DAILY FLOWERS ⌲ MYG + JHS (WITHHELD)

pelargonium

Yoongi was pouring hot water into two pot noodles and Hoseok was playing with his chopsticks when a knock landed on the door. It was around midday and neither had work that day, in fact Hoseok had the two weeks holiday off from his dance, like Jungkook had two weeks off from school. The pair made quick eye contact before the elder went to unlock the door, swinging it open to reveal his step-sister.

"Oppa," Umji muttered, her eyes glossy with tears and face puffy and red. Immediately Yoongi pulled her inside, wrapping his arms around her neck and letting her hide her face in it. "I need your help."

"I'm guessing this is Umji, hm?" Hoseok had forced himself up from his chair with a smile, and she pulled herself away from Yoongi to give him a weak smile.

"Hello, sorry for barging in like this," She bowed quickly and attempted to shield herself next to her brother. "I-I didn't know where else to go."

"It's perfectly ok. Sit down, I'll get out some more noodles," Yoongi pulled out the chair opposite Hoseok and let her sit down, and Hoseok sat down opposite her and wrapped his hand around her shaking ones with an encouraging smile. "What's wrong?"

"There's these boys..." Umji began, and as she spoke Hoseok noticed she was wearing makeup, more than usual. In photos she normally went mostly natural, and it sparked his worry. "They really aren't very nice to me."

"What do they do?" Hoseok rubbed his thumb across her hand, smiling at his boyfriend when he sat down next to him, giving all three of them their pot noddles.

"They've...they hit me," Umji pointed at certain spots on her face, which the pair now noticed were slightly blue but concealed well nonetheless. "I used my makeup to cover it up."

Yoongi's hands were clenched on the table, his face stone cold. Hoseok reached over and massaged his fist until it unclenched, interlocking their fingers and continuing to listen to Umji.

"I saw them and ran here, I hope I didn't disturb anything." She looked down at their hands, a small smile working onto her face despite the trouble she felt she was in.

"Nah, we were just getting ready to stuff our faces," Hoseok grinned and picked up his chopsticks, clicking them near Umji's nose. "Shall we?"

"I have another matter to bring up with Yoongi oppa," She spoke while the pair were halfway through with their pot noodles, and Yoongi made a noise of recognition that he was listening. "I want to change my last name to Min."

Yoongi choked on his noodles.

"Really?" He squeaked, dropping his chopsticks into the pot and not being able to handle the large grin on his face. Umji nodded, putting down her own chopsticks.

"You and your dad have been so good to my mam and I, and I feel like I would rather have your last name than my dads." She then picked back up her chopsticks, shoving them into the noodles and eating as if nothing had happened. Yoongi continued to sit in astonishment, even when Hoseok stood and moved towards the bin, dumping his rubbish in it.

"I hate to be a party pooper, but I should probably go and get a change of clothes and stuff," Hoseok wandered over to Yoongi and pressed a kiss to his cheek, bringing him back to reality. "I'll leave you two lovely Min's to your noodles, I'll be back!"

Hoseok waved the both of them off and ruffled Umji's hair gently before leaving, hobbling down the stairs and into the flower store. Namjoon stood behind the counter with Jungkook, cutting pelargonium stems into the correct size. The eldest gave the two of them a knowing nod, a smirk and an eyebrow raise, and almost choked on his own breath when Jungkook's arm shot up in a fist, a shout of happiness escaping him.

"Finally." Was the last word he heard from the shop as he left. He giggled on his way down the street.

ㅡ

"I can't believe she got away." Hoseok heard a boy speak, and he spun around instantly, his mind going straight to Umji.

"I know. We could've gotten her again." The other spoke over his laughter, his hand flying to run through his hair.

"Excuse me," Hoseok shouted after the pair, and they spun around to face him. "Are you the two dipshits who bully Umji?"

"What's it to you?" The one who spoke first scoffed, walking towards Hoseok with his friend trailing behind him. Hoseok recognised the pair, they were in the year below him in school but he wasn't exactly sure why they were picking on someone in a completely different school to them. Umji went to college at home, and these two boys didn't even bother going to college, so they were in a small pickle there.

"If you can stop picking on my boyfriend's sister, that would be wonderful," Hoseok crossed his arms over his stomach and gave the pair his best unamused look. "She did absolutely nothing wrong."

"You know, we were just on our way to beat up Umji. You could take it, if you wanted to." The second spoke, sounding a whole lot cockier than his counterpart, despite being smaller in size.

"If...you'll stop picking on Umji?"

"We'll stop completely."

"Alright."

ㅡ

Hoseok returned to Yoongi's apartment in new clothes and now sporting a whole load of bruises. His left eye was swollen and bruised, his left cheek was definitely battered and he was cupping his stomach with one hand. He was sure his nose was bleeding and he could taste blood in his mouth, yet he still knocked on the door.

"Hoseok!" Yoongi practically yelled when he swung the door open, wrapping his arm around Hoseok's waist and pulling him into the apartment, where Umji was still visiting. She instantly shot up from her space on the couch, letting Yoongi lie Hoseok in her place. "What happened?"

"I ran into those two boys who were mean to Umji-ah on my way to my house," Hoseok began while Yoongi skidded through his apartment to grab some ice, flinching when Umji ran a tissue under his nose. "They said they'd leave you alone if they let them beat me up."

"You shouldn't have let them!" Umji squeaked, leaning over to wrap her arms around Hoseok's neck, hugging him cautiously but tightly. "You shouldn't have done that!"

"Excuse me, Ji," Yoongi gently moved Umji from her space when he returned, resting the ice over his cheek and holding it there with his palm, cupping his other cheek with his other hand. "You should take better care of yourself, babe."

"I will from now on, ok?" Hoseok struggled to push himself forward and pressed his lips against Yoongi's. "I'll try not to get beat up again."

"You better not. I can't protect you all the time." Yoongi spoke against his lips, pushing him back down against the couch cushions.

"I'll be ok." Hoseok smiled, closing his eyes and taking a painful deep breath.

Umji waited until she knew Hoseok was asleep before she spoke.

"You love him, don't you?" She nudged her brother, joining him on the floor. He was still to let go of Hoseok, but he was enjoying just holding his face.

"I really do, Ji," He muttered, pressing his lips onto the bruise over his eye before continuing. "I'm just yet to tell him."

"You're going to, right?"

"Of course."