's there, he doesn't remember how long he's been moving, ignores the straining in his forearms when he picks up a thick pile of papers and places them on top of another. He moves across the room, bending down to pick up stray ones and files them into the correct place on the desk in their respectable categories.
His mind is spasming between what is happening now and what he thought he buried as a child but it was something he pried away from, though it was always close, yet never able to fully take Jungkook in its grasp.
He dabs the back of his hand on his forehead and runs his tongue over his teeth when he gets the second section finished, the last would be Hoseok's progress. Jungkook feels a little guilty for having to depict Hoseok's work from his own but he decides it's in his best intentions to do so.
As he sorts, he smiles when noticing the path Hoseok was going for, and even if Jungkook didn't exactly know what he was doing, it made it reassuring that he was following Hoseok's lead without realizing except Jungkook's version was also colorcoded according to the papers.
His heart is beating hard in his rib cage when he finishes, the office is no longer cluttered and messy. No papers are decorating the floor or spread out unevenly on the desk.
The office is clean, accomplished, and Jungkook feels lighter now, eager to go back home and tell Hoseok Hyung that he'll be okay and that it all will be alright. Jungkook decided on his own that he wanted to help. All he has to do now is figure out a way to get some sort of meeting set up with his Hyung's Bosses.
Everything is in its place.
Jungkook sighs to himself, hands rubbing his temples, breathing deeply. That's when he decides it's time to leave seeing that nothing is not longer disorganized or misplaced.
When he steps out of the office, locking the door, the static is slowly fading from his ears and he doesn't feel as heavy as he did when he was surrounded by all that choatic mess. His fingers fumbled, eyes seeing the left over streaks from the light after he switched it off.
With the silence so loud, Jungkook doesn't dare to break it. He blinks hard through the darkness and retraces his steps back to the elevator where he pushes the button and enters it, zipping up his jacket and pulling his hood over his head, thinking up ways of how he's going to tell Hoseok that he helped when no one asked him.