Somehow the boys manage to get work done.

Jeongguk didn't see it coming, nor did Taehyung's sister, who comes downstairs at one point to grab a soda and snacks from the fridge.

Their dad gets home from work around seven p.m. and is absolutely baffled at the sight of his son sitting like a decent human being on the couch with his glasses on, computer on his lap, textbook open beside him, and working diligently. Not to mention the group of four other boys, only one of whom he recognizes, also working.

Thanks to all their diligence, though, Jeongguk, Taehyung, Yoongi, Jimin, and Hoseok are able to complete the majority of their project in one night. The essays, the 3D model - which ends up looking like a 5th grade-level design but it's still a 3D model so no one's going to complain that the thing isn't award-winning architecture - and finally the drawings, made courtesy of Jeongguk who volunteered to take anything over having to write history essays.

So now there are only a few finishing touches needing to be made, all of which could potentially be finished in one class period.

That being said, the boys are more than willing to put away what they have left to do and spend the rest of the night playing video games and lounging around. Even Jimin participates in the games, but is still the quietest and Jeongguk can't help but notice the frequent, shameful glances the boy makes towards him.

It's around one in the morning when Taehyung finally announces he wishes to go to sleep. Yoongi seconds that decision. Hoseok thirds it. The other two boys don't get the chance to voice their opinions, the host decides, as it's a majority vote and he doesn't want anyone roaming about his house while he's sleeping because he doesn't trust anyone. Jeongguk calls him dramatic. Taehyung sticks his tongue out at him and tells Jeongguk he's sleeping on the floor.

Of course, he planned to initially anyway, so it doesn't bother him. It bothers him a bit that Jimin insists on sleeping on the floor as well, his reason being that he doesn't want to take up the comfortable space someone else could be using. After a soft, minor argument with the host who insists otherwise, Jimin gets his wish and is soon situated on the floor with a small, old futon and pillows.

The coffee table was moved out of the way earlier to make room for them and Taehyung, as the final decision was for Hoseok to sleep on the couch and Yoongi on the recliner. So now Jeongguk finds himself lying on another futon, in between his best friend and Jimin, who has his back turned towards him, seemingly asleep. Jeongguk, too, eventually falls asleep, but in the middle of the night he wakes up with his mouth and throat feeling dry.

The first thing he notices after opening his eyes is that Jimin isn't there. The covers are pulled back, and there's a small indent where the boy's head was softly resting. Jeongguk glances behind him - Tae's still asleep. So are Hoseok and Yoongi, who apparently both sleep with their mouths wide open. Charming.

As silently as he can, Jeongguk peels back his own covers and gets up from the floor. He takes a look around him. From where he's standing, the kitchen is in view, at least enough that he can tell one of the electric candles is on. Taehyung's family typically keep them on at night but then them off when everyone is about to go to bed, which is what Taehyung did earlier that night.

Jeongguk tiptoes across the living room until he reaches the kitchen.

And there he finds Jimin, sitting on the tiled floor, hugging his knees against his chest.

Jeongguk turns another candle on to brighten the room just a bit more.

It seems only then that Jimin registers Jeongguk's presence, which triggers the smaller boy to raise his head suddenly in alarm. His complexion grows pale instantly at the sight of his classmate standing at the doorway.

"Can't sleep?"

"I-I'm so sorry," Jimin blurts, not answering the question, "I woke you up, didn't I?? I'm, I'm sorry-"

"Jimin, I woke up on my own."

Sighing, Jeongguk opens the refrigerator and takes out one of the water bottles stocked in the bottom drawer. He unscrews the cap, takes a drink, then screws the cap back on before lowering himself to the floor next to Jimin.

"Just needed a drink," he says with a reassuring smile. "That can't be why you're out here, is it? You don't have a cup or bottle or anything."

Again, that shameful look. Jimin averts the other's gaze.

"What are you doing in the kitchen, Jimin?" Jeongguk scans the boy's expression with concern. And he notices every trace of unease, how not a single feature of Jimin's face seems relaxed, nor do his hands which grasp each other with nervousness. "Do you have trouble sleeping if you're not in a bed?" Jeongguk asks after a bit of silence. "I used to be like that when I was a kid. Whenever I slept over at Tae's house, we could never sleep downstairs like he wanted to, we had to sleep in his room."

"It's...not that," Jimin replies with hesitance.

"Bad dream?"

"...no."

"You can be honest, I'm not gonna make fun of you."

"No, it's not a dream, either."

"Something on your mind?"

