❧ Hands of Good, Not Evil ❧

It wasn't hard for Taehyung to gauge exactly what Jeongguk needed. It wasn't hard to gauge anything except time, that is.

He figured it was best to leave that part of healing to the younger, knowing Jeongguk would know himself best in terms of how long he needed away from the world. Away from his usual world.

So, when night came and the stars were hidden behind the remnants of stormy skies, clouds thick in a thankfully rainless overcast, he was hesitant in following Jeongguk out to his motorcycle.

Jeongguk himself had been hesitant and anxious since they'd finished dinner, aware that it was finally the awkward time of leaving. And it was awkward because he clearly didn't want to.

Perhaps, he didn't love the surfers' company, but it was far better than his own home's at the moment.

That much was clear in the way all his actions, unlocking the seat compartment and grabbing his helmet, wiping off any leftover droplets scattered on the leather seat that hadn't dried, took a few seconds too long to follow through with. Doing them all slowly to drag out every possible second on the surfers' driveway.

Taehyung watched him carefully as he swung a leg over to straddle the bike, face hidden behind the engulfing helmet. Jeongguk paused to look around, like he was taking in the damp air and nice smell of rain in the aftermath of the storm.

But Taehyung was focused on the way his hand shook pushing the key into the slot and how it took two tries to turn the key all the way until the engine sputtered to start.

Which lead to him acting before he could really think through everything.

He stepped around from his place in front of the bike and placed his hands on either side of Jeongguk's helmet. Jeongguk immediately turned the ignition off, brows furrowed from behind the visor as he couldn't make out what Taehyung was trying to do.

The surfer began to tug the helmet upwards and when Jeongguk understood, one hand was helping to push it up and off his skull.

"Uh— is everything okay?" The younger's eyes narrowed as Taehyung took the helmet and tucked it under an arm. "Taehyung...?"

He shrugged, thoughts slowly catching up to the mindless movements his body partook in. "You should spend the night here."

"What? No, I'm good."

"I'm serious." He frowned. "I don't think I can offer much more than the couch, but... you should stay here. For however long you need."

"I don't need that. I'm fine heading back—"

"You can't fool me anymore, Jeongguk." He met those dark eyes, and saw the biker lick his lips nervously. "You don't want to go back there, so don't."

"I need to give you guys space, too," the biker shook his head and Taehyung raised a brow.

"Really? You're gonna be a considerate self-aware guy now?" The younger snorted out a small laugh at his joke and Taehyung shook his head with a smile. "Don't be annoying and take my offer."

"Why?"

"The fuck you mean why?" He continued playfully.

"I guess part of me just thinks that you helped me earlier today out of formalities." Jeongguk admitted, smile softening to a small lingering form of it and it absorbed the jokes of the room to leave a blanket of seriousness to cover them for a few breaths. "So, this is just too much."

"You know," Taehyung bit his tongue as he reached a hand out to graze the biker's forearm. "I'm helping relax those arms that pulled me out. The legs that kept us afloat. Not the stupid mouth of yours that's at the center of all my problems."

Jeongguk chuckled lowly, lip curling into a momentary grin and Taehyung immediately groaned his subtle sway of meaning away, stripping the blanket of a more solemn tone off once more.

"Not like that, idiot."

"Okay, I didn't say a word, Saltine." He defended himself but Taehyung flicked his arm anyway. The scowl on the older's face was etched away as he spoke his next words, deciding to focus on what came past his initial reaction.

"Why does it feel like too much? I really think it's the least I could do for you right now."

"Taehyung..." Jeongguk huffed. "It's not because of you. It's just because I doubt I deserve this and it's holding me back from feeling okay with all of it— as much as I'd like to say sure and move on."

He opened his mouth to say some sarcastic teasing remark about when there was ever a time Jeongguk ever deserved kindness, but other words were found slipping off his tongue.

"Do you like me?"

"Do I— the hell?"

"I mean, you're the type of person that trusts someone they like! You don't like people very often and you're selective— so if you like someone, that must mean you trust them, right?"

"Or I could be trying to get into their pants, but sure, I guess trust works too."

"Disgusting." Taehyung groaned, before opening the seat of his motorcycle and putting the helmet inside, grumbling under his breath. "Grease is annoying. Lightning is bad. Fucking annoyingly bad is equivalent to this guy."

He turned around and took a few steps towards the house before pausing upon the lack of following feet.

"Are you really not taking my offer?"

"Was I actually supposed to?"

"Yes, you dumb shit."

"You're really hitting me with the names today." Jeongguk buried his hands in his pockets— technically Jin's sweatpants pockets— before locking the bike seat and making sure the motorcycle was okay for the night. Then, he took the steps to catch up with the older.

"Also, for the record, what you thought I meant when I asked if you liked me was very wrong. I was just making you see that you trusted me and should listen to me once in a while. You never really listen to me, actually! From day one of fear training, you dragged me into the fucking water before I could even say no!"

Jeongguk smiled discreetly as his gaze settled on the back of Taehyung's head, his 'salt-infested' hair flopping as he stomped up the steps to the porch. The smile was one the biker didn't even know had found a home on his lips. "So, technically this whole me-not-listening-to-you doesn't apply because you never said no."

"That's not how it works!" Taehyung protested, whirling around on the top step just as Jeongguk skipped over the couple levels to reach the landing in one go. The biker inhaled sharply as he came awfully close to Taehyung's face, both stilling at the proximity.

Taehyung almost stumbled away, but Jeongguk's hand was shooting out to hold his waist steady, a stifled gasp coming from the older instead of his eager argument.

"That's— it— you can't just use the lack of no for— for a yes..." Taehyung's voice fell to a nervous mumble as his chin jerked to the side, escaping the biker's eye contact that had become level with his.

"I know that." Jeongguk hummed, retracting his hand after noticing how tense the muscles of Taehyung's side had gotten. He swiveled his head to catch the surfer's gaze again, but Taehyung took a second to let his eyes wander around the biker's face before actually meeting his.

"Do you now, Greased Lightning?"

"Consent is key, Saltine."

Taehyung bit back the slip of a laugh in his throat as he turned to pull open the door. Jeongguk had other plans, though, as he hooked his fingers around Taehyung's elbow and pulled him back close.

The surfer's brows furrowed in confusion. "Hm?"

"For the record," the biker let go of his arm. "I trust you more than anyone right now, Taehyung."

The translation in Taehyung's head: I like you more than anyone right now.

His lids snapped wide as Jeongguk flickered a grin at him before brushing past his shoulder to head back inside. Taehyung jumped out of the second of stun and felt the warmth fill his chest, transmitting to color in his cheeks, as he glared at the biker through the open front door. Even if Jeongguk didn't notice with his back turned to take his shoes off.

Taehyung hit the heel of his palm to the plane of his forehead, hissing out a curse before calming down to join the younger inside the surfer's home sweet home.

~•४•~

Taehyung couldn't sleep.

One would imagine the utter mental exhaustion of hilly emotions and adrenaline would have drained his stamina— but, alas, he was stuck staring at the ceiling with a tingle in his body and anxiousness gripping at his limbs.

