Bridging Destinies

Chapter 18: After Dinner Games

We moved through the remainder of the dinner quickly as the conversations flowed and ebbed. After dinner, I assisted them in removing the dishes from the table but did not linger in the room, as a handful of my hosts stayed to clean up. Namjoon, Seokjin, Jungkook and Yoongi sat with me in the living room, continuing our conversations as the muted but playful sounds of Taehyung, Jimin and Hoseok drifted from the kitchen. I found I enjoyed the sounds of play and half listened as we made ourselves comfortable on the couches in the living room. Seokjin and Namjoon sat on each side of me, with Yoongi and Jungkook sitting on the couch opposite of us. Namjoon's leg rubbed against mine as he moved to make himself comfortable and when he did, I moved my leg in response, our legs making full contact against each other. He focused on me, then looked away with a smile, as our legs glanced against each other, then remained in the same position, sharing each other's warmth. I felt his energy move around me, and peered at him again, wondering if he was aware of what he was doing. I cocooned him in my own energy, allowing our energies to mix to a small degree. I knew that my Light could overwhelm him, if I was not careful, so I made sure that only a fraction of my energy was shared with him in this moment. Instinctively, he moved closer to me by a hair's breadth, and I smiled internally as I listened to Jungkook, Yoongi and Seokjin talking. Namjoon and I were silent, our conversation through bodies, rather than words.

Yoongi looked over at us in a break between the intercourse, "What are you two about, over there?" He asked, as his eyes narrowed.

I looked at Namjoon, then back at Yoongi and asked, "Does it bother you?"

He scoffed and shook his head, "Not at all. Joonie seems to like it." He said, as he looked at his band mate.

I laughed and turned my head to gaze at Namjoon again, "Do you like it, Joonah?" I asked, almost on a whisper. His face flushed and I grinned, "Tell me that you do, and I won't stop." I suggested.

He laughed as his eyes moved around the room, then settled on me. He leaned close to my ear, his mood moving from seemingly embarrassed, after being put on the spot, to smooth and calculated and whispered, "Like a fine wine. You are intoxicating. And I like it."

His breath tickled my ear, and I laughed, almost surprised, and looked at him, our faces close, "That's very suave of you, Joonah." I told him softly. He erupted in embarrassed laughter and gave a half shrug, then moved his arm to lean it on the back of the couch behind my shoulders, saying nothing about my comment.

Jungkook spoke up, "What did you say to her, hyung?" I looked at Namjoon, waiting for his response, wondering if he would expose himself after making the effort to whisper into my ear.

I watched as Namjoon bit his lip and gave the younger man an abbreviated version, "I said that I liked it." He explained. Jungkook observed Namjoon, his mind appearing to go blank, but I could feel his thoughts circling around the idea that Namjoon had said a lot more to me.

Jungkook looked abruptly from Namjoon to me, asking, "Noona? Do you play video games?" To the others, it appeared that he was no longer interested in what Namjoon had said or not said, but I felt him almost shelf the idea to think about later, which interested and amused me.

"I have never played." I responded. The young man looked at me in surprise, "Did you just not like them?"

"I have not actually been around them, except for briefly." The look on Jungkook's face caused a short laugh to escape my throat, "I apologize but did you want to show me how to play?" I asked, trying to stifle any further laughter. His expression went from bemused shock to sudden excitement as he jumped up, grabbing the video game controllers, and getting a game ready.

"This is a fighter game." He explained to me as he added the game to the console and set it up, "It's new." He grinned at me as he handed me the controller and palmed his own, "I'm gonna kick your ass." He crowed as he grinned further.

I laughed and took the controller as I stood up and sat next to him on the floor, "Before you kick my ass," I said, "Please explain this device to me." I held it up to him, and he leaned towards me, showing me what each button did.

The first three times, Jungkook did kick my ass, but as I became accustomed to using the buttons to move my character, I began to win more often. By the fourth game, as I improved, the other men came into the living room from the kitchen, joining us. Jungkook found himself having to really fight me to win, and though he won the fourth round, I had almost matched him.

Taehyung dropped down next to Jungkook exclaiming, "Kookah!  She almost handed you your ass!" He said with a laugh.

I looked at him with my brows raised, "Do you want to play another round?" I asked him.

He nodded, "Yeah. Let's go." He said and started a new round.

Taehyung announced, "I play the winner!"

I leaned over and looked at him, and said, "You are on."

Jungkook looked at me in surprise as he hit the button to start the game. "You didn't win yet!" He retorted. I laughed again and shrugged. As the game finished loading, I prepared myself and focused on the buttons. I refused to watch Jungkook's thoughts and energy in order to cheat him of his prize. I wanted to win without it. His thoughts were loud, however, so I was forced to shut down my extra senses so that I would not catch a stray thought. When I won by a breath, Jungkook looked at me in shock, "That has to be beginner's luck! Are you sure you haven't played video games before?"

I grinned playfully at him, making him wonder if I was lying, "Never. This is the first time."

He shook his head in disbelief, "You learn fast." He told me.

"Perhaps." I countered, "But this is the fifth round, so I am not quite a beginner at this point."

He shook his head, "Yeah, but you've never played video games before and already winning after the fifth round. That's some talent, Felina."

Jungkook handed Taehyung his controller and I looked at the man, "Are you ready?" I asked him. He nodded and we started a new game.