Distant Dreams

T w o

"Get up yourself, or I'll just have to keep dragging you everywhere. Want me to drag you into the bathtub? Wanna find out how comfortable that will be?" Hoseok threatens. Now Taehyung is awake."No, hyung, I'm awake! I'm awake," The orange-haired man springs to his feet, and smiles innocently at Hoseok, eyes still hooded with sleep."Open your eyes, idiot, or else nothing's going to get done today," Hoseok flicks the younger's forehead. Taehyung watches him walk into the rather large (and rather unnecessary, in Taehyung's opinion) closet and begin to rifle through the clothes.Taehyung walks to the sink and takes out his toothbrush."Taehyung, where are all you suits?" Hoseok half-screeches. The younger pauses in the middle of squeezing out toothpaste."I uh-" He flinches as Hoseok stomps towards him, furious."You uh what?" Hoseok hisses. Taehyung gives him a sheepish smile."There was a homeless shelter I was walking by, and I knew I had all those clothes that I never wear and-""And you decided to donate every piece of decent clothing you own to the shelter?" Hoseok isn't sure why he's even surprised, but he finds out a long time ago not to feel like he's ever finally figured Taehyung out. Because then the younger will pull sh*t like this and throw Hoseok for a loop all over again.Taehyung shrugs and puts the toothbrush in his mouth, signalling that the conversation is over.Hoseok rubs a frustrated hand over his face and returns to the closet.He rifles through every pair of jeans Taehyung owns manages to find a pair with the least amount of paint splatters on them (which isn't saying much, since the denim looks more like an impressionist painting than an article of clothing).He manages to also find a clean flannel and a white t shirt that will just have to do for now."Why are you in such a hurry, hyung," Taehyung asks, his hair wet from the shower."Because someone decided to sleep in past 11, when I specifically told them to be ready by 10," Hoseok throws the clothes at Taehyung, who catches them and proceeds to put them on, deciding not to question his hyung's fashion choices.Hoseok checks his phone for what seemed like the tenth time in five minutes, as though hoping time will go by slower if he just stares long enough."What's so important about today, anyway?" Taehyung asks, pulling on the flannel."You didn't listen to a word I said last week, did you?" Hoseok rolls his eyes as Taehyung shrugs."We're meeting with the man who wants to be the patron of your next gallery," the elder explains, watching Taehyung run his hands through his hair carelessly."You aren't going to comb your hair?""Not really,"------------

"Remember the rule," Hoseok reminds Taehyung as they drive to the small but high end cafe that was to be the setting of the potentially life-changing meeting. Hoseok only wishes Taehyung could see the opportunity the way he did."If I wouldn't say it to the president of South Korea, don't say it out loud," Taehyung repeats the phrase he had heard a thousand times, his voice flat. Hoseok clicks his tongue in annoyance, glancing at the younger, who has drifted off into his own world, staring out the car window.He wishes that he didn't have to make rules like this for the younger, but Taehyung is unpredictable, and Hoseok learns over time to set careful rules around others, because most outsiders don't understand the artist the way he does."Be serious for a minute, Taehyung. This could be big for you,"The younger only rolls his eyes. "Why can't I just go back to painting and you handle it, hyung? Isn't that what you do? Why do I have to be here?""He wants to meet the artist himself," Hoseok replies, sliding neatly into a parking spot.As the two begin to walk towards the restaurant, Hoseok feels the need to run through some more reminders for Taehyung as they enter the cafe.Hoseok spots Jeon Jungkook immediately. It's hard not to notice a man like him.Taehyung's potential patron sits at the table set for three, dressed in an impeccable gray suit. Even just sitting there, he exudes wealth and power, Hoseok notes, as he watches the man take a sip of water. Even that small action alone calls attention to the man's stature and elegance.The man's eyes flicker to Hoseok, and he grins, standing up from his seat to welcome Hoseok and shake his hand."Mr. Jeon, I can't tell you how good it is to finally meet you in person," Hoseok starts. Jungkook shakes his head good-naturedly.