He glanced over at Jimin, who slept peacefully (even after the quite initial shocks his friends and brother had when he'd talked to them about Jeongguk staying there). His best friend was sleeping much better than him, in fact, which was ironic considering having Jeongguk not go back home was partly to give Taehyung some peace of mind.

His tilted his gaze back to the ceiling and over to the other side to see his easel dark in the night, half completed canvas staring eerily at him, wishing to be completed like its siblings resting along the floor.

He lifted his eyes to the glass doors behind, eyes fixating in the ocean he'd spent all afternoon seeing in glimpses both in his head and in person from when he and Jeongguk had sat by the patio doors.

The waves were peaceful that night.

Everything seemed to be peaceful but Taehyung in that moment.

And he suddenly wondered if Jeongguk was also miraculously at peace, too.

So much so, that he was nimbly removing his body from the covers and bed and easing across the bedroom and downstairs with the bluff of needing a glass of water to drink at the front of his mind.

He was just hitting the main floor and walking through the hall to the open space when he saw Jeongguk's knee fold in and create a tent with the blanket. His arm outstretched and traced patterns on the blank ceiling before falling onto his propped knee to rest.

A heavy sigh.

And a creak in the floorboard.

"Shit." Taehyung whispered as he hustled toward the kitchen to execute his excuse.

"Taehyung?"

"Hey, did I wake you?" He played off as he opened the cabinet and fished out a glass. He was going to the faucet and filling himself some water as he glanced over his shoulder. Jeongguk didn't seem to have moved from his position of lying flat on the couch.

"Nah. Can't sleep."

"Oh. Same." He frowned, sipping at his refreshment and trailing around to the sofa. He gazed around at the meek lighting the moon poured in through the excessive glass on the main floor, spilling cool over leather couches and tan skin.

"Really? Damn." The younger's arm was relaxed over his eyes, blocking out any remnants of light. Taehyung hovered over him, smiling for a moment before sighing.

"You mind if I hangout here?"

"I'd prefer that actually." Jeongguk mumbled tiredly and Taehyung couldn't believe he wasn't knocked out in the drained state he'd been wrung into. "Better than you creeping over me like some monster watching me sleep."

"Weren't you teasing me for worrying about dangers at an empty secret cliffside." He grumbled in response as he took a seat on the rug at the foot of the couch, head near where Jeongguk's chest was stretched.

"Baby, it's a joke."

"Baby, it's a joke." Taehyung mocked, tipping his head back to down his cup of water. "Well, thanks, now I'm gonna have to pee."

"What did I do?"

"Made me have to pretend to get water to check on you."

"Uh huh."

"Yeah, because you're a stubborn shit who won't ask for help when he needs it."

"Got me there." Jeongguk's chuckle rose from his chest as he turned sideways to face Taehyung a bit more. "The rug okay or do you wanna sit up here? I can move my legs."

"What happened to giving those oh, so nice legs of yours special treatment?"

"It's a limited time offer." He could hear the smile before Jeongguk's expression indicated it. One was more than enough to relax Taehyung, though, and he looked up and over to pat the biker's cheek with a cheesy grin.

"No, thanks. Rug's fine."

The younger shrugged. Taehyung leaned his head back, tensing for a second when his hair brushed into Jeongguk's chest, but he figured it'd be more awkward to move away and decided to embrace it.

So he stayed put and Jeongguk didn't mention a word if he did notice.

Instead, calloused lazy fingers swayed over his dark strands, repeatedly grazing them without any real intention. Taehyung liked the feeling, one that made him feel light and safe, relaxing a bit move such that his shoulder caved in and he drew his knees up to his chest.

"Why can't you sleep?" Jeongguk asked, voice airy.

"Why can't you?"

"I asked first."

"Fine. I don't know, to be honest, but it's making me mad." Taehyung admitted sourly. "I just want some rest."

"Mhm. I get that."

"What about you?"

"I wasn't expecting to be able to sleep tonight," Jeongguk answered truthfully. He chuckled a moment later. "This couch is too soft, too. Feel like I'm sinking in."

"Oh, shut up." He laughed quietly, voice dying when he felt the soothing of fingers sweeping through his hair again. And like so many other times, Taehyung let him. Because the trust was rebuilding piece by piece even if he needed time to get it to where it was.

"A lot of times I hate sleeping." The biker continued, like he was trying to fill the space of a quiet night. "You lose hours to enjoy life, go out and have fun. Sleeping is just... lying in bed."

"And you're not a robot with endless energy." Taehyung clicked his tongue. "You'll hurt yourself not getting a chance to recharge."

"Maybe."

Taehyung remembered what Jeongguk had said once. About not having nightmares when he couldn't sleep in the first place. He craned his neck upward at the thought, Jeongguk's hand slipping away as the younger dipped his chin to look at him.

"Can I ask something?"

"Is it an easy question?" The biker's hair fell over his eyes and Taehyung had the urge to flick them away so the deep gaze of his wouldn't be as hidden as it was.

"When is it ever easy?"

"Fair enough. Hit me with it."

The surfer dug his fingers into the carpet as he licked his lips and spoke. "Is there anything I can do to get your mind off of your friend?"

Jeongguk's face didn't change from the indifferent one and Taehyung waited, almost nervous for the response he couldn't figure on his own.

"No." Jeongguk finally answered. "There's really nothing you can do."

"Are you sure—"

"Hey," the younger's hand lifted to cup his jaw, thumb smoothing over his cheekbone and Taehyung froze. "What you've done for me is more than enough. Just... stick around if it's worth your time."

"It's worth my time." He said in a heartbeat, reaching his own arm up to move the veiling curtain of hair away from Jeongguk's eyes. The biker's lips parted with silent words on his tongue. "I've been right here all day."

"That you have." Jeongguk turned and let his head flop back against the arm of the couch. "I should tell you that I dropped my jacket to the ground and told Namjoon that I'm not doing this anymore."

"You... you did what?"

"Yoongi lied to me, Taehyung. The two of them never told me they've been at the brink of imprisonment before. I mean I know it's all dangerous, but I'm not smart enough to fool officers like that if it came down to it. And it's like a punishment for myself for being terrible to you."

"I don't want you to punish yourself."

"But I fucked everything up."

"That doesn't mean more harm should be caused as a consequence." Taehyung let his arm lay flat on the edge of the couch, chin resting atop it as he stared at the younger. "It's like when my parents destroyed my paintings or destroyed me for wanting to pursue what I love. I could have gone about things so differently, conformed to their wishes and changed lanes. I could have gone completely off the rails, too, but... I had support. Jin Hyung, Hobi, and Jimin— they really kept me going."

Taehyung paused to notice the ever so slightly intrigued expression on Jeongguk's face.

"If you like leather, wear it. It's a jacket that holds meaning, but you can change the meaning of it, too." The older flicked a finger up to poke Jeongguk's neck. "Besides, I think it looks good on you."

"Didn't seem like that when we fought."

"That was just in the heat of the argument," Taehyung defended and one corner of Jeongguk's lip quirked up.

"Yeah, that argument sucked ass."

