Chapter Text
Truth be told, Jin had never quite liked the look of Jackson.
There was something in the younger boy’s demeanour that just didn’t sit right with him. Jin suspected it might be because of his sharp eyes that seemed like they were always sizing up the situation and calculating his next move, but then again, Jin sometimes had an overactive imagination. So he shrugged it off and was always civil whenever bumping into the other band during their comeback stages.
It was after one particular stage that Jin had nearly lost his patience. They were filing out backstage after finishing a performance and Jin could see GOT7 were waiting, next up. Yoongi immediately dove straight past them, trying to avoid physical contact as he ducked his head quickly to their hoobaes. Jackson’s gleeful shouts of “Sugar hyung!” began to irritate Jin but he kept his head down, careful not to make eye contact and give away his displeasure. He saw Jackson grab Namjoon ahead of him, trying to provoke a reaction as he turned to the camera; “This guy’s always behaving so coldly towards me!”
Jin saw Namjoon shake his head, smiling politely, as he tried to follow the route Yoongi had escaped in as quickly as possible. Jin also took the opportunity to duck his way out of the situation but as he looked back, he saw Jackson’s eyes had narrowed maliciously, his grip on Namjoon’s arm tighter than was necessary. Namjoon faltered, obviously a bit flustered by the situation, so Jin did the only thing he could think of; he reached back and tugged at his free arm, helping the younger to escape Jackson’s clutches. “Come on, Namjoonah, the cars are waiting,” said Jin, trying to keep his words lighthearted but could not stop the frown he shot Jackson as he did so, not failing to notice the dangerous look that crossed the other boy’s face but it was replaced with a fake carefree grin in a split-second.
“Thank you,” muttered Namjoon, shooting Jin a grateful look. Jin just shrugged. He didn’t like seeing any of his friends in a dilemma. Once they were a little further down the corridor did the eldest finally voice his thoughts on the matter. “Namjoonah, be careful when Jackson’s around. There’s something I don’t trust about him, I just don’t know what.”
A troubled look crossed Namjoon’s face that Jin could not decipher. “What is it?” asked Jin, trying to suppress the niggling of fear.
“I know what he wants,” said Namjoon, his words quiet and low, mindful of the rest of the members and crew rushing around them.
When he didn’t continue speaking, looking lost in his own thoughts, Jin deemed it best not to press him. “Well, I’m here if you need to talk,” he finally ventured, pressing a hand to Namjoon’s shoulder.
“Thanks, hyung. Can we talk at home? Or maybe in the studio? Let’s take the first car – we can head there now while the others take the second one back to the dorm.”
Jin nodded. Namjoon looked worn out. Something had obviously been playing on his mind recently and Jin felt horrible not to have noticed earlier. “Come on, we’ll go now,” he said, leading the younger firmly by the arm. “Whatever it is, we’ll sort it out, promise.”
“Where are you lovebirds sneaking off to?” drawled a voice suddenly from in front of them. Jin glanced up in surprise and nearly laughed with relief when he saw it was only Yoongi.
“Just to the studio, Yoongiyah. Joon, he, um… has something to show me. A new track, right?” said Jin, looking helplessly at Namjoon to back up his terrible explanation. Unfortunately, Namjoon was clearly not on earth with them as he muttered a detached: “yes, hyung. A track.”
“A new track… right. Clearly,” said Yoongi, not fooled one bit, but he stepped out of the way nonetheless. Namjoonah wandered ahead absentmindedly as Yoongi watched him, concern evident on his face. He looked to Jin as if on a side-thought. “Hyung, please just… look after him. There’s been something bothering him for a while and… well, he doesn’t talk to me about his feelings much. Seems to lean on you the most.”
Whether Yoongi had meant to voice the last sentence out loud or not was anyone’s guess as Jin looked at him, his eyebrows shooting up in mild surprise when he caught the brief flash of pain that Yoongi had let slip across his face. But it was gone as soon as it had appeared and Yoongi’s trademark blank (and sometimes, in Jin’s opinion, mildly mocking) expression took its place. But no matter how hard the younger tried to mask it, the look in his eyes still remained.
Jin did not understand the storm that seemed to be brewing in the other boy’s black pupils and most of all, was too tired to even try. Instead he held a hand out to him, clapping his shoulder. “I’m here for all of you. You’re also free to lean on me… if you want, Yoongiyah. You’re my dongsaeng too, after all.”
Jin smiled, a small tightlipped smile, before hurrying after Namjoon but unfortunately, not before he caught Yoongi’s words, barely there, floating in the air like question marks. “I wish I was like you. Then maybe he’d come to me.”
+
Jungkook had known it was a mistake from the moment he walked into the empty backstage room.
They had been leaving the studio when he realised that his phone was missing so he had told the others to go on without him while he quickly went to search for it, running into Jackson on the way down. Jackson had gripped his arm, strangely tightly, but with a friendly smile playing on his lips, telling Jungkook he’d seen a stray phone in the dressing room and perhaps it was Jungkook’s.
He had thanked him and rushed forwards into the room, checking wildly, but there was no sign of a phone. Hmm, odd. He crouched down to check under a table and suddenly felt something push up from his back pocket. Jeon Jungkook! He slapped his head, grinning as he slipped the phone out of his pocket and into his hands, laughing. A habit since childhood; rushing around like a lunatic and misplacing items. It was a running joke among the members too – none of them ever actually worried whenever Jungkook lost something since it would magically turn up on its own. Such was the life of a golden maknae.
Jungkook grinned again, idly checking his Kakao messages as he got to his feet and headed towards the door. He wondered briefly if he should send a message to Jin asking when he would be home. He’d seen him take the other car with Namjoon, presumably bound for the studio, but what business Jin had in the studio Jungkook just could not fathom.
He tried hard to suppress the stab of something unpleasant in his stomach.
It was common knowledge that the older pair were so close they had sparked many a rumour and earned themselves the nickname Namjin – the married couple - among the group and fans alike, but it still hurt Jungkook to know that the pair were probably deeply in love with each other and were choosing to keep it all one big romantic secret, neither confirming nor denying anything.
He opened up his kakao conversation with Jin and hesitated, wondering how best not to sound like a whiny child demanding to know the exact time his hyung would get back to the dorm and if he’d make kimchi fried rice with belly pork for dinner. So lost in his thoughts, Jungkook did not notice someone in front of him, blocking the door, until he collided with them head-on.
Jackson stared back at him, his face unreadable. Jungkook’s eyes flew wide immediately as apologies tumbled out of his mouth. He edged round him, indicating he wanted to get to the door but still Jackson did not move.
“You found it then?”
Jungkook’s head snapped toward Jackson at his cold voice and then back to the iPhone in his hand. “You must have been mistaken,” he said politely. “I searched but there was nothing here after all. My phone was in my back pocket the whole time.”
Jackson remained silent in response, glaring straight at Jungkook. It made the younger boy feel distinctly off kilter and he stepped back self-consciously. “I really have to get going,” he mumbled, trying to sound apologetic.
“Bangtan’s golden maknae, untouchable, perfect, conceited little Jeon Jungkook,” drawled Jackson, looking Jungkook up and down slowly, leering. “I wonder, Jungkook-ssi. I wonder what they'd all do if they knew someone had corrupted their precious maknae?"
Jungkook swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. "They'll come looking for me if you don't get out of my way," he said, trying to sound vaguely threatening.
"Oh no, Jungkook-ssi. You're not going anywhere," said Jackson with a wry smile, as he locked the door behind him. "Let's have some fun, you and I."