"Children aren't coloring books. You don't get to fill them with your favorite colors."

-Khaled Hosseini

***

Hobi, like Jin, decided to take Namjoon's offer to stay home with Jimin.

He waited until all the other kids were on their way to school, and then he looked at Jimin, clapping his hands excitedly. "Time for dishing out the drama!"

Jimin stared at him with wide eyes but took a seat on the couch next to Hobi, grabbing a pillow and hugging it in front of himself.

"Okay, so...let me think of a funny story about each of them." Hobi thought for a moment, his finger tapping his chin, before he lit up. "Okay okay, so I think I mentioned the whole Lala incident the other day?"

Jimin nodded.

"Okay, so here's what happened. Remember Lala, Jin's flower?" Another nod from Jimin. "Okay, so, he's seriously attached to that thing. Probably because he has no friends. But don't tell Jin I told you that!"

"Why doesn't Jin have friends?" Jimin asked, frowning and hugging the pillow tighter. "He's very nice and pretty."

Hobi sighed and shrugged. "I don't know. He just doesn't. He might tell you that he does, and you just have to go along with it, okay? I don't know why, but he always lies about it even though we all know. But anyway...okay, so he's got Lala, right? Well, one day, Jin did something small to Yoongi – I think he woke Yoongi up by giving him a kiss on the cheek or something – and when Jin wasn't there, Yoongi took Lala and planted him in a patch of the same type of flower because he was pissed- sorry, he was mad – at Jin. Then Jin found out and he was hysterical! He spent, I don't know, like three hours looking at every flower individually. He finally found Lala – or at least, that's what he says, but none of us are really sure if it's really Lala because we don't know anything about Lala besides the basic color. So we could be living with an imposter. But anyway, to get back at Yoongi, Jin waited until he fell asleep and then he used eyeliner on Yoongi. And you know how Yoongi is super tired in the morning? Well he barely opened his eyes even in the bathroom when he was brushing his teeth, so he went to school like that! Just ask Kihyun and Wonho and they'll tell you all about it. I think they even took pictures," Hobi said, grinning, and Jimin laughed quietly.

"Tell me a story about Taehyung," Jimin said, and Hobi smiled.

"Sure! Okay, let's see...there are a lot with Taehyung...okay okay, there was this one time when we were all walking to a park, and construction workers had just put down fresh concrete for the sidewalk, and Jin told us not to walk in it because it was still wet, but you know how Taehyung can be. He thought it would be funny to not listen and walk in it anyway, only his foot got stuck, and he had to leave his shoe behind to get unstuck, so he walked the whole way to the park and back with just one shoe," Hobi said, grinning. "And the best part is that the shoe is still there. I'll have to show you sometime! I think someone filled it with dirt and planted flowers in it or something to make it more aesthetic since they couldn't pry it out," he said, laughing, and Jimin couldn't help but laugh long with him. Hobi was just infectious in a way; when he was happy, he spread happiness, and when he was laughing, he spread laughter.

Jimin liked him instantly. He made Jimin feel warm and comfortable. Safe.

"Okay okay, one day, well, one day my friend Wonpil came over and we were studying together only I guess to Kookie it looked like Wonpil was forcing me to let him copy my work and he came into the kitchen and started yelling at Wonpil and Wonpil is this precious child who wouldn't hurt a fly so he just sat there and took it and almost ended up crying before I explained it all to Kookie, who got so embarrassed that he went back into his room and shut the door." Hobi smiled fondly before his smile fell at the edges. "Speaking of Wonpil...Never mind."

"What were you going to say, hyung?" Jimin asked, biting his lip.

"Just, he has this party slash sleepover thing going on tonight, and I told him I would go, but I wasn't really planning on it, and I have to call him to make up an excuse soon."

"Why don't you go?"

"Because," Hobi said, hesitating. "There will be all these other kids there, kids I'm not really friends with. And besides, I want to spend the day with my precious little dongsaeng. Is that too much to ask?" he said with a grin, but Jimin could tell he was still upset.

"Well, why don't I just go with you?" Jimin asked before squeezing the pillow. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to just invite myself, I-"

"No, no! That's a great idea, Jiminie!" Hobi said, reaching out and sucking Jimin in for a hug, the pillow sandwiched between them. "I'll take you with me!"

"O-okay, hyung!"

