Collision

Chapter 50

"Wolf," Jeongguk mutters, barely audible even to Yoongi who was standing right beside him. Yoongi only smirks as he watches Jeongguk sigh in defeat, looking over the shoes.

Yoongi, himself, felt a little out of depth. He couldn't see to help Jeongguk, to know whether the shoe would be of use or if it would even fit at all, and he realized dully that possibly (definitely) they need help.

Sighing in defeat, swallowing down his own grimace and ignoring the way his hands already started to shake while his stomach knotted, he turned in the direction of the woman.

"Um, miss?" he calls weakly, hating how raspy his voice sounded in discontent. The woman at the cash register looked up, black hair framing an oval face. He recoils back. "Um, I was- my friend. Needs help. I'm, visually impaired so I- I can't... help?"

"Sure," the woman says, whisking out from behind the counter with steady confidence and pauses a few feet away. "My name is Jisoo. How can I help?"

Jeongguk, who was looking at shoes, drifted back behind Yoongi with his head ducked down and sable hair hiding his features. His fingers snagged at Yoongi's coat, tugging uneasily, and Yoongi felt protectiveness surge within his gut.

He smiles slightly. "Hi. I'm, uh, Yoongi? Um, see, Jeongguk- my friend- needs to find some shoes. But we don't really know his size since he only knows American sizes. Can you possibly measure his foot?"

"Of course!" the woman, Jisoo, chirps. "I don't mind at all. Just hang on for one second, I will go get the measuring stand."

"Sure," Yoongi answers, tilting his head in gratitude. Jisoo slips away and disappears into the back with a little skip in her step. His shoulders sag. "Fucking Christ, how can she be that goddamned perky working at this shithole?"

"What is American?"

"Pizza and cheeseburgers with shitty education systems and weird Cheeto man for president," Yoongi explains absently.

Jeongguk doesn't look any more enlightened but doesn't question it anymore.

"Thank you," Jeongguk finally murmurs after a moment. Yoongi cranes his head, confusion furrowing his brow. "I know how much you hate talking to people, but you did. For me. Thank you."

Yoongi relaxes. "Of course. I'd do anything to help you."

"Joon is teaching me to read. Just wait a little longer, and I can help you," Jeongguk says, stepping closer so that his chest brushed over Yoongi's arm.

Yoongi's heart sputters within his chest, the fondness so heavy that Yoongi almost said fuck it and kissed him right there in the middle of the empty store where anyone could walk in and see.

He held himself back, instead just briefly brushing his fingers over the back of Jeongguk's hand, shivering at the warmth that was there despite the freezing temperatures.

"You already help," Yoongi promises quietly, stepping away only as Jisoo comes back in a whirlwind, holding a glinting metal, flat object. Jeongguk instantly steps back, nose flaring, and Yoongi steps closer.

"Alright, here you go! Can you please remove your sandals and place your heel here and stand straight for me?" Jisoo questions, looking at Jeongguk expectantly with a kind smile.

Hesitating, Jeongguk looks towards Yoongi and sees the tiniest of nods that he gives in acknowledge. Swallowing his unease, ignoring the overly sweet scent of some kind of fruit that wafted from Jisoo, Jeongguk placed his foot on the metal and stands utterly still.

Yoongi was sure that Jeongguk was remaining inhumanly still basing on the noise of slight distress from Jisoo, but the woman never commented and just worked silently in adjusting the bars until she sat back.