You Infire Me

Chapter Fifteen: Christmas in NYC, Part Two

"Because everything of value that we will know in this life comes from our relationships with those around us. Because there is nothing material that measures against the intangibles of love and friendship."
— R. A. Salvatore, Passage to Dawn

Min Yoongi sits at the hotel bar, lazily stirring his untouched martini, staring at the olives on the toothpick as if they were the most intriguing things in the world. He puts them in the liquid; they look bigger. He lifts them out; they get smaller. This is his only entertainment as he waits for his ex-bandmates for an hour and a half.

At least the room is cozy. Every surface is either mahogany or polished red leather. A large fireplace provides warmth, and a lavishly decorated Christmas tree brings the comforting smell of pine. Expensive candles on every surface complete the ambience.

Yoongi checks his watch, wondering if it's time to leave—if he dressed in a dark suit and combed his hair back for nothing. Well, not for nothing, he supposes. Y/N did seem to enjoy seeing me like this. It's too bad I vastly prefer hoodies and disheveled hair. Though she seems to enjoy that, too. He smirks to himself, eyes still on his drink.

As he's caught in his deliberation-meets-reverie, the wood-and-glass door to the bar bursts open. Kim Namjoon, the leader of BTS, enters, with his five little ducklings in tow. Yoongi checks each one off in his head. Jin, the dad joke-making hunk. Hoseok, or J-Hope, the street dancer-meets-rapper-meets-fashionista. Taehyung, stage name V, the jazz-loving, curly haired heartthrob. Jimin, the smallest of the bunch, with the biggest personality and work ethic. Finally, Jungkook, the ultra-talented golden boy who has the entire world wrapped around his finger.

Yoongi slides off of his barstool, semi-enthralling olives forgotten. Before him stands the six boys who'd been by his side through thick and thin. The six boys who'd become his best friends. The six boys whom he'd deserted.

"Hi, guys," is all he can think to say. They remain silent in return, and the awkwardness almost ends Yoongi. He digs his nails into the palms of his hands, trying not to let his urge to flee grow too strong. Before he can run, Hoseok darts forward and wraps him in a hug warmer than any fire- or candle-filled room. "I missed you, hyung," he says.

Jungkook is the next to approach, followed by Jimin and Jin. Soon, all six are wrapped around Yoongi. Their group hug captures the attention of the bar, but Yoongi is too surrounded by dark, coiffed hair and expensive cologne to notice.

And despite himself, tears come to his eyes.

"I missed you guys too," he admits, his chest hurting. He's not sure if it's from stress or happiness.

They break away after what is both too much and not enough time for Yoongi. Namjoon and Jin slip into chairs at a nearby table, and the rest follow their lead.

Yoongi is the first to ask for a life update. "So, how have you guys been? What have you guys been up to? I'm sorry, I'll admit that I haven't been keeping tabs on how BTS is doing. I'm off of social media completely. And the internet, really."

"We've been good," Namjoon nods, acting a little colder than the others. "Staying busy. You know the drill. Writing music, releasing albums, touring, doing interviews. The process is the same as it's always been."

"We get to travel more now!" Jungkook grins.

"Yeah," Taehyung concurs. "I'm actually here in New York quite a bit, and Jimin's in LA a lot."

"Jin's shooting for a movie now that his army service is over!" Hoseok gushes.

"I'm sponsoring an art museum now," Namjoon puffs his chest, proud. "And Jungkook's always off doing who knows what. Dude's got a billion new hobbies."