***

Hobi stood in front of the door looking a few shades paler than normal. "Maybe this wasn't a good idea..." He looked over his shoulder. "Is Dad still in the driveway? Maybe he can just take us back home-"

"I think he already pulled away," Jimin said before taking Hobi's left hand in his right hand. "It's okay, hyung. I think Wonpil will be happy to see you."

"It's the other kids I'm worried about," Hobi mumbled, and Jimin tilted his head.

"But why wouldn't they like you, hyung? You're amazing."

Hobi  gave a hesitant smile toward Jimin. "Really? You think so?"

Jimin bobbed his head.

Hobi smiled and patted Jimin's head just as the door opened.

"Hey, Hobi! You came!" Wonpil said, grinning excitedly. "I was so worried because you weren't at school today! And you brought somebody! Who is this?"

Jimin looked down shyly, still not used to meeting so many people. In actuality, Jimin wasn't thrilled to be going, but he'd agreed to make Hobi happy.

"Wonpil, meet Jimin," Hobi said, smiling softly at Jimin and encouraging him to look up. "My brother."

Wonpil's eyes widened and his mouth hung open a little as Jimin looked up and gave a small wave with his small hand. "Oh my gosh, Hobi told me lots about you!" Wonpil hopped down from inside the house to give Jimin a hug.

Jimin, who hadn't been expecting it, tensed before letting himself relax in Wonpil's arms.

Wonpil pulled away and hopped back inside, gesturing at them. "Come in, come in. There's snacks and pop and video games and somebody put on what they tell me is good music but what do I know..." He trailed off as he disappeared into the house.

Both Jimin and Hobi looked at each other for a second, nervous, before following Wonpil inside, taking off their shoes at the door and shutting the door behind themselves.

Then they went down to the basement where the music was coming from.

***

Within ten minutes, Hobi and Jimin found themselves huddled in a corner, avoiding social interaction.

It wasn't that the party was out of control; rather, there were about 10 other boys, not including Wonpil. Half of them were huddled around the TV playing a video game where they had guns and were trying to kill zombies, with the occasional kid yelling out, "We've got a crawler!" or "I ran out of ammo!"

Most of the other kids were sitting in a circle playing a game, truth or dare from the looks of it, or just kind of walking between the snack table and the other groups. Wonpil seemed to be everywhere at once, always popping around to check in on everyone and make sure they were having fun.

"This is fun," Jimin said, not really feeling it but wanting Hobi to feel better.

Hobi nodded, swallowing. "Very fun. The most fun."

Wonpil wandered over a few minutes later, grinning as he took a seat next to them. "Sorry, I had to supervise to make sure nobody set anything on fire. How's it going?"

Jimin forced a smile. He was having a slightly difficult time breathing, but he didn't want to bother Hobi. It wasn't serious; he just was starting to feel claustrophobic. He wasn't used to being around so many strangers. Going to school with Yoongi had been tough as well, but Jimin had been asleep for half of it, and Wonho had been distracting him for the rest of the time. But since Hobi was equally as terrified as Jimin for somewhat different reasons, there was nobody to distract Jimin, nobody to take his mind off his fear, nobody to comfort him or calm him down. "It's fun. Thank you," he said out of a habitual instinct to please others.

Wonpil smiled back. "Good to hear. How about you, Hobi?" he asked, looking concerned as he focused in on Hobi. "Are you all right? I know you're uncomfortable. But maybe if you got to know some of them, you'd feel better? Or I could ask them to leave early?"

Jimin felt unjustifiably jealous that Hobi had someone to care and worry about him, just about him. Jimin wanted that. Then he felt guilty because of course people cared about him, but right now, he felt alone. He felt a little angry at Hobi for failing to recognize how out of place Jimin felt, but he knew that was unjustified as well.

Hobi shook his head weakly. "Don't make them leave," he said, not wanting them to be mad at Wonpil.

"Then how about you join in the game?" Wonpil suggested, grinning.

Hobi wanted to say no but he didn't want to disappoint Wonpil. "A-all right." He looked at Jimin hesitantly. "I'm going to go play," he said. He hesitated, torn between Do you want to come with? and Will you be all right by yourself? But Hobi didn't want his little brother to have to do any weird dares, so he just gave Jimin a small nod before following Wonpil over to the circle and sitting down.

Jimin stayed in the corner, curled with his arms looped around his legs, his back against the wall, watching Hobi and trying to control his breathing. In, out. In, out.

"Hobi's going to play too!" Wonpil announced, sitting down next to Hobi, and the other boys nodded or shrugged since they didn't really know him.

"Then we start with him," one of the boys said. "Truth or dare?"

