Hello, Hello (Tell Me What You Want Right Now)

Hoseok I

Hoseok is only human. He gets exhausted, like everyone else. He gets overwhelmed, just like anyone else. That's the best way to describe how he's feeling right now, actually.

His entire body aches from continuous dance practices, for hours and hours everyday. Sometimes he doesn't return home until one or two in the morning, where he promptly passes out and wakes up four or five hours later to do it all over again. It's taking its toll; he can feel his energy waning. He's not joking around as much, not pulling as many ridiculous stunts to make the others smile and laugh. They notice, but they're not used to him being the one needing comfort. They leave him be, hoping he can sort it out on his own.

He was hoping that, too, but when he wakes up one morning and he already feels halfway close to tears, he knows that's not going to happen. He's schedule free today, thank God, and Jin is the only other one home, probably sorting through their piles of laundry. Hoseok curls up in bed, willing himself to go back to sleep and let the horrible, stress fueled anxiety pass. It doesn't happen.

He could easily go to Jin-hyung for help. The oldest is quick to offer a helping hand, a listening ear, a comforting embrace. But that's always with the younger members, and Hoseok isn't used to seeking comfort. Usually, the other's come to him for their fill.

But he needs it, God, he needs it. He'd kill for a pair of warm arms, a comforting scent. He can't smell quite as well as an Omega or an Alpha can, but he can smell well enough for familiar scents to work very well at letting him get out of his own head. But it just seems like too much energy, to get up and seek Jin out. Energy he just doesn't have.

He starts crying and he feels weak for it, frustrated. He's not even sad, just so tired and sore. His brain won't stop kicking over dance routines, focusing on the parts he keeps missing, the parts where he's the weakest. He tries to muffle his cries into his pillow, but they're hitching hard in his chest and the sounds escape anyway.

After a while, there's a knock on his door. He freezes, attempting to stifle his tears to make himself as quiet as possible, but it just doesn't work. "Hoseokie?" Jin calls through the door. "Are you okay?"

Hoseok doesn't dare answer, knowing his voice will betray him. He hopes Jin will think he's asleep, will just leave and go about his chores. But he doesn't, because Jin is a good hyung who wants to make sure all of his dongsaengs are handling their lifestyle. He opens the door, flipping on the light, and Hoseok whines at the brightness of it. Jin comes around the side of his bed, sees the tears staining his cheeks, and drops to his knees beside him immediately. He reaches a hand out to stroke at Hoseok's hair. "Oh, Hoseokie," he breathes and a sob hitches in Hoseok's throat. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?"

Hoseok can't talk yet, though, and Jin seems to realize this. He climbs into the bed, pulling Hoseok's sheets down, lets the Beta curl into his chest, wrapping his arms around Hoseok's back. "It's okay, Hoseok-ah," Jin soothes. "You're okay." Hoseok inhales Jin's fresh flower scent. It doesn't release hormones in his brain like it would with the others, but it's comforting all the same. It smells like Jin, his hyung and the loving group eomma, as they like to tease him with. But it's so true, Jin is their homemaker. He cooks for them, assigns their chores, and keeps them all in line when Namjoon can't. He smells like that stability, that comfort, and it's just what Hoseok needs.

Jin holds him, stroking his back and shoulders, cooing soft words in his ear. He calms down eventually, steadying his breathing against Jin's chest. Jin moves a hand to cup the back of his head, stroking the hair at the nape of his neck. "Can you tell me what's wrong?" He asks, quiet and understanding.

"I don't know," Hoseok says, voice thick and sticking in his throat. He attempts to clear it. "It's just...my schedules have been so busy. I know we all are, but. I've been practicing, and practicing, until all hours of the morning. I sleep what little I can before I'm called back in. It's...I'm exhausted, hyung, I'm just so tired all the time now. But the other's need me, they need me to be strong but I just feel like I can't be anymore."