"Mhm. It was pretty shitty."

"Not shitty enough to lose your forgiveness, though, right?" Jeongguk shifted gears and Taehyung's brows furrowed as he whirled around in his seated position. He rose to his knees in order to hover over the biker and express the image of his face from an unmistakable view.

"Of course not. When are you gonna realize it's that stupid mouth of yours that's the problem?" Taehyung reached for the biker's idle arms and encased Jeongguk's wrists. "As long as you don't punch anymore people, then yes, these hands have proven that they'll keep me safe over that annoying mouth of yours every time."

He breaths came shallow with the sudden heartfelt words that left his lips and Taehyung shook the hair out of his eyes as he stared down at Jeongguk.

The biker was staring more narrow eyed as his hands were held up into the air at the mighty will of Taehyung's grasp. Both of their breaths began to match as the older slowly realized he was leaning over the other's chest, pressing their hearts together as his fingers dug into paler skin, always careful to avoid Jeongguk's actual hands.

"Shit, sorry." He mumbled, almost letting go until he saw Jeongguk shake his head.

"Don't apologize," the younger's voice was barely audible. "I'm not..."

"You're not what?" Taehyung thought he might've sounded a bit too eager for the response, but his mind was muddling with so much direct contact that seemed to be flipping with all his morals.

"Taehyung," Jeongguk said softly and the surfer's gaze flittered away from his. Taehyung felt Jeongguk take control of his own limbs to snake fingers around the back of his neck, the heel of his palm just under the older's ear. His thumb stretched to leave the smallest hint of a touch on Taehyung's lips. "Sorry I kissed you without much asking last time."

"It's okay. You weren't kissing me to kiss me." He expressed his genuineness and relief crossed Jeongguk's features. A streak of moonlight casted itself over the bend of the couch and lit a strip of pale skin across Jeongguk's face. His eyes sparkled like the metal of his earrings and Taehyung was enamored. "Distracting me with it was the only reason."

"That was just one time."

"Huh?"

"Kissing you to distract you, I mean. All the other times were to kiss you because I wanted to."

"I sure would hope so." He played off, feeling small fragments of doubt cut into his senses and it awoke a dormant panic. Not because he didn't trust Jeongguk's words. He knew the younger liked kissing just to kiss. It was more of a teetering panic for anticipating what could come.

Especially when Jeongguk's touch on the side of his neck lead him closer, Taehyung's breath shaky as he braced his hands on either sides of the younger's head (having let go of their hold on his hands moments ago).

The panic in him spiked when their noses brushed, Jeongguk breathing hot against his own lips and Taehyung felt as frozen as ice. He missed the warmth that enveloped him when Jeongguk was around, but even the slightest bits of reluctance in him made him turn his head away and bury his forehead into the space above the biker's shoulder.

"I'm sorry." He mumbled into the firm shoulder.

"Don't be." Jeongguk's strained voice came, response slow but understanding. "It's okay."

"I just..." Taehyung lifted his head and pushed himself away from pressing weight into the younger's chest to give them both room to breathe. His heels dug into his backside as he sat back on them. "I just need to think through things."

"I think that's fair." Jeongguk was awfully compliant to all his words and Taehyung seemed worried by it. Did the biker feel the effects of rejection? Taehyung didn't think he was rejecting anything. He was just giving them some distance to see the goal they wanted to meet. "I need to think, too."

They both truthfully had a lot of thinking to do and it wasn't something they could come to a conclusion on within seconds. Taehyung himself would question the decision for a long time to come if he acted impulsively again.

But something told him Jeongguk wasn't just that source of an adrenaline rush anymore. Not when they'd risked their lives for each other. Not when they'd caused pain to make each other stronger. Not when they'd found their way back together even after that. Not when they'd broken themselves down to be closer to one another.

Taehyung had known Jeongguk wasn't just a biker from the very start of the summer and it was certainly more than that near the end.

But it was all a bit terrifying.

"Was dinner okay?"

"Are you— you're changing the conversation to dinner? The one I had in this crazy place?" Jeongguk snorted.

"Is that a problem?" Taehyung glared playfully. "I'm being a nice host and asking how your meal was! If you're going to be here tomorrow, I should know if you thought it tasted like shit."

"Wow," he snickered softly. "Very cute."

"Cute— okay, douchebag, maybe I just won't get you food at all tomorrow. You can starve and see how you like that."

"As if you don't live down the street from a very nice and cozy diner."

"I'll call ahead and tell them not to bother serving you. I have the owner's number you know."

"No way," the biker rolled his eyes. "Would you look at that? So, do I."

"Shithead."

"Lame ass." Jeongguk stabbed a finger into his forehead and Taehyung slapped the touch away as he reeled his head back. "You and this cheesy beach home."

"It's not cheesy."

"You have beach quotes hanging on the wall." He deadpanned and Taehyung grumbled under his breath, something along the lines of how the surfers 'didn't choose most of the decoration.'

"Okay, so you don't like this place. But I can't change that overnight." He proceeded to repeat, "Was dinner okay?"

"Dinner was okay. Jin's cooking skills have room for improvement."

"Are you fucking kidding— you literally asked me why a bowl had holes in it. You asked me why a colander has holes in it, Jeongguk."

"Yeah, and why does a bowl have the same name as a 12-month tracker?" Taehyung thought he was losing braincells. "Besides, I was just kidding. I know what a colander is."

"Oh, really? What's it used for?"

"To... drain...?"

"You're getting there, big guy," Taehyung encouraged sarcastically, deciding he'd had enough of the floor and moving Jeongguk's legs to sit on the other end of the couch. "You drain what?"

"How do I know you know?" The biker judged, legs half bent to accommodate him and Taehyung almost leaned against them to stare at Jeongguk in the eye. "I could be giving you all the answers."

"Noodles, you dumb shit. You drain fucking noodles. Pasta. Vegetables. Anything in a big quantity of water."

"What? Don't you just take the pot and pour out the water in the sink?"

"And half the pasta falls in with it." Taehyung shook his head, leaning it back on the spine of the couch. "Trust me, I've tried."

"Well, you're just really bad at draining pasta then." Jeongguk sighed and nudged his leg with his foot. "Hey, besides this stupid calendar shit, I've been curious about something."

"It's colander and what?"

"At dinner, they all were calling you Tae. The Tuans called you that, too. That's your nickname, right?"

"No shit, Sherlock."

"Damn. I just wanted to tell you it's fucking lame."

"Uh, yours is literally Jeon? That's worse. It's not even cute."

"Cute?" Jeongguk cringed. "Now, when the hell was Jeon ever supposed to be cute?"

"Well, nicknames are cute. They call me Tae, Taetae. It's fun. We call Jimin, Minie. Hoseok Hyung's Hobi. Like that. They're cute."

"Not exactly a fan of the cute nicknames."

"You're no fun."

"I'm plenty fun. You could ask an entire crowd of people that, Kim."

"Oh, fuck off." He nearly slumped on the couch when Jeongguk splayed his legs over Taehyung's lap. "Hello?"

"What? My legs get special treatment."