"Um..." Hobi swallowed, already regretting joining the circle. "Truth?"

"Is it true that you're bulimic?" the kid asked bluntly, and some of the other kids laughed before one of them elbowed the kid in the side.

"He's anorexic, not bulimic, idiot."

"Well?" the kid asked after elbowing the other one back. "Are you bulimic or anorexic or whatever?"

Hobi felt sick. He swallowed, wishing he didn't have to answer, but everybody was staring at him expectantly. He opened his mouth, but before he could say something - he wasn't even sure what he was going to say - Wonpil frowned, glaring at the kid.

"Hey, that's not funny, man," Wonpil said. "If you're going to be mean, then just leave. Hobi is my best friend. Don't make me angry at you."

The kid rolled his eyes, holding his hands up defensively, and Wonpil leaned over to whisper in Hobi's ear, "Hey, I'm sorry about him. He's usually not such a jerk or I wouldn't have invited him."

"It's okay," Hobi answered, but he didn't feel okay as he recalled the feeling of being laughed at and ridiculed.

"My turn," Wonpil spoke up, and nobody could argue with him since he was the host. He pointed at the kid who had asked Hobi the question. "Truth or dare?"

The kid, scared of what Wonpil might make him do, chose truth.

"Is it true that you snuck into the girls' locker room because you have a crush on a girl in our class?" Wonpil asked, and the boy flushed red.

"Wha- n-"

"You chose truth, not lie," Wonpil said, cutting him off with an innocent smile. "So make sure you tell the truth."

The boy looked away before replying with a defeated, "Y-yeah. So what?!"

The game went on several rounds before Hobi was able to relax, but then he felt a tug on his shirt. He turned to see Jimin shaking slightly. "What's wrong?" Hobi asked, but before Jimin could answer, one of the boys asked, "Who's that?"

"He's my little brother," Hobi answered automatically.

"Why'd you bring a little kid? Big kids only!"

"He's nine and we're ten," Hobi said with a frown before looking back at Jimin. "What's wrong?"

"I want to leave, hyung," Jimin said, his eyes wide and glassy, an indication that he was on the verge of tears.

"Awww, the little kid wants to leave," one of the boys said, and Hobi hunched his shoulders.

"Can't you wait a little longer?" Hobi asked uncertainly. He felt as though he'd finally been somewhat accepted. He didn't want to leave just yet. Maybe if he played longer, he'd finally make friends, be considered as "one of them."

Jimin bit his lip before shaking his head, trying hard to hold back the tears, but it was all too much for him. Too many strangers, too much loud music, too much violent video games. He just wanted to be home, cuddling with Jin or Yoongi or Hobi if he'd let him. He felt sick and he couldn't control his breathing very well. He felt like he was going to start hyperventilating soon if he didn't get out of here.

"All right," Hobi mumbled before standing up.

"I'll tell my mom to call your dad to pick you up," Wonpil said sympathetically before running up the stairs to find his mom.

"Hey, wait," one of the boys from the circle said as Hobi and Jimin began to follow Wonpil. "That's the kid that went missing right? My mom said she read in the newspapers that they finally found him."

Jimin clenched his hands. Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry. They'll make fun of Hobi-hyung. Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry...

"Hey, kid. Here's a truth question: were you really locked in a house for 5 years?"

Hobi frowned tightly and grabbed Jimin's hand, dragging him up the stairs as Jimin finally burst into tears to the laughter of the boys in the circle.

Once upstairs, Hobi hesitated before rubbing Jimin's back.

"I'm sorry, hyung," Jimin apologized through his tears.

"Sorry for what?" Hobi asked, genuinely confused.

"For ruining it for you. Your friends-"

"Those weren't my friends," Hobi corrected, wiping Jimin's tears away. "Not when they're teasing you and making you cry."

Jimin just cuddled into Hobi's chest, and Hobi wrapped his arms around his brother. "Are the things they said about you true?" Jimin mumbled.

"What things?"

"They said you weren't eating."

Hobi frowned. "I eat." Just not a lot, and not all the time.

"Are you telling me the truth, hyung?" Jimin asked, pulling away and looking up, and Hobi hesitated when faced with Jimin's sad eyes.

"Yeah," Hobi said, forcing a smile. "They just like to make stupid jokes. Ignore them."

Jimin frowned before leaning back into Hobi's warmth. "I don't like it when you lie to me, hyung."

Hobi tensed before pretending like he hadn't heard Jimin.

