Radiant

Chapter 5

Jeongguk scurries back up the root leading to the room that he is going to assume is now his, desperate to create some distance from Seokjin and Namjoon, whose rumbling voice is just quiet enough that he can't make out any words.

It isn't any of his business, and he is smart enough to recognize when he is not welcome, so he made himself scarce.

Finally reaching the top, with his stomach and heart left somewhere back on the second floor, Jeongguk flounders for what to do next. It isn't like there are any books hanging around, let alone electronics or something for him to throw himself into doing.

Sighing, he resigns to his fate and drags himself over to the bed. He allows himself to lay down, ignoring the discomfort of the restless energy surging through his veins as he forces himself to close his eyes and just listen to his own heartbeat.

Before he realizes what happened, he blinks himself awake and nearly screams at the sight of Yoongi flying above him. Scrambling backwards in surprise, he instead ends up a ungraceful heap on the ground with blankets tangled around his legs.

Heat blooms over the swell of his cheeks and he rubs the back of his head from where it connected with the wall in his haste.

Yoongi's laughter reverberates throughout the room, full and hearty, and he cracks open one of his eyes to pin the Radiator with a glower. He's bent over at the waist, clutching his stomach and moisture beading in the corner of his eyes. His wings flutter like a hummingbird to match.

Rolling his eyes, Jeongguk resists the urge to stick out his tongue. "Yeah, yeah. Ha. Ha. Ha. Real funny. Laugh it up." There isn't a hint of bite to his tone, his hands tugging on the sheets to try and release his legs.

At his words, Yoongi only laughs harder. He stumbles from the force of his own guffaws, and probably would have fallen right off the ledge if his wings didn't flap to keep himself upright. He eventually sobers, although amusement still dances in his eyes.

Jeongguk keeps his eyes averted, tugging indignantly at the blankets as silence stretches through the room.

"Jeongguk," Yoongi starts, and Jeongguk's fingers falter at the sound of his name, "about today, I just..."

"No, it's okay." Jeongguk gives up on trying to free himself and forces himself to raise his head to look at him. "What happened earlier wasn't your fault. It was mine. I was expecting you to be the same person as when we were kids, and that isn't fair to you. I'm sorry, hyung."

Yoongi's mouth snaps shut with an audible click of teeth, staring down at Jeongguk with large eyes and droopy wings.

Clearing his throat, Jeongguk flashes a feeble smile and returns to attempting to remove the soul-sucking blankets from his legs.

"It wasn't... completely you fault," Yoongi finally mutters, so softly that Jeongguk wondered if he was hearing things if it wasn't for the pink dotting his cheeks."I mean, yes, it was your fault, but I shouldn't... I shouldn't have reacted that way. What I said was... uncalled for. I was wrong. You're not... just a Pre-Born."

"Thanks, hyung," he chokes out, finally managing to free his legs.

"Whatever. Don't read too much into it." Yoongi backs up until his ankles hit the mattress. He plops down and rolls over so that he is on his stomach. He stretches out his wings to that they take up the entire mattress.

The urge to reach out and touch his left wing, which a mere few inches from Jeongguk, makes his hand twitch at his side. He bawls his hands into fists and stuff them in his pocket to curb the desire. They aren't kids anymore and he doesn't have that right.