"What happened to that limited time offer?" He scoffed, tapping the biker's leg with minimal strength. He didn't really care, to be honest. The extra warmth like a blanket felt nice actually.

"You lost your chance to the offer a while ago." Jeongguk grinned. "Besides, you're stealing a part of my bed."

"Ha. Ha. Hilarious." Taehyung let his hand lay on Jeongguk's shin, the hard plane of the bone evident even through the material of Jin's sweatpants. "You need a better nickname."

"So do you." Jeongguk linked his hands behind his head and Taehyung would be lying if he didn't watch the strain of his biceps in the dim lighting of the moon. "Saltine was pretty good, though."

"It's stupid."

"Greased Lightning is worse."

Taehyung exhaled and dismissed the awful lie to return to the prior topic. "Jeongguk... no Jeon, so I guess— Gguk? Gguk. The hell— why doesn't anyone call you Gguk? That's so much better."

"Gguk?" Jeongguk's brows furrowed. "Dunno actually. Jeon just stuck from the start."

"You don't seem opposed to it." Taehyung noted hopefully. He liked Gguk. He could make it cute to annoy the hell out of the younger with it.

"It's fine. Just gonna be weird to hear it." Taehyung hummed in agreement as Jeongguk stared down the couch at him. A yawn slipped from his throat and Taehyung was surprised to hear that he was getting tired. "I wouldn't really care about what you called me. You've given me a lot of names already."

"Don't expect me to suddenly stop them."

"Wasn't betting on it, Kim."

"You can call me Tae if you want." He smiled wide at his next thought. "Or even better, call me hyung. Boost my ego, won't you?"

"In your damn dreams."

"You know, I'd never want to sleep if you were in my dreams." But speaking of dreams brought a second wave of tiredness over him. Comforted by the warmth over his lap and a raspy voice beside him.

He couldn't believe he was struggling to sleep all night and then felt tired without any formal initiative.

"You hardly sleep in the first place." Jeongguk rebutted, eyes cast on the ceiling.

"That's funny coming from you, Gguk." He saw Jeongguk's eyes widen a fraction with the name. That and the small quirk of his lip gave the satisfaction away— even in his attempts to hide it.

Using the nickname made Taehyung feel rather soft inside. Like Jeongguk was the gentle person he knew him to be.

"I'm glad we can do this." He ended up saying aloud, voice quiet like his words were some secret not meant for their bickering.

"What do you mean?"

"Talking. I'm glad we haven't lost that form of fun."

"Are you being sarcastic?" Jeongguk's leg turned so his knee bumped Taehyung's stomach.

"No, I'm serious. I guess I was extra worried about how things would change between us after fighting." He licked his lips and closed his eyes for a moment. "I like talking to you, Gguk."

The teasing expression relaxed into something more small and real. Taehyung glanced over, glad that he didn't miss the kind smile on Jeongguk's face that lasted brief moments.

"I like talking to you, too, Tae."

And his heart did something funny as he stared into some abyss on the far wall. Call it a twist or flip. Perhaps the acrobats of a gymnast. But Taehyung just knew that his heart beat faster with the paralleled settling in his chest. Like it was comforting to know they were on the same page and finding a pace that didn't jeopardize more than what had already been.

"You tired, sleepyhead?"

Taehyung's drooping eyes didn't even seem to recognize their own state of tire until Jeongguk spoke his words. "Hm? Maybe. I guess talking to you is exhausting."

"Used too many braincells just to lose every argument, huh?"

"I won them, dipshit."

"Okay, Saltine, whatever you say." Jeongguk nudged his side with his foot again when his eyes started closing once more. "Blanket's right next to you. Use it."

"I'm fine." Taehyung waved him off, head slumping back into the couch. "You use it."

"For fuck's sake," Jeongguk grunted as he hurled his upper body up and reached for the blanket on the other arm of the couch. He unfolded and aired it out to its full size, only to then drape it over the surfer. Taehyung protested for a brief moment before Jeongguk tucked it under his shoulders so it wouldn't slip away. Then, he fell back to lay down on the couch and watched the older's face go sleepily blank as his cheeks warmed without other thoughts disturbing him.

Jeongguk smiled and stayed perfectly still, closing his eyes and wondering if sleep was possible for him like this, too.

~•४•~

Jimin woke up earlier than he wanted to the next morning. Probably because, he realized seconds later, that there was no body next to him to block out the light from the balcony and it was blinding him even when his eyes were shut.

"Can't you just have a sleepover with me in peace, Kim Taehyung?" He grumbled, shoving the covers aside and stretching before hoisting himself up with a groan. "Goddamn."

Rubbing his eyes and shuffling out of the room, Jimin stalked down the stairs without much caution in his steps. He figured Taehyung might have not been able to sleep and resorted to the shore, but he decided to take his sweet time finding the younger.

And yet, his sweet time didn't last long when he spotted his best friend on the couch.

Taehyung's head was slumped over to rest on the peak of Jeongguk's bent knee, with an arm draped over the biker's thighs. Jeongguk was sound asleep, too, arm over his eyes to block out any light which meant he might've slept not long ago (though Jimin was partly relieved to see the biker got any sleep at all).

Upon tiptoeing closer to the couch, he saw Jeongguk's hand holding the edge of the blanket to keep it place over Taehyung's shoulder.

It made Jimin smile.

And made him walk to the other side of the floor to draw the curtains shut and keep the light out so the two of them could get as much sleep as possible.

Jimin made sure to keep Hoseok and Jin out of the main floor for a few more hours, too, hoped Taehyung and Jeongguk would have enough sleep to function during the day.

~•४•~

"This is just really weird." Hoseok mumbled as he inched down to slump in his seat. Jin elbowed his side as Jimin frowned.

"Oh, cut it out, Hyung." The youngest of the three said.

But he continued like he hadn't heard. "I've never seen the guy so... I don't know— out of his element."

"Can't blame him." Jin shrugged, fiddling with the basket of fries that muddled the salty air with the greasy smell of itself. "He is sitting near people he's never been able to get along with, after all."

"And he can hear you guys perfectly clear, so shut up." Taehyung's head swiveled to tell them off before pouting and facing the biker again. Jeongguk was smiling, though, as nervous as it was, and reached over to pat a hand on the artist's arm out of reassurance.

It had all been a shocker to them, too, when Mr.Tuan had greeted Jeongguk with open arms and enthusiasm. The storm of tension creasing a calm sea of the man's forehead seemed to quiet into a resting ocean once more after seeing the biker.

Hoseok wondered if Taehyung knew why that was. He probably did. Hoseok wouldn't put it past his friend. Wouldn't put anything past him, honestly.

Jimin gave Hoseok a pointed look before they took all effort to ignore the fifth body making their usual booth more crowded than normal. Jeongguk and Taehyung were seated on the inside, on either side of the table, as the other three filled the space. Jimin was next to Jeongguk just out of familiarity.

"I'm really surprised you're not complaining, of all people." Hoseok whispered to Jimin.

"Give the guy a break, would you?" He rolled his eyes. "I'm too emotionally exhausted to have this conversation again. Makes my brain hurt."

