"Jungkookie, you ready to go?" I ask once we've all finished dinner. I had texted Taeju earlier in the day to inform him that Jungkook and I would be coming in this evening for another set, these last few days having been productive enough for me to actually manage to be in a decent place tonight to take a break from work and take Jungkook for more tattoos like he'd requested over the weekend.
"You're getting more?" Hoseok asks curiously as he turns to look over at Jungkook. The younger grows a shy smile before he's nodding at the elder, soon bringing his attention back to me with a more confident smile as he nods.
"Would I be able to tag along? I don't wanna get anything, but I think it'd be cool to be there if you both don't mind." Hoseok speaks up once more, turning his attention back to myself. The idea sends my stomach churning, knowing Hoseok doesn't have an idea as to all of the scars that litter my body unlike Jungkook and Yoongi, but I don't want to discourage his own efforts of continuing to try and do things either, reluctantly nodding along. I spare a glance in Yoongi's direction, watching as his cheeks warm at my expression.
"Go get ready the two of you. We need to leave as soon as you're both ready." I comment with a teasing eye roll, waving my hand dismissively. Yoongi's gummy grin makes an appearance at this, and Hoseok seems rather pleased as well, both of them jumping up to go get themselves ready to be out in public.
"You're getting more tonight too, right?" Jungkook inquired as he stands from the couch, wandering his way over to where I'm stood by the door so that he can slip his shoes on. I give him a look at this that expresses my question, and he takes a deep breath before nodding.
"Please? I know you did it last time too, but..." He falls silent, clearly trying to find the right words to use.
"It won't be a problem, Jungkook." I answer, not needing to hear him find a way to say that it makes him more comfortable and less odd for his interest. I imagine he isn't overly fond of the audience we've got tagging along either, not having seemed to mind their presence but feeling three would be too much.
He puffs his cheeks out before giving me a smile, nodding as he tries to regain his confidence in himself once more.
"Oh! I have to grab my notebook. I'll be right back!" Jungkook realizes before taking off for the stairs. I just smile and shake my head at all of this, walking right out the door the moment I find him rushing back down the stairs with the other two hot on his heels.
The drive to the tattoo parlor is quiet save for the whispering of Jungkook and Hoseok sat in the backseat of my car. I don't mind it though, glad to see the two of them as close and in as good of spirits as they seem to be. The youngest is much less hesitant this time when we arrive, something I'm proud of, before I'm leading the four of us inside. Taeju spies us immediately, though a hint of a frown grows on his face as he quirks an eyebrow in question at me.
"It's still just the two of us. We just happened to have garnered an audience for tonight. I'm sure that won't be a problem." I inform him before beginning to head for the doorway that leads us into the hall and back to where the rooms are for us to get our tattoos. Taeju easily beats me towards the doorway, though he doesn't say anything as he leads the four of us in back, and I'm left to assume that Hyun is already in back either cleaning up or preparing for our appointment.
Taeju grabs extra chairs for the two additional people, making sure to give himself and Hyun enough room to move around on either side of us when placing the chairs. Jungkook and I simply move to take our seats, Yoongi sitting on my side while Hoseok goes and sits next to Jungkook, Taeju moving to help Hyun in getting everything prepared.
"How many are you getting?" Yoongi asks curiously, Jungkook and Hoseok already off on their own conversations.
"Just two. Jungkook and I only do two together at a time. I want him taking things slow with this process, especially since it's a much newer process for him than it is for me." I explain casually as I pull my notebook out, knowing I need to get it flipped to the designs I'll be wanting Taeju to do today.
"You draw the designs yourself?" Yoongi mumbles in surprise when he catches me flipping through my notebook. I look over at him from the corner of my eye, pursing my lips as I nod. I can feel Taeju's gaze continually moving in my direction as he finishes getting ready, know he's intrigued by the audience we have with us tonight and I can only hope he'll keep his mouth shut.
It's not long before Taeju and Hyun are ready, moving over to Jungkook and I so that they can begin working. Taeju just reaches a hand out for the book when he sits down next to me, and I hand it over, showing him which two designs I'm looking for. He stays silent as he looks the designs over for a moment, soon nodding before setting it down beside himself and looking back up at me.
"Where at, boss?" He asks, and I'm grateful that his tone doesn't manage to suggest he's calling me that for any reason other than the fact that I'm in charge of what and where I want my tattoos.
"I was thinking down at my ankle and then at my elbow." I decide, not wanting to choose anything too risky for Hoseok to possibly see. He merely nods before moving down towards my feet so that he can roll my pant leg up a bit in order to have the room he needs to work. Luckily, I'd thought about this beforehand and already planned on the ankle tattoo, having worn sandals so that Taeju will be able to work with ease.
"How was today?" Taeju asks, glancing up at me through his bangs as he begins outlining. I hum in thought, trying to think of how to word things without saying anything that could possibly give anyone else here an idea of what we're talking about.
"Hm, worse and then better. I think it'll be better moving forward though." I respond, nodding to myself, content with how I'd worded it. He gives me a confused and unsure look at this though, causing me to frown.
"That's an interesting way to put things." He mutters quietly, and I end up using the foot he's not working on to kick him lightly. He looks back up at me at this, catching the small glare I give him.
"And this?" He questions next, carefully glancing in Yoongi's direction for a millisecond before looking back at me. I narrow my gaze at him, not appreciating him asking about people that's in the room with me currently.
"No. Don't." I bite back, keeping my volume low so as not to garner Jungkook and Hoseok's attention. I already know that Yoongi's watching and listening to the two of us intently, confusion on his face as he watches us. Taeju simply sighs at my answer, staying silent for a moment.
"It would be good for you. It would be one of the few things that would actually be good for you to let happen." Taeju comments softly, glancing in my direction as he finishes outlining. My jaw locks at this though, glaring as my head tips forward ever so lightly.
"Clearly you haven't taken certain things into account yet then. Your calculation is sorely wrong." I argue, earning a tired disagreeing look from the elder. He just shakes his head, grabbing the right tools to begin the real process next.
"No, Jae. You're just adding incorrect weights to certain aspects and not enough in others." Taeju counters calmly. I roll my eyes at him but look away, not wanting to stare at the exposed scar that he's beginning to layer ink onto. The two of us fall silent with my lack of response, though I welcome it, not having enjoyed where the conversation was going to begin with.
"We have a problem, by the way." Taeju comments, gaze flickering up to me momentarily as he nears finish with this first tattoo. I can feel my whole demeanor darken at this information, muscles tensing at the news.
"I don't like problems, Taeju. Fix it." I hiss, trying to control myself with the audience we have. He purses his lips for a moment, and his lack of immediate answer doesn't leave me feeling any better.
"It's not that simple." He breathes out, chancing a look in my direction once he's finished up. I can feel the glare returning as I watch his movements carefully, not at all satisfied by this.
"Jung Taeju, fix it. I don't care what it takes. I don't care who the problem is. Fix it." I snap quietly, grateful that Hoseok and Jungkook seem to be in such a deep conversation to not at all be paying the slightest attention to us. Now if only that were the case for Yoongi...
"Jaekyung-"
"Jung. Taeju. Fix. The fucking. Problem." I grit out, knowing fully well that he'd know how I'd want any issues handled anyways. He frowns as he looks up at me, not moving or saying anything for a moment before he's sighing and nodding.
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A Helping Hand | MYG & KTH
FanfictionSometimes all it takes is for one small thing to go wrong for everything to seemingly collapse around you. BTS learned that unfortunate lesson the hard way. It had started out as just a simple performance with just a small mishap that had turned int...
