too scared to be afraid

chapter fourteen: i don't want things to change

"I--I know we can't continue this forever, but I just want to let him live normally for a little while longer. Then we can take him into our arms."

014: i don't want things to change

xxxx

"Oh, you were dancing? To what song?"

Jimin looked unaffected, having been used to seeing Hoseok like this when they dance together but Taehyung was frozen, staring in both surprise and drooling over the boy. He looked hot. That was the undeniable fact.

"Boy Meet Evil, it's a new song. It's choreo is really great though. I swear, I almost fell in love with the artist."

"Don't joke about that," Jimin said in a low, almost inaudible voice.

"Huh?"

"Hm?"

"Oh, I thought you said something, my bad. Oh! Shoot, sorry," Hoseok said, moving out of the way. "It's cold outside, come in."

Neither boy needed to be asked twice.

Taehyung took in every detail of the apartment, wanting to see how the boy lived. It was a nice, clean apartment. A huge mirror was on the wall in the living room and the white curtains were drawn. When they passed by the kitchen, neither Jimin nor Taehyung missed the apple that sat with one bite missing from it. Taehyung wondered if Hoseok put it outside for later while Jimin had another idea about the fruit.

Hoseok laughed, rubbing the back of his neck when they entered the living room. The couch and table were both against one of the walls. He quickly moved them both to their usual spot, and sat down, patting the couch for them to sit down on as well.

He waited a few moments after they sat down just to mentally prepare himself for conversation.

"So, is there a reason you're here so late? Did something bad happen?"

"Ah, no," Jimin murmured. "Well, Taehyung and I share an apartment.."

"Okay?"

"Jimin hyung flooded it. We have to clean it up and stuff but it's too late in the night to. We were hoping we could stay here?"

Hoseok giggled at the two who sounded so shameful. Taehyung smiled, basking in the sound that came from Hoseok. It was the prettiest laugh he's ever heard. It sounded so geniune.

When Hoseok finally calmed himself down, he coughed a bit, trying to remember how to breathe.

"I--oh, man, you two have issues. But yeah, feel free to stay here for as long as you'd like. Well, my house only has one bedroom but the bed is huge so either we can all sleep on the bed or we can sleep in the living room. Oh, or you two can take my room and I'll stay in the living room. I-"

"We'll all sleep in your bed," Jimin interjected, smiling so much that his eyes looked to disappear. He knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and jumped at it. Getting to sleep in the same bed as Hoseok? Yes, please.

They rarely had sleepovers and even then, Jimin's parents always insisted on giving Hoseok his own room to sleep in. They couldn't ever have sleepovers at the orphanage either.

"Alright, um, did you two eat dinner yet?" Hoseok looked over the two, noticing that each boy only had a backpack with him. They really were travelling light.

"Uh, no."

"Oh, okay. Want me to order something? What type of food do you want?"

"It's fine, Hoseok hyung. We can just eat whatever you have if that's alright with you," Jimin answered, getting up to walk to the kitchen. Taehyung and Hoseok followed him in, watching him open the fridge.

Hoseok looked away as Jimin searched his fridge. All he had in there was two apples, milk, and a carton of eggs. All he had in his pantry was a cereal box.

All of the food he had was untouched too aside from the apple on his counter. He couldn't really bring himself to eat more of it either.

"Hyung, have you been eating properly? You barely have anything."

"I have," Hoseok said defensively. He didn't need his two younger friends to be worrying about him too.

Jimin already knew about his poor eating habits though. He had seen enough of it when he was with Seokjin watching the cameras. Seokjin had briefed him on Hoseok's eating issues as well. They didn't go so far as to call it a disorder because it hadn't reached that point yet but it was scary how downhill Hoseok was going.

"We can just eat cereal, right Jimin hyung? Thank you, Hoseokie hyung."

"Yeah, thanks hyung."

"Uhm, sure. Sorry I don't have much. I'll go--get something," he said, leaving for his room.

Less than three hours later, Taehyung and Jimin were all cozy in bed.

Hoseok had told them to go to sleep first while he took a quick shower and cleaned up a bit. Jimin decided not to sleep though, he wanted to make sure Hoseok was comfortably asleep first. He couldn't sleep knowing Hoseok wasn't..

"Hey hyung, you flooded our apartment on purpose, didn't you?"

"Hm, what do you mean, Tae?"

"You're not clumsy enough to leave the faucet on in the bathtub. I'm not stupid. Why'd you do it?"

"You're overthinking it, Tae. Just go to sleep."

xxxx

Hoseok finished his shower shortly after he sent the boys to bed. He was dressed in a long-sleeved black shirt as usual with short shorts. He had a habit of wearing them a lot these days, even if his scars peaked out at him.

The boys were asleep when he entered the room and he had half a mind to just walk away and sleep on the couch. There was a huge spot open for him in the middle though.

Before he could think it over, Taehyung grabbed his arm. Hoseok jumped but calmed down after checking that Taehyung was fast asleep.

He slipped in the middle of the bed and got under the cover, sighing in comfort. Bedtime was his favorite time of the day.

Behind him, Jimin pulled him into a hug. His back was pressed to Jimin's chest, and he melted into the boy's arms. He was always a sucker for physical contact.

"Goodnight, hyungie," Jimin murmured, squeezing him tighter.

"Goodnight, Jiminie."

xxxx

edited.