"I think that would be the punch to head, but okay. Whatever you say." Jin said innocently, avoiding Jimin's glare with a sly chuckle.

"My point exactly." Hoseok groaned conspicuously.

"You were literally worrying about him a bit ago, Hobi." Jimin argued. "I think you're just being dramatic for no reason."

"Shut up."

Jin crossed his arms over his chest, playing a wonderful Switzerland. "He's got a point, Seok."

"Hyung, shut up." He hissed. "Besides, I wouldn't want anyone to die from hypothermia."

"Loser." Jimin leaned over the table to poke his cheek victoriously.

"What did I even lose, the fuck?" Hoseok dropped his head in his arms, huffing in annoyance and flashing the great middle finger at his shorter childhood best friend when Jimin snickered across the table.

Jin patted his back and the dancer lifted his head to glance over at the youngest two quietly mumbling words to one another and eating through their own order of onion rings.

He really wanted one.

Would it be bad to reach over and take an onion ring?

Maybe...

He watched Jeongguk's fingers skim over Taehyung's knuckles as they both reached for another piece and he whipped his attention away from it. Then, came Jeongguk's rapid recoil and and even shyer next ten seconds.

Never mind. He was great with fries.

"Why do you look ready to curb stomp those poor onion rings, Seok?" Jin flicked his head and he swatted the hand away in an instant.

"I don't."

"Something's got you annoyed," Jimin figured (unfortunately correctly), "and it's not these two."

"Are you sure? Maybe it's the two of you." He grimaced, nose scrunching as he earned another flick to the head. "Stop that, Hyung."

"You're fun to flick."

"Fuck you, I'm not a bug on your arm."

Jimin whistled lowly and perched his chin on the heel of his palm. "Calm down there, Dancing Stickbug. Something's really got you all pissy."

"Yeah, you two."

"Eat some fries," Jin shoved the basket in front of him and Hoseok raised a brow at the eldest. "You look like you need the greasy shit."

"Speaking of grease." Jimin cleared his throat as the front door jingled and even Taehyung and Jeongguk froze, the artist sharing a look with his friends.

"Please say sike," Hoseok pushed back to sit upright, not even sparing a glance over his shoulder to see who it was. He didn't have to. None of them really had to.

Jeongguk was just tensing, scowl appearing on his lips as Taehyung rested his head against the wall— more conflicted looking than angry.

The youngest surfer had said plenty to the bikers already, though, Hoseok thought to himself. He saw the tension hardly consuming the table, disinterest reeling over them instead.

Jimin was watching the two for all of them, his brow raising when Yoongi stopped short on the way to their own booth and looked over at the surfers before admitting the missing part of their trip wouldn't be joining them. Namjoon looked ecstatic to finally see Jeongguk in a bodily form after being absent all day yesterday.

Hearing Jeongguk was found and fine— well, going to be fine— over the phone was hardly assuring to them, but Hoseok gave them kudos for knowing how to give the guy space. He didn't want them around at the moment and after all they'd done to fuck things up, it was the least they could do.

Jin was side hugging his younger brother casually, though Hoseok didn't miss the calming squeeze of a shoulder and Taehyung's silent nod.

He frowned as he watched Taehyung gaze flitter back to the biker across from him. He'd really given his all to helping Jeongguk the day before. All of his mental strength and he was just tired.

Even a night of sleep wouldn't heal that right away.

Hoseok wanted to hug his friend for eternity.

He was glad Jin was doing some form of it instead for the time being.

None of them really knew everything to the extent he did. Well, Jimin probably did know more to put aside a twisting rage for someone who punched him in order to save that same someone— but as far as Taehyung went... the youngest had fallen apart in Hoseok's arm that night after returning from his argument from Jeongguk.

He'd never seen Taehyung so rattled in his life and he'd seen the guy's life torn to shreds by his own parents. Quite literally.

"Seok Hyung," Jimin sang in concern and he sighed, knowing he probably looked sick in the stomach. Hoseok swallowed the feeling and smiled meekly over at him. "You want to catch a breather?"

"Yeah," he managed to say aloud, "That'd be good."

"Here, I'll go with." Jin cut in and he was nudging Hoseok out of the booth. "You hang out with these two, Minie."

They slipped out of the booth after a nod from Jimin, noticing Jeongguk's eyes dart to the empty spots of the booth and then to meet Hoseok's eyes. The surfer smiled generously enough before Jin tugged his hand and they headed out the front door.

"Is everything okay?" Taehyung asked Jimin quickly and the older nodded, waving his concern away.

"Hobi's just antsy. Jin Hyung's got it."

"I don't doubt that." The artist smiled gratefully. He looked at Jeongguk and said. "If there's anyone who can calm Hobi, it's Jin Hyung."

"Kinda goes for us all actually," Jimin chuckled as the biker nodded. "He's got a knack for taking care of people."

"All of you do." Jeongguk frowned and both surfers looked at each other before looking at him. "I mean... all of you— well, you guys can take care of someone."

"M'kay," The eldest at the table chuckled, his small hand reaching out to steal the fries basket that had been where Hoseok was sitting earlier.

"Hey, Jimin?"

"Hm?" Both Taehyung's and Jimin's attention returned to the biker after the small break in silence. "What's up?"

"I don't know if I ever apologized to you yet." Jeongguk mumbled, fiddling with a napkin and straining the paper to its limits and relaxing just before it tore. "For punching you."

"Ah," Jimin shook his head with a small grin. "It's all good. Nothing you did was permanent damage so it's fine." The older looked over at him, smile holding on his lips. "But you know..."

Jeongguk's relieved expression fell in an instant, gaze dropping to the table top and causing a rip to tear through the napkin. His inattentive state missed Jimin's hand raising to smack him across the back of his head.

"Jimin!" Taehyung exclaimed, as Jeongguk pressed a hand against the spot with wide eyes looking at the older next to him. "The hell was that for?"

"Tae," Jeongguk cut in. "It's fine, really—"

"That's for saying what you said to Taehyung." Jimin reached his arm out again, but instead wrapped it around Jeongguk's shoulder and hugged him from the side. The biker went still in shock as Jimin squeezed him for a second. "And this is for saving him. Multiple times."

"I— oh." The younger inhaled shakily, subtly removing Jimin's arm from around him in order to face him. "He told you?"

"Yeah, he did," Jimin glanced at his best friend who'd fallen back in his seat, listening eagerly with lips clamped shut. "Told me a lot of good came from hanging around you."

Jeongguk's brows furrowed, head turning to look at the guy across the table from him— who shyly averted his gaze with warmth crawling up his neck. Jimin watched the two while holding back a giddy smile, knowing how stupid they both were, but not blaming them for it either.

It was new territory for them both. In very different ways, he knew. Taehyung's romantic wishes had yet to be fulfilled by anyone, making him an amateur out of inexperience. Jeongguk, though, was an amateur from having the wrong experience. From never holding onto anyone past a long night leading to sunrise, Jimin wasn't surprised by the hesitation and nervousness that seemed to alienate the biker.

