Death Drive

viii. Like a Bandage

One week into their trip to Barisal, Yoongi and Hoseok were well on their way to a local second-hand store.
Today was Yoongi's first lesson on shoplifting.

"So," Hoseok said as the pair shuffled through the aisles of second-hand pants and t-shirts, "Find something you want, and something you don't want," he instructed, as Yoongi fished around in the rows—eventually settling on a red shirt he hated, and a black shirt he adored.

"Now what?" Yoongi whispered, shaken.

"Go into the changing room, with the black shirt folded underneath the red one, so that no one sees it. Make it seem like you want to try on the red one," Hoseok taught, leading Yoongi to the curtained-off dressing room.

"Then?" Yoongi asked, stepping into the place he'd commit his first crime.

"Put on the black shirt, then put your flannel over it. Take off the shirt's tags—and come out with the red shirt in your hands. Give it to me, and I'll put it away. While I do that, you will go outside and wait for me."

"This doesn't seem like it will be as easy as you've made it out to be..." Yoongi leered, fully in the changing room, as his grey flannel hit the dirty floor.

"How do you think I've gotten anything on this trip? I don't have money!" Hoseok reminded, as Yoongi stepped out of the dressing room quickly, with another layer of clothing on, as he shoved the red shirt in Hoseok's direction and hurried away—seemingly petrified.
"I'll meet you outside!" Hoseok shouted, his acting, superb.

"Yeah, yeah," Yoongi muttered, his face hot and as red as the shirt he despised, while he burst through the thriftshop doors.
Yoongi waited outside, anxious—feeling like he had just robbed a bank, when suddenly Hoseok carelessly and casually roamed out of the shop.

"I'm not doing that again," Yoongi insisted, "And I'm not wearing this shirt ever again. You'll have to keep it," he said stubbornly.

"You're such a baby," Hoseok mocked, putting an arm around Yoongi's shoulder and pulling him close, as the pair walked back in the direction of the apartment.

"Are you good at any other crime?" Yoongi laughed, "This one was too weird for me."

Hoseok rolled his eyes and chuckled.
"We could go out to dinner tomorrow night?" Hoseok suggested.

"How is that a illegal?" Yoongi groaned.

"We'll ditch the bill!" Hoseok laughed in reply, "After all, when I ask someone on a date, I always pay for them—but I don't have money," he said slyly, "And I'm certainly not about to make my date pay."

"A date?" Yoongi asked, raising one eyebrow and blushing ever so slightly.

"Maybe..." Hoseok said, his voice trailing.

Yoongi scoffed and threw his head back in defeat.
"This is about to be the weirdest 'date' of my life..."

"So it's a yes?" Hoseok asked in a snootily successful tone.

"I guess..." Yoongi sighed dramatically, still cracking a smile.

"A crime date," Hoseok said, "I'm so original."

"Hold on," Yoongi interrupted, "Your part of the date will be the 'crime' date. Afterwards, I'll plan something that I want us to do."

"Fair enough," Hoseok laughed, "What do you have in mind?"

"I'll sleep on it," he replied, "Let me get back to you in the morning," Yoongi giggled.