Wonpil came over a minute later. "My mom called your dad and he said he'll be here in a few minutes."

Hobi turned the corners of his lips up without actually smiling. "Thanks, Wonpil. Sorry for ruining everything."

"What are you talking about?" Wonpil asked, clucking his tongue. "The fact that you showed up made everything  so much better by itself. I'm really glad you came." He smiled down at Jimin even though Jimin was facing Hobi, safe inside the confines of Hobi's arms. "And I'm glad I got to meet your brother too."

Hobi sighed. "Thanks for inviting me," Hobi said before looking down at Jimin as he heard a car horn beep from outside. "Sorry, Wonpil. It looks like we have to go."

"S'alright," Wonpil said, smiling brightly. "Thanks for coming, Hobi and Hobi's little brother!"

Hobi smiled and waved at Wonpil before picking up Jimin piggy-back style and carrying him out to the car. Then he helped Jimin get buckled in and waved at Wonpil from inside as Namjoon drove them home.

"Why are you coming home early?" Namjoon asked, looking back to check traffic and meeting Hobi's eyes for s second. "Not that it's a problem, I just thought it was supposed to be a sleepover."

"Ah, well..." Hobi fumbled for an excuse. "Jimin was getting tired and the boys were loud so he couldn't sleep."

Jimin looked over at Hobi, his brows furrowed, but Hobi just held his breath, hoping Namjoon would buy it.

"Oh. All right."

Hobi looked out the window because he didn't want to see Jimin looking at him in disappointment, and when they got home, Hobi hurried on inside before either of them.

Namjoon sighed, helping Jimin out of the car. "Sorry, sweetie. He's just had a hard time in school making friends. These things stress him out. Now, I know you're tired, so get changed into your PJ's and don't forget to brush your teeth before bed."

Jimin nodded and changed out of his clothes before going to brush his teeth, finding Hobi already doing so.

Hobi met his eyes automatically before looking down in shame, and Jimin just swallowed and grabbed his toothbrush, a new one since Namjoon had bought it after he'd gotten Jimin back, and squeezed the tube of toothpaste to get some on the brush after wetting it with water.

"I'm sorry," Hobi said suddenly, removing his toothbrush from his mouth and looking at Jimin in the mirror because he couldn't do it directly. "For blaming you. And for leaving you by yourself. And for making you go in the first place even though I should have realized that you wouldn't be comfortable."

Jimin stopped brushing for a second, looking at Hobi's reflection. "It's okay, hyung," he said. "I'm glad you had fun."

Hobi smiled, but his eyes were watery. "I would have had more fun if I had just hung out with you instead," he admitted, looking over at Jimin directly. "I'm sorry, Jimin. I'm really really sorry. I'm a bad hyung for letting my dongsaeng cry. Yoongi would have beat them up." He looked down, smiling sadly at the floor. "But I'm not strong like Yoongi. I'm too scared to beat anyone up. I'm sorry, Jimin."

"It's okay, hyung," Jimin insisted, tapping Hobi's arm to get him to look up at Jimin. "I had fun today with you."

Hobi sighed. "You don't have to pretend. I know you didn't have fun at the party."

"But before that," Jimin amended, trying to get Hobi to cheer up.

Hobi exhaled. "I had fun too." He hesitated, smiling slyly over at Jimin. "But I heard that Jin got to cuddle with you when it was his day."

Jimin smiled. "You still have time," he said. "It's only 9:00. That's three whole hours to cuddle."

Hobi paused before brushing rapidly and spitting into the sink. "Hurry up then, Jimin!"

Jimin grinned before brushing his teeth and following Hobi, climbing into his bed. Then he laid down, resting his forehead against Hobi's, and smiled. "Goodnight hyung," he said before his eyes fluttered shut.

Hobi smiled and watched Jimin drift off to sleep before he shut his eyes as well.

***

Three hours later, Hobi was pushed to the floor.

"Ow!" he said before a hand clamped down over his mouth. "Mmmfph!"

"Quiet," the attacked said. "You'll wake Jimin up." He slowly removed his hand from Hobi's mouth.

"What are you doing, Tae?!" he whisper-shouted.

Tae grinned. "It's 12:00. My turn."

Then he hopped into Hobi's bed and took over cuddling with Jimin, leaving Hobi to climb into the nearest available bed, which happened to be Yoongi's.

they look so cute in this picture...

also, jungkook's responses are coming up for the q&a. if you want to submit questions, please submit them on the <<q&a<< chapter (after chapter xxvi), thank you