Yoongi just picked at his food with chopsticks while Namjoon seemed to be getting his third plate. Brooke had already quickly eating her share and was now quietly sipping water.
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Yeah, she's one to scarf down food when on edge. Meanwhile, the eldest hadn't had a bite.
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Namjoon had his cheeks full when speaking, "Eat, hyung!" He was smiling full of warmth but it wasn't enough to convince Yoongi.
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"I'm not hungry," the other replied, resting an elbow on the table and still played with his food. His eyes never dared to meet Namjoon's. There was an odd concoction of emotions rolling inside; guilt, anxiety, embarrassment.
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A still quietness set in to the air, making their guest swallow his mouthful of the meal and awkwardly clear his throat. Namjoon gave Brooke a polite smile. "Brooke, yah, can you give us a moment, please?"
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She was busy doodling on the condensation of her water glass before raising her eyebrows in realization. "O-oh," she stuttered our before clumsily stumbling out of her chair. Brooke blew air out of her cheeks before adjusting her top. "Y-yeah, go ahead." She turned on her heel to walk off.
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Fuck, they're gonna be left alone. Brooke paused in her tracks before turning back around and leaning down to press her lips into Yoongi's fluffy hair. She gently rested her hand on the side of his head while closing her eyes to savor the sweet kiss she was leaving for him in reassurance.
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Yoongi didn't move, but inside his heart was pounding like an unsteady bass. His fingers and toes tingled, lips growing parched as he began to take small breaths through them.
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Brooke's slim fingers ran through his hair before the sound of her sock feet faded away. Namjoon watched with doe eyes. More importantly, Yoongi didn't want her to go.
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They directly sat across from each other, Namjoon's plate was now empty while Yoongi's still hadn't even dented.
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"Blue, huh?" He inquired, tipping his head to the side while he gazed at the colorful hair that had began to fade. "Taehyung hasn't seen that color yet, huh?"
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Yoongi still didn't reply. Instead, there was the very familiar memory with the younger boy.
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It was something Kim Taehyung came up with himself. There was several times the older was almost drawn to relapse during the year.
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"Hyung, promise me when you get these thoughts, you'll ask me to take you to the store, okay?" His smooth voice comforted Yoongi while slathering bleach to lighten the older's dark hair. "We can pick a different color each time."
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Yoongi wasn't sure if it'd work, but maybe the crazy colors would distract him long enough for the thoughts and thirst for liquor to go away.
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"It's why I did it," he spoke lowly, picking up a piece of steak to pop it in his mouth.
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Meanwhile, Namjoon acted like he just witnessed the birth of his first child. "That's great, Yoongi-yah!" He folded his hands together and leaned in slightly, his voice in full animation. "It suits you well, even with those brown eyes."
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Yoongi brought his glass of lemonade to his lips. "Thanks." He took a delicate sip before setting it back down. He smacked his lips softly before biting his lower lip.
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Namjoon never deserved to be treated that way. Why'd I do that? How could I've done it? Why is he being so kind? I don't deserve this, no wonder I'm ashamed—
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"Oh, what's wrong?"
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Yoongi blinked suddenly with a sharp inhale, feeling the air hit the tear track in his cheek. He brought a clothed wrist up to wipe it, sniffling before taking the chopsticks back in his hand. "Was there onions put in this? My eyes just..."
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Namjoon spoke with tender. "Brooke hates onions, she'd never." There was something in his tone that made Yoongi only feel smaller.
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His lips separated before finding the words to possibly form. "Why are you doing this? Why don't you hate me, Namjoon?"
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The younger knew to expect these questions, they were quite obvious. He rubbed a hand over his mouth before taking a moment to think of what exactly to say to the vulnerable boy.
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"Hyung, you went through something that none of us could possibly comprehend," he began, hands slowly rubbing together as he watched them. "You know, even growing up. There wasn't many people there for you. Parents constantly working to make a quick buck, you were alone a lot. Growing up is tough, especially for what you had."
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Yoongi's gaze stayed focused on the center of the table, remembering the nights he'd go to Namjoon's place as teenagers when the power was out at their place during the winter time.
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"I mean— I know there was so much more I could do during that time we had together," Namjoon continued, referring to the several years they lived as roommates before Yoongi left for the past year. "And for that, I'm sorry."
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The older's arms crossed tightly over his chest, still looking down and keeping silent. He wanted to beg Namjoon not to apologize, but words were nonexistent.
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"Kimri, I know she'd be sorry, too," the younger bluntly said the name, causing Yoongi's heart to begin to thump even quicker. "Dammit, she cared so much for you, I'm... sorry it ended that way."
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It was at this time Yoongi broke. His eyes bolted shut, hand coming up to tightly clamp over his mouth while his neck convulsed in quiet weeping. Kimmie would never know about what he'd done and his accomplishment of being a year sober.
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This wasn't how it was supposed to end. Not so she would be gone.
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He missed her, and always will. No matter how many girls he'd fall in love with, Kimmie would be forever.
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Hands were placed on his shoulders, pulling him up from his seat to be brought into the taller frame of Namjoon. The younger's chin nestled into the crook between Yoongi's shoulder and neck while the older coughed the words:
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"I just— fuck, please forgive me Namjoon. Please—"
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He gently shushed the boy, large hand squeezing his back while his own tears cane welled into his eyes. "I won't ever let you go like this again."
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Namjoon was beyond proud of Yoongi. Even after finding the older laid out onto the floor of their bathroom, a bottle of old prescription pills down his throat just a couple months after Kimmie had left him, he was convinced Yoongi was one of the strongest bastards there were.
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It's not tough giving up an addiction, but the drive Yoongi always has kept him going. He was strong enough on his own, even Brooke believed that.
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-
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A/N

ahhhh SHIT YALL IT HAPPENED I hope this wasn't anticlimatic. Ack.

Y'all make me so happy, ily