Jimin didn't even know if they'd bothered to admit to themselves of their own feelings. Ones that may have been written across their foreheads and smudged in denial.

Change was scary after all. And they'd both been through so much of it.

"Hey, hey, Tae," Jeongguk suddenly spoke, voice frantic and eyes pinned to some moving figure. "Yoongi— Hoseok and Jin went out and he's going—"

"Woah, woah, it's okay." Taehyung assured, staring at Jimin for help even though it rose a rush of chills past them. "They can handle themselves."

"Besides," Jimin watched the biker pass through the front door, leaving Namjoon alone in his booth. "Yoongi's not going to risk pissing you off more right now. Not if it'll mean he loses you."

"He already did." Jeongguk mumbled, slumping in his seat and avoiding Taehyung gaze. But the artist had different plans as he touched Jeongguk's arm.

"No, he hasn't, Gguk. Don't do that."

"Cute nickname." Jimin couldn't help but blurt and the tension seemed to crackle away again, Jeongguk scoffing at him comment while Taehyung chuckled victoriously. "Is that just a Taehyung thing?"

"Don't call him that." Taehyung answered the question differently and Jimin's grin bloomed beautifully. Jeongguk was staring at him in exasperation, though, knowing exactly what Jimin was trying to do.

"I still don't like him going out there." Jeongguk made Jimin's attempt of diversion go to waste. "And I really don't want to believe he hasn't lost me, Taehyung."

"I'll change your mind," the artist said regardless. "I'm not letting you lose someone a second time."

Not that Jimin had a clue what either of them were talking about, but their expressions conveyed more than he needed. A wave consumed the shell that kept Jeongguk's eyes from exposing him, a wave that told Jimin how important it was for someone like Taehyung in his life. Someone who was equally ready to push him forward as Jeongguk was pulling back.

Someone who challenged him in a way that only let him grow and never fall. Which was something they both needed and received.

~•४•~

The air was warmer than the morning when they stepped outside the diner and Hoseok wondered if the storm was going to clear soon. There was another one expected next week, but having some sunny days in between would be nice.

"Now, why are you actually so annoyed, Seok?"

"I told you, either it's you two or I don't know." He looked back at Jin over his shoulder while stuffing his hands in his pocket. "I think it's the 'I don't know' honestly."

"I think so, too." Jin bumped his arm with his own and Hoseok looked over at him. "It's okay, ya know. We're just teasing you."

"It's not fair to take it out on you guys."

"It's funny. And if it gets too much, you know we'll tell you." Jin rolled his eyes. "But you've seriously gotta work on that intimidating glare of yours."

"Why? It's very useful."

"Uh huh. Like with Jeongguk? You know, Jimin wasn't wrong when he said you're really showing conflicting emotions to the guy." The older was looking straight ahead and Hoseok followed his gaze to see nothing interesting as they strolled around the diner's parking lot. "We both know you care about him enough not to really be mad."

"You didn't... Hyung, you didn't see the way Taehyung was after Jeongguk and him fought. I haven't seen him in so much pain in years. Honestly, I think it was even worse than before. It's just hard."

"And I think you trust Taehyung a bit more than that to know he understands what he's doing."

"I... I do." Hoseok sighed loudly. "Yeah, I know."

"Don't forget that. I know you love the guy, but he can make good choices without needed our help now."

"Stop being a wise old man." The younger's nose scrunched, shaking his head to fix his hair. "It's making you age like fifty years."

"I'm gonna look twenty one for the next thirty years, so leave my prime age out of this," Jin slapped his arm. Hoseok laughed, feeling his lungs expand to a size that cooled him down and took away the anxiousness tingling through him.

"Thanks, Hyung."

"What else is your best friend here for?"

They saw the diner's door open ahead, the small bells jingling as someone slipped outside.

"The fuck is he doing?" The tire was clear in Jin's voice as they watched the mint haired biker carefully, feet skipping down the front steps and scanning the space before finding them standing in between two lanes of parking.

"Hoseok." Yoongi called out, moving forward.

"Yoongi." Hoseok offered, voice slowed in confusion. "Can I help you?"

"Just you." The cockiness usually drowning his tone was far gone. Instead, urgency replaced it. The subtlest touch of it, but he noticed. "Jin can go."

"And I can stay right where I am, too." Jin tested. "Are you really just announcing all my possible options from here?"

"God, can I not have a conversation with your friend, Jin?"

"I don't remember the last few encounters with you ending well, Yoongi."

"And when did they ever end well?" The biker mocked. "So, what's the issue now?"

"Being proactive instead of reactive." Hoseok heard his best friend grumble under his breath, shoulders rising with tension and then dropping in a drop of energy like Jin released some negativity from his body.

"I just want to talk to Hoseok." Yoongi repeated.

"You really can't ask for anything nicely, can you?" Hoseok huffed before turning to his friend. "Hyung, go ahead. I'll just see what he needs."

Jin nodded, lips pursed. "I know you'll be fine, but if you need anything, just holler." His gaze turned to the biker. "It better stick to words, Yoongi."

"Hm, see ya, Jin."

The dancer felt the presence beside him slip away as Jin moved past Yoongi and back towards the diner. The two eldest of either group shared a look, Yoongi snapping his gaze away abruptly when Jin's stare lingered.

Then, the eldest surfer disappeared inside, leaving the two in the rather empty lot. Looking around, Hoseok realized there wasn't much except Tuan's trucks, the bikers' motorcycle and their own car. Maybe one or two from anyone taking a stroll by the shore, but it was quiet.

He found the hood of their convertible a good place to sit, bracing his feet on the ground as he half sat on the front of the vehicle. "So? What do you want?"

Yoongi moved forward from his spot by the diner's steps and approached the surfer. "Jeongguk doesn't want to speak to us."

Hoseok let out a low whistle and crossed his arms over his chest. "He's not alone on that one."

"And I don't want him to just cut us off."

"Well, it sucks, but that's not up to you, Min."

Yoongi's eyes narrowed, feet closing the generous gap between them. "You're not even bothering to talk to me properly."

"I didn't have much of a choice, though, did I?" Hoseok scuffed the toe of his shoe on the parking lot ground, pavement rough on his soles. "And for the record Jeongguk's not the only one you hurt."

"I only care about him and Namjoon."

"See, there's your problem, tough guy." Hoseok sighed, feeling just as tired as Jin sounded just moments before leaving the scene. He really did question whether showing any interest there was a waste of his time. "Jeongguk's priorities aren't just you and Namjoon anymore."

"I'm aware." The distaste was clear in his words. "But I don't know what to do."

"So, what?" Hoseok raised a brow, pushing off the car to bend down a bit and meet Yoongi's height. "You're asking me for advice?"

"I'm not asking you for shit." Yoongi somewhat corrected, reaching a hand out to shove on the surfer's chest enough to get him to stand back upright and lean back against the car. "And don't fucking do that."

"Do what?"

"The height adjustment. Hell, if you want to be shorter, I can gladly break your knee, Sunshine."

"Hm, I don't think I would appreciate that one bit. No one inside the diner would. Not even Namjoon." Hoseok kept himself steady against the car, hands braced on the hood as his head lolled over to one side as he stared at the biker. "Especially not Jeongguk— if you're still keen on making amends."