Jin murmurs, "Hoseokie. Oh, Hoseokie, you don't always have to be so strong. You can't, it's not possible for one human being." Hoseok feels defeated, but Jin attempts to chase it away. "There are seven of us, Hoseok-ah. There will always be someone there, when you feel like you can't go on. Like I'm here for you now." Hoseok feels soft lips press to his forehead. "And any single one of the other's would do the same for you. Even the selfish maknaes."

Hoseok smiles in spite of himself, knowing Jin's words are true. "It's hard," he admits. "Schedules don't usually get to me like this. I'm not used to seeking help."

"I know," Jin hums. "Preparing for this album has been more difficult. But we see how hard you work, Hobi, we know all the effort you're putting in. You're going to make this a great comeback, all of this work will pay off. You have today off, so catch up on sleep, yeah? I'll stay with you for awhile and then make us some lunch, okay?"

It sounds like an amazing plan and Hoseok says as much, throwing a leg around Jin's hip and pulling him that much closer. He falls asleep to Jin's laughter echoing in his ears.

Jin wakes him up later, as promised, for a delicious lunch. They talk amiably and afterward Jin sends him back to bed. Sleeping all day makes Hoseok feel a bit like a bum, but his body is craving it and it feels nice to not have to do anything.

The next time he wakes is to the sound of his door opening and someone tiptoeing inside, trying their best to be quiet. They climb onto the bed, between Hoseok and the wall he's facing. Hoseok, even though he hasn't opened his eyes yet, knows that it's Taehyung. His vanilla and caramel scent fills the space between them. Then, Taehyung lays down and attaches himself to Hoseok like a koala, purring softly. Hoseok shifts a little, his arm wrapping around Tae's waist, and the Omega chirps happily. They settle together and Hoseok falls back asleep.

Someone else joins the fray sometime later. Two someones, actually. Jimin climbs onto the bed, shimmying himself behind Taehyung, and Jeongguk gets on behind Hobi. Their arms cross over the two in the middle, creating a comfy, warm cuddle pile. Hoseok sighs and his dongsaengs all make soft little noises, Taehyung purring again, Jimin letting out a coo, and Jeongguk humming behind him. Jimin's berry scent combines so nice with Taehyung and Hoseok's own, and even though Jeongguk doesn't smell of anything, his presence is still a comfort.

They lay together and Hoseok dozes lightly, never quite falling asleep. Jin calls for dinner awhile later but none of them are willing to move. Someone comes to the door, and after awhile Hoseok can smell Namjoon's smokey scent infiltrating the air. The Alpha makes a pleased noise followed soon by a camera shutter. Hoseok would be annoyed, but his dongsaengs' soft, sleepy breaths surrounding him keep him from doing so.

Namjoon lets them lay there a moment, but eventually comes over and starts shaking them all awake. There's a chorus of groans, but they eventually clamber out of bed one by one. Hoseok feels more rested than he has in weeks. It seems Jin is letting them eat in the living room, the man himself and Yoongi already settled in with their bowls of japchae. The rest of them grab servings from the kitchen, Namjoon going to sit by his Omega, Jimin by his Alpha. Hoseok contemplates where to sit when Taehyung grabs his wrist, grinning happily. He pulls Hoseok to sit between the Omega and Jeongguk, the two of them pressed comfortingly against his sides. They eat and watch shitty reality TV, something mindless and easy to talk over. When they finish eating, Jin stands up and grabs all their dishes, taking them to the kitchen to be washed later. He returns, cuddles back up to Namjoon, and they all sit in companionable silence.

Jimin eventually suggests they put on a movie, since it's still pretty early. They all agree, and Namjoon flips through the movie channels until they find something they can all agree on (a difficult task indeed). As the movie starts, Taehyung moves to rest his head on Hoseok's shoulder, his arms curling around Hoseok's own. Eventually, Jeongguk moves as well, resting his back against the arm of the couch and tucking his feet under Hoseok's thigh. Hoseok hums happily, resting his head on top of Taehyung's and reaching a hand out to curl around Jeongguk's calf.

Bangtan is a beautiful family, Hoseok thinks. Beautiful and supportive and full of love. He couldn't be happier than where he is in this moment.