The Shadows of power

4

Chapter 4: Shadows of Power

It had been a week since Jin had joined BTS as their main doctor. Over the past few days, the members had grown used to having him around, and the bond between them was stronger than anyone expected. Jin, despite being younger than Namjoon but older than the others, had naturally fallen into a motherly role. He was always there to check on their well-being, especially when it came to their meals. The members quickly became accustomed to Jin’s gentle but firm reminders to eat properly.

Their routine was simple. Breakfast was a shared meal, but lunch was often eaten on the go, depending on their schedules. Dinner, however, was the most important meal, the time they would try to gather together. But Namjoon—always busy with extra work, meetings, or projects—was rarely present at the table. And on nights when the others might skip dinner due to their own activities, Jin would still wait up for Namjoon. He’d stay late into the night, his doctorly duty mingling with his growing care for the leader.

A month had passed, and by now, it had become a habit. Jin would wait in the living area for Namjoon, even as the hours dragged on. Namjoon, too, noticed. He told Jin not to wait, that it wasn’t necessary, but Jin simply smiled and said, “It’s my responsibility as a doctor to make sure you’re taking care of yourself. I think that’s what I’m here for.” Namjoon didn’t argue further.

One of those late nights, the clock had long struck 1 AM, and Jin was fighting sleep as he waited on the couch. His head kept drooping, and he was barely keeping his eyes open. Then, he heard footsteps. The sound jolted him awake, and he sat up as Namjoon walked through the door.

But something was different about Namjoon tonight. Jin noticed it immediately—Namjoon wasn’t sober.

Namjoon walked in, barely acknowledging Jin’s presence, and headed straight for the living room couch. He removed his blazer, tossed it aside, and folded his shirt sleeves up to his elbows. Then, in one fluid motion, he unbuttoned the top three buttons of his shirt and sat down, man-spreading as he leaned back. Jin, watching this unfold, found himself momentarily flustered. Namjoon’s disheveled appearance, combined with the confidence in his movements, made Jin blush.

Shaking off the momentary distraction, Jin stood up and walked towards the kitchen, trying to maintain his composure. He returned with a glass of water, offering it to Namjoon. Namjoon took the glass from Jin’s hand, his eyes half-lidded, his movements slow and deliberate. He drank the water in silence, while Jin felt himself growing more uncomfortable under the weight of Namjoon’s quiet intensity.

Clearing his throat, Jin spoke up, “I’ll heat up dinner for you. You should go freshen up.” Namjoon didn’t say anything, just stood up and walked upstairs to his room. Jin let out a small sigh of relief and went into the kitchen.

A few minutes passed, and Jin was heating up Namjoon’s meal when he heard soft footsteps behind him. He turned slightly, expecting Namjoon to be sitting at the table, but instead, he felt strong arms wrap around his waist.

Namjoon had back-hugged him.

Jin froze for a moment, startled by the sudden contact. Namjoon didn’t say a word, his head resting gently on Jin’s shoulder as he inhaled deeply. Jin’s scent—of roses, soft and calming—filled the air. Whether it was Jin’s body wash or perfume, Namjoon found the fragrance soothing. It contrasted sharply with the masculine scent of Namjoon’s own cologne, which Jin had secretly found attractive.

“W-what are you doing?” Jin asked, his voice coming out in a stutter as he tried to maintain his composure.

Namjoon’s voice was quiet, almost vulnerable. “Please, just once… let me.”

Jin, despite his racing heart, continued preparing the dinner, trying to ignore the feeling of Namjoon’s warm body pressed against his back. He worked silently, the only sound in the kitchen being the gentle hum of the stove and the soft breaths Namjoon took as he rested his chin on Jin’s shoulder.

After a while, Jin gently tapped Namjoon’s hands, signaling that the dinner was ready. Namjoon released him, and they moved to the dining table. They ate in comfortable silence, though Jin could still feel the lingering tension in the air.

Once they finished, Jin cleared the dishes and headed to the kitchen to wash up. As he was about to leave, Namjoon grabbed his wrist, his grip firm but not forceful.

“Can you come to my room for a moment?” Namjoon asked, his voice steady but laced with something unspoken. “I… I need some help.”

Jin, assuming it was something medical, nodded. “Of course, let me just finish up here.”

A few minutes later, Jin found himself standing outside Namjoon’s room, his mind racing with possibilities. Namjoon opened the door, and Jin stepped inside, wondering what kind of help Namjoon really needed.