"I literally don't give one flying fuck about what you say."

"Then, why the hell did you ask to talk to me?"

"Because..." Yoongi clamped his lips shut, shaking his head in a moment of conflicting thoughts before his decision was made, face clearing with certainty. "Because I've met you more personally than any of the others and I have something to do."

Yoongi unexpectedly backed away, huffing dramatically like it took everything in him to gather his thoughts before he was suddenly walking to the side.

Hoseok's lips dipped, brow moving in opposition as Yoongi was curving around his motorcycle and popping open the leather seat. Inside was more leather, pulled out gently and with care before the seat was shut again and the biker made his way back over.

"Is that...?"

"Jeongguk's." Yoongi held it out to Hoseok. "Give it to him for me, Hoseok."

The surfer's lips were parted, worried about reaching out and taking it. "I don't— you should give that to him yourself."

"Well, you said it yourself. It's not up to me at the moment and we aren't exactly on speaking terms."

Hoseok looked up from the jacket and saw Yoongi's gaze fixated on the material. He knew the leather meant more than just a fashion piece to the three of them, and he knew Yoongi wanted his best friend back more than anything with even the simple gesture.

"Okay," he whispered, leather foreign under his fingertips as he held the collar in his hand and draped it over his arm. "I'll make sure he gets it."

"Mhm."

"Hey, Yoongi."

"What?"

"Taehyung meant what he said yesterday. About how he didn't want Jeongguk to lose you. He knows pretty well how much it hurts to be on the verge of losing what you love." Hoseok hugged the jacket to his chest, more out of natural instinct with something in his arms, but Yoongi's eye darted to it.

Then, his gaze traveled upward, past the dancer's chest and up his throat, over his lips and the bridge of his nose, to finally meet his eyes. "We all know that feeling. Cool he can empathize, but he's not special for that."

"I didn't say he was. I was saying that he understands."

"He doesn't understand me, Hoseok. There's no way he does."

"I—" The surfer sighed, head tipping back to look at the gloomy skies overhead. "You're twisting the meaning of my words, Yoongi. In a bad way. On purpose."

"Sound familiar?"

"Okay, fuck you, first of all. Secondly," Hoseok glared, setting the leather jacket on the convertible's hood to free his hands. "I didn't do that."

"No?"

"No." He muttered. "And I was lying. It is partly up to you do fix some of the shit you caused."

"I like it better when you lie, sunshine. Less work for me to do."

"You hurt two of my best friends, asshole. Shut your mouth about having to do more work around here." Hoseok hissed, lurching his fingers forward to grab the neckline of Yoongi's shirt, material bunched in his fist and dragging the older closer to him. Yoongi's glower proved just as challenging as they stared at one another, Hoseok waiting for a response, unamused by the small flick of a smile that crossed Yoongi's lips instead. "I know for a fact that we all understand each other, Min Yoongi."

"Really?" The man feigned belief. "So you understand the feeling of being alone and unwanted your whole childhood? Mentally scarred to a point at which you realize there's nothing you can do but help yourself."

Yoongi's fingers encased his wrist, the tips of his fingers digging into the skin and Hoseok wouldn't be surprised if it left some mark. He grit his teeth as the other pulled his hand away from grasping onto the fabric on his chest, and Hoseok's breath snagged in his throat as Yoongi forced the limb down onto the car, pinning it there with his tight hold.

The surfer didn't fight much, more keen on hearing the guy out and he knew fighting back would cause the topic to drop.

"I learned that you can't control how other people react, Hoseok, but you can save yourself." Yoongi spoke lowly, body warmth almost reaching Hoseok's skin.

"But your heart goes out to more than just yourself," he countered. "You protect Jeongguk and Namjoon like they're blood."

"Have you ever been so fucking alone that no one wants you? No one wants to talk to you? When no one wants to sit across from you at a table even when they're all alone, too?" Yoongi hand pinched down on his harsher and Hoseok kept his steely eye contact meshed with Yoongi's unstable one. "They treated me like I was some monster, Hoseok. And I was just a fucking kid."

"Who did?" He asked calmly.

"They were the monsters," Yoongi's voice was beginning to shake and Hoseok's other hand raised slightly to reach out to him if he needed to. "They got paid to take care of me and then they treated me like shit."

Oh.

Hoseok's calm expression fell in an instant as he finally pieced together what had happened to Yoongi.

"How long were you there?" His voice hardly passed a whisper. "In the system, I mean."

"For as long as I can remember."

"Yoongi, I—" his voice crumbled on the tip of his tongue, head dropped ever so slightly and it caused his eyes to catch the stretch of a butterfly wing reaching the mound of his shoulder. "I know you don't want pity, so why are you telling me this?"

"Because I want you to realize that you or Taehyung, or anyone else, will never understand what I've been through."

"No one except the people you've let get close." Hoseok finished, thoughtfully. "Namjoon and Jeongguk understand how you feel."

"We're each other's home. Have been for years and I can't lose the only people that feel like home, Hoseok. I can't." Yoongi shook his head vigorously and Hoseok's free hand rose to brush over his leather sleeve.

"You want to tell me anything else?"

"I know I fucked up." He replied in an instance, loosening the strict grasp he had on Hoseok's wrist. "I just didn't think Jeongguk would give up on me so easily."

"He hasn't." Hoseok argued. "He just wants you to show responsibility for your mistake like he did. He wants you to try and be better. You can do that much for yourself, if not anyone else."

Yoongi didn't respond right away and Hoseok wondered if he was actually considering it or fighting against it. But when silence stretched on for too long, it made him nervous and he needed to speak and fill the narrow space between them again.

His hand lingering by Yoongi's bicep, leather washed gray with the cloudy daytime, when he spoke, as though it were frozen there by his subconscious— ready to jump in. "Yoongi, hear me out, okay?"

Yoongi's eyes fell to the hand hovering by his elbow, a wisp of a touch subsequent with every breath of the surfer's. Then, his chin jerked down once.

Hoseok almost smiled, though it'd be meek no matter how enthusiastic he tried to be. There was little to be enthusiastic about in the moment.

"You call yourself a monster," he started. "Your words are harsh, and your hits are even worse.  But then you mentioned how you helped rebuild Jeongguk's life. You have to remember what good those same words and same hands have done. Remember that you're no monster, Min Yoongi."

"Then, what the hell am I?"

"A human. Maybe a bit terrible of one," Hoseok scoffed, to which he admitted was successful when Yoongi's lip quirked in momentary amusement. "A pretty terrible one, actually. But human all the same. That's why I know we can all understand one another."

"Uh huh?"

"Taehyung has proved it to me." The surfer shrugged briefly, Yoongi's brow raising in a questioning gesture. "He just opened his ears and really listened and... I mean, it got him pretty far."

"Really far." Yoongi huffed. "A bit too far. Disrupting everything."

"Maybe it needed disrupting."

Their eyes met. Hoseok stared with indifference while Yoongi's lids narrowed, focusing intensely on what was going through the younger's head.