At this, Jimin's brow furrows, and he moves his head slightly so that he can meet Jeongguk's eyes. "I'm...keeping you awake," he says after a moment. "You don't have to be here, you can go back to sleep."

"Maybe I will if you let me know what's wrong." Jeongguk smiles in a way he hopes, again, will be reassuring to the boy. But he can't read through that outer layer of timidity. At least not now. "I don't want to butt into your business," he adds, "I'm just a little worried now. You worried me earlier, too."

"You don't have to worry," Jimin says in somewhat of a rush. His cheeks darken a bit. "Y-you probably have enough things of your own to deal with, you don't need to be bothered with my problems. It's fine, I'm fine, don't worry about it. I-..."

His mouth freezes open as he feels a hand touch his shoulder. As an instinctive response the boy jumps and Jeongguk immediately retracts his hand. "Sorry," Jeongguk whispers. "Uh...didn't think that would startle you. Sorry."

"It's okay."

Jimin returns his gaze to his anxiously moving hands. Jeongguk looks at them as well.

"...really, though, you can tell me what's wrong. I'm a good listener."

"You'll tell people."

"No?" Jeongguk frowns. "I wouldn't tell anyone. You think I would?"

Jimin doesn't reply. A cold, frightened silence.

"I swear I won't," Jeongguk whispers as he stares at Jimin's eyes from an angle. "I'd have nothing to gain from it."

He can still see the way Jimin's eyes tremble so clearly, even without looking directly into them. And the tremor of lips so afraid to speak what the mind wants to so bad.

After a minute, maybe two or three, the softest voice breaks the quiet.

"I can't sleep without...my plushies..."

"Tae has some."

The immediate reply takes Jimin aback, so much so that he can't stop his own gaze from darting to Jeongguk.

"He mainly uses them for decoration," the boy continues, "but he's got at least four, unless he bought more recently that I don't know about. There's a Pikachu one, this big ol' hamster his sister bought him as a joke but he loves it, and a couple anime plushies, too."

"I have Pikachu, too."

Jeongguk's face lights up at Jimin's response. "You do? You like Pokémon?"

The boy nods. "Hobi and I grew up playing all the games and watching the anime."

"Same with me and Tae. He was big time in love with Jessie. I always had a thing for James but I didn't realize it for years."

A faint laugh is drawn from the other, such a rewarding thing to Jeongguk who has to purse his lips to stop his smile from stretching across his entire face. He's too adorable. Why are so many boys paying attention to me when he's in the same class?  Well, maybe it's better that way, since he doesn't like attention...

"Will any plush do?"

"What?" Jimin raises his eyebrows at the unexpected question.

"I can go grab one," Jeongguk says, "unless you can only sleep with your own plushies. If it doesn't matter, then I can go grab one of Tae's. He's not gonna care."

"N-no, you don't need to-"

"I'll go get the Pikachu one. Be right back."

Without giving Jimin a chance to press another ridiculous argument, Jeongguk gets up from the kitchen floor, sets his water bottle on the counter, then hurries out of the kitchen and up the stairs as quickly but quietly as he can to avoid waking any of the three boys still fast asleep in the living room. He finds Taehyung's bedroom door open and walks in right away to search for the Pikachu plush. As usual, the stuffed yellow mouse sits in a pile along with Taehyung's other plushies on his unmade bed. Jeongguk grabs it and tiptoes back down the stairs to return to Jimin.

"Here."

Holding the plush out to Jimin, he smiles proudly but all the other boy does is stare. In confusion, most of all, but there's something mixed in those curiously widened eyes that suggests the kind gesture doesn't go unappreciated, or even unwanted. And Jeongguk feels this is confirmed as Jimin oh so tentatively accepts the plush, only to lower his knees and hold it against his chest.

"It's the same one."

"Hm?"

"The Pikachu plush." Jimin hides his mouth behind the soft yellow creature. "It's the same one...I have at home."

Jeongguk's heart punches the inside of his rib cage. "Yeah?" Oh, my gosh, I want to hug him. Tae, thank you for spontaneously buying this thing at Game Stop last year. Thank you. "That's good, then, right? You think you'll be able to sleep now?"

"Mhm."

"Then c'mon. I'll turn the electric candles off."

"Thank you, Jeongguk."

"You're welcome."

His mouth answers right away, but his brain takes a second before processing the words spoken to him. Just a simple thank you, but again, his heart feels the urge to hurl its brass-knuckled, imaginary fist at him.

He watches Jimin take careful steps out of the kitchen to go back to his futon.

That oversized hoodie really does make him look tiny. He could probably fit in my futon with me.

Jeongguk slaps himself across the face.

—-