Metal Heart [ Jikook ]

Chapter 7

Tension hung heavy in Hoseok's car on the way back to the party Jungkook was supposed to attend. Hoseok was tempted to reach across the seats and grab Taehyung's hand, if only to calm him down a little bit, but he didn't want to risk taking his hand of the wheel; he was a very cautious driver as of recently. So he waited until they were parked outside of Donghyuk's house to comfort Taehyung.

"Jungkook's going to be okay." Hoseok said, pressing his hand to Taehyung's shoulder before the younger could move to get out of the car. Taehyung froze in his seat for a moment. Hoseok shifting his fingers so his palm was overlapping Taehyung's shoulder, and he squeezed it gently. "I can tell you're worried about him, Tae, but Jimin's got him down. He took him out for dinner and I'm sure he'll take him right home after-"

"I know he will. I'm not worried." Taehyung said, but there was so much venom in his voice that Hoseok didn't really believe that. Actually; no, he did believe Taehyung wasn't worried. He would sound a lot more... worried, if he was worried. But there was definitely something wrong; there was something wrong, but Taehyung was pushing Hoseok's hand away, was climbing out of the car before Hoseok could ask. Hoseok followed quickly, latching softly onto Taehyung's hand once the younger had moved around the car to meet him there. Taehyung smiled a little at the contact from Hoseok's palm.

"I'll watch how much I drink tonight, so that we can get home safely." Hoseok said, his thumb rubbing against the back of Taehyung's palm in a comforting way. The tension wasn't bleeding from Taehyung's shoulders as it usually would, but Taehyung gave a smile that wasn't fake- it was a genuine, grateful smile. Hoseok walked Taehyung across the street quite quickly; he knew how recklessly some people drove, especially around an area a party was taking place.

"Don't let me eat too much candy, hyung. I don't want to be throwing up candy and alcohol." Taehyung said, the grimace on his face a bit playful; and Hoseok was glad to see him smiling a little like that, was glad to see he wasn't completely miserable as he had seemed to be in the car.

"But your vomit will taste sweet if you eat a lot of candy." Hoseok said, and Taehyung's grimace turned into an expression of disgust. He let out a laugh, anyway, when Hoseok chuckled after Taehyung had hit his shoulder playfully. Hoseok reached his left hand out for the door and knocked gently, taking a step back as soon as he'd knocked; the door swung outward. Donghyuk peeked through the little curtain on the door before opening it excitedly.

"Hoseok! Taehyung! I'm glad you could make it back!" Donghyuk stepped out of the house to pull Hoseok into a hug, to move past him and pull Taehyung into a quick hug, too. Donghyuk was their party animal friend; he loved to surround himself with people, but he knew exactly where his true friends were- two of them were standing right in front of him, the other four back in the house; Hoseok could see them on the couch.

"Weren't you bringing Jungkook along?" Donghyuk asked, frowned, and he glanced around a little bit, as if Jungkook was just hiding somewhere. Hoseok eyed Taehyung carefully for a moment. He still kind of wondered what had Taehyung so upset; it must have had to do with Jungkook. It must have. But- that was so strange, too, because Hoseok had never seen Taehyung get so upset over Jungkook. He'd seen worry, yes, but never anything like this- never anger like this.

"We were, actually, but he's sick right now. He passed out a little while ago, and we took him to the hospital. That's actually why we left for a little while there- sorry about that." Hoseok said. He glanced back at Taehyung again. The boy looked a little more on the worried side, now, rather than angry, but Hoseok could still see that bit of angry fire in his eyes; and he was so curious, it was eating at his stomach.

"Oh, don't be sorry! I hope he's alright. Did he faint from fatigue, or....? I know he's been working himself recently- you can't imagine how much I've seen him hanging around the dance studio down there." Donghyuk said, and he glanced off down the street. It was a little too dark to see anything, especially since everything was shutting down pretty early for the Holidays, and all the lights were off.