Fire On Fire [TK]

(11) Back another day

"And this I'll say, I don't know why
I know I'm leaving
But I'll be back another day"

- Talk tonight, Oasis

❀

- V -

Taehyung had been thinking lately that things had shifted without anyone announcing it.

Not in a way that broke anything. Just... rearranged. Like furniture moved in the dark, familiar shapes suddenly catching him off guard when he turned too fast.

Jeongguk had been quieter after practice these days. Sharper around the edges. Taehyung noticed it in the way he exhaled too hard, the way his shoulders stayed tense even after warm-downs. The way he stopped laughing halfway sometimes, like he'd remembered something he wasn't supposed to.

Taehyung told himself it was exhaustion.

Everyone was exhausted.

Still, when Jimin told him about it that morning, Taehyung felt it before he heard it. A strange tightening in his chest, like a string pulled too far.

"Jeongguka? You're going to America?" The words left his mouth before his brain caught up. He dropped onto the stool beside the counter, right next to Jeongguk, a cereal bowl clutched in his hands, eyes wide.

"Shout any louder and my ear drums will burst," Yoongi muttered beside him.

"Mian-" Taehyung lowered his volume. "Is it true, Jeongguka?" He looked at the youngest questioningly.

"Dae-" Jeongguk shifted in his chair, eyes downcast. "For dance training."

"See, I told you so!" Jimin wrung his hands in Taehyung's face from the other side of Jeongguk. "I had overheard Namjoon hyung's call with PDnim!"

They had been practising come rain or shine, working their asses off to prepare themselves. Their overall performances were constantly being judged to select who would make the final line-up.

"But did they tell you why?" Taehyung asked, quieter now.

"They said my dance is missing something-that's why-"

Yoongi snorted. "If his dance is missing something, then mine is practically invisible."

Jimin rolled his eyes and turned to Jeongguk, "So, you'll be going alone?"

"Nobody is stupid enough to send a fifteen-year-old alone to the States," Yoongi shook his head. "Sejin hyung will go with him."

"I didn't know you were Jeongguk's personal answering machine, hyung," Jimin shot back, sarcasm dripping from every syllable.

"I just felt the need to exempt the child from stupid questions," Yoongi replied, unfazed.

"Exempt him from yourself," Jimin muttered under his breath, "How long will you be long for?" He asked turning to the youngest.

Jeongguk played with the ends of his shirt. Taehyung was going to secretly throw away that piece of clothing which was closer to becoming a cleaning cloth than an actual shirt. "A month and a half."

Taehyung's heart did a strange tremble. Like a wrench. That was a long time. He bit his lip before asking, "When do you leave?"

"Next week."

"Don't make me jealous, Jeongguka," Jimin whined beside him, running a hand through his hair. "I'll go tell Hoseokie hyung, our maknae is going international!" He sprang out of his chair and hopped towards the bedroom.