"What, Min?"

"You're fucking annoying, Sunshine."

"And you're really bad at coming up with more insults." He rolled his eyes. "My ears are begging for something else."

"Begging?" Yoongi picked up on enthusiastically and Hoseok deadpanned, retracting his arms to cross them over his chest. "Ah, yeah, you like it rough."

"Okay, we're done here." He scoffed, pushing Yoongi's chest away with a minimally outstretched hand.

Yoongi caught the hand and pushed him back against the car, making Hoseok grunt when his back hit the edge of the hood, hyperaware of the hand pressing on hip and keeping it in place. "Oh, don't be a hypocrite and walk away from me."

"I have good reason to."

"Can't handle a small joke?" Yoongi frowned sarcastically. "That's fucking sad, Sunshine."

"I'm not here to talk to you about sex." Hoseok rolled his eyes. "And I want fo finish my fries, so move, asshole."

But Hoseok knew there was nothing actually keeping him in place. Yoongi's touch wasn't very forceful, instead there like a firm warmth on his side— one he couldn't shake off the feeling of. So, his words were empty knowing how easily he could move if he wanted fries so desperately.

Yoongi quite obviously knew that, too. In the small grin that laced his lips and taunting gaze that overtook his eyes despite the seriousness minutes ago.

He was drawing in closer to Hoseok and the younger stared down at him in some unwavering stance. He applauded Yoongi's ability to come across as intimidating despite his size, an ability Hoseok wasn't surprised he had, but almost sad that he had to adopt in order to toughen up through his traumas.

"Got no energy in you to push me away?" Yoongi drawled. "Fries must've not been good enough."

"I know you're not talking about Mr.Tuan's fries. Risky move, Min."

"I like risky."

"You seem to like risqué too much, too." He muttered under his breath. Words that seemed to brush Yoongi's skin as he pushed in even closer. Hoseok could probably feel some part of their bodies touching if he wasn't actively blocking that out.

"Ha, that was actually good." Yoongi mocked a compliment, humming, but Hoseok didn't seem to care as the bubbling annoyance for how Yoongi stared at him grew. It was all condescending. Like he wasn't unexpected to be able to make jokes or be able to handle Yoongi's proximity. Like he was supposed to break like everyone else Yoongi had faced.

The Yoongi that had been sharpened after being dulled by years of pain, never to be eroded of significance again.

Hoseok's hand crawled up between them, Yoongi's jaw clenching when his nimble fingers latched onto it, holding his face and tapping a teasing finger on his lips.

"Don't try me, Yoongi." He breathed out, eyes glimmering as the biker's hand on his hip dug in deeper in retaliation. Yoongi cast his eyes upward, feigning disinterest, but one finger pressed under the cut of his jaw felt a pulse strong against the skin. "I told you that night that I'm not someone for you to push around."

Yoongi's disinterest shifted to a more challenging state as Hoseok felt his hip pressed far back enough that he was seating weight into the hood of the convertible and his legs spread to brace his shift in balance on the pavement. His pull backward with the hand on Yoongi's jaw naturally inclined the older into the gap his legs had left, the space between them becoming near nonexistent for a lasting pause.

"Let go of my jaw."

"Get your hand off of my hip."

Yoongi grit his teeth and Hoseok's glare dragged on. They were level in eye contact with Hoseok's half seated position. Yoongi may have been an inch higher, even. But, it was an equal playing ground all the same.

"You're going to help fix the shit you started." Hoseok set his demands. "Apologize to everyone that you hurt."

"That list is long, Sunshine."

"Fine. Apologize to Jeongguk." He adjusted his words. "More importantly to Taehyung. His apology is a must."

"You're pushing it with that one."

"And you make it up to both of them." Hoseok ignored. "You stop being a dick to Taehyung and accept whatever the hell Jeongguk wants to do. He's not the same guy you knew so stop treating him like he needs to be."

"So demanding, you know that, Jung?" Yoongi sneered lowly. "I decide what I do with my life. Enough decisions were made without my input for years."

"Oh, I'm not forcing your hand." Hoseok shook his head. "But if you want your home back, you're gonna help save it from the flood you drowned it in."

"That's what happened to Taehyung, wasn't it? The drowning?" He cut into a raw wound in Hoseok's chest and his fingers tightened on Yoongi's jaw.

"The same drowning that Jeongguk saved him from, Min Yoongi." Hoseok saw the brief bounce of white in Yoongi's eyes snapping wide before relaxing again, shock brief and almost mistakable if he had blinked. "Take the time to actually learn who he is, for fuck's sake. Taehyung even managed to before you, so how bad of friend really are you?"

It was a jab straight back and Yoongi gaze flared with anger, determination almost, and Hoseok almost smiled seeing the fire in his eyes. Anything to get him moving to something better.

Yeah, Yoongi didn't want pity. He needed direction. He just had a godawful way of needing the motivation for change.

"I can't flip a switch on myself." Yoongi answered realistically and Hoseok had to give him credit for saying something sensible.

"You'd be surprised how much time you'll get when you're trying to move an open mind to open arms." Hoseok coached. "Jeongguk's still a biker, you're still a biker. We're still surfers. But that doesn't mean shit can't change between us."

"I'm really sick of hearing your voice, Hoseok."

"Then, get sicker." Hoseok dismissed the small comment. "I'll give Jeongguk the jacket, but that's with the promise you're going to make things right. Eventually— if that's what it takes."

"Make things right. I'm supposed to listen and understand them. That it or you got more for me?" He asked rhetorically.

The younger continued anyway after giving Yoongi a moment of silent satisfaction. "Stop making the world hate you just to prove to yourself that everyone made you a monster and you can hate them for it. Your life is different now and so are the people in it."

"What about me makes you think I'm trying to convince myself of that?" Yoongi spit out.

Hoseok suddenly stood from the car, his freehand grabbing Jeongguk's leather jacket as Yoongi stepped back to catch his footing. The younger pushed Yoongi's jaw to the side to bend down to his ear and murmur his words like a secret. Words that couldn't be argued with.

"Because you let me get in your face, tell you what to do, without losing the ability to walk away from here." Hoseok smiled, feeling his lips graze Yoongi's lobe. He pulled away and let his hand fall to his side, not surprised in the slightest by the biker's blank expression. His steps shifted him away from both the car and Yoongi, the cool air washing over him when he was out of immediate proximity.

"But more importantly, because you're willing to find home again instead of losing it all together."

❧ ❧ ❧
someone please tell me they got the dancing stickbug reference or i'll just take the fat L

i realized after finishing that the butterfly tattoo for yoongi gave me too many nevertheless vibes oops (that show sucked.) bUT IT HAS SIGNIFICANCE TO HIS CHARACTERRR. I PROMISE >:( (also probably not a lot more of this sope dynamic until the epilogues but we shall see)

sorry for the wait but i moved into college and started classes so now have to be an adult LMAO THIS ISNT GONNA END WELL BUT </33

160K!! thank you so so much♡
can you believe there's only eight more chapters after this tho :/ (plus two epilogues lol but sTILL)

✵ NEETO ✵