How. Did this. Happen?

Practice To Fly Away

Jungkook held the for open for Taehyung and couldn't help but lay an hand on his back while they were walking through the door. He was lowkey whipped because Tae looked so good. I mean its okay to say that as a friend... I like his look as a friend.

Just as a friend!

Loud music was playing in the practice room when they entered. Jungkook had never heard the song before but it sounded a lot like one of Namjoon's.
(I imagined 'Seoul' here🎶)
The song was so calm and soft...a big contrast to the five boys inside.
Jimin was arguing with j hope about a move in their choreography
while Namjoon was talking very passionately to Jin and Suga about his new song.
J hope was the first to spot the two boys in the reflection of the big mirror on the wall opposite to the door.
He tuned around, his mouth wide opened
"KOOKIE!!"
Also Suga turned around. The two were the only ones who haven't said a prober hello to the maeknae after he came back from the US.
"wow you look good boy" Suga said, he got up and hugged Jungkook who was surprised since Suga was usually rather distant.
J hope came to hug him as well. Both appreciated Jungkook's new mature look. He could tell that from the look in their eyes. Jungkook was flattered.
They all seemed so happy to finally have him back.
Jin and Namjoon came to hug him as well.
"how are you?"
"is it hard to be back after one full year?"
Namjoon and Jin had several questions as well now that they were not as sleepy as sloths anymore.
"no I'm very fine" Jungkook said" I'm so happy to be here again, this year felt like a whole lifetime apart from you"

"yea for us as well" Jimin said in a nice tone but a little impatient. He was still in front of the mirror and he seemed to be waiting for the others to join so they could finally start practicing.
"have you listened to 'not today' already?"
Jungkook shook his head.
"well you can do now, cmon people"

"yes alright let's go"
The practice started, and the first 30 minutes Jungkook could do nothing but sit and watch.
He noticed the progress theyve all made by the second they started dancing. Damn they were so in sync and most of the moves were so smooth. Most of them... But Jungkook also realized some mistakes. He said nothing tho. It wasn't his right since he had been gone for so long.
In the small breaks where no music was playing they corrected each other and thought about where Jungkook could fit in.
It was okay for Jungkook to first watch but after a while he got eagerly and wanted to do something as well.

"uhm Jungkook could you practice a little in the US? Maybe at school or in a dance club?" Tae seemed concerned.
Jungkook who was still sitting on the floor smiled up to him.
He knew pretty well that his dance moves got damn good in San Francisco since he have been practicing nearly every day...with one of the best street dance groups in the US...he didn't tell Taehyung but he was pretty sure he could handle every single move they would ask him to do, probably even better than they could themself (except Jhope and Jimin obviously because they are just too fine even for Jungkook).
He didn't answer. Twelve eyes were focusing on him now, all of them were thinking about what to do with him.
They were all a little concerned.
"why don't you just freestyle a little and show us if your body still knows how to move" jhope suggested carefully.
"you don't have to if you are not comfortable" Taehyung added, "you could first practice alone tomorrow if you are not ready yet" ohh he cares about me Jungkook thought, how cute.

Jungkook got up, taped some dust from his/Tae's clothes and said: "nono it's fine, I know you have to see how bad I am to start working with me again. Just put on a song I'll try to freestyle" oh and I want to see your faces when you realize how much I improved. He loved playing games.
"alright then" jimin said.

Namjoon played some swaggy song called 'monolo' from his phone and Jungkook got in front of the mirror. He recognized the song. That makes it even easier.

(actual video of Jungkook's monolo dance on YouTube https://youtu.be/KkHq_65o_rc)

He started moving rather slowly and saw jhope already covering his eyes. But when the rapping really started he kind of showed a little what he got... His moves became faster, more aggressiv, he used his whole body, slided over the floor and forgot about the boys watching him. If he had learned one thing in San Francisco it was how to forget yourself when you're dancing. Yourself and everybody else around.
And thats what he did. He neither noticed jhopes unbelieving expression nor Taehyung's widened eyes. Even Suga couldn't not look at the dancing Jungkook.
The song ended and Jimin was the first one to start clapping his hands, second was Jin who mumbled something like "well at least I can cook quiet good". Namjoon smiled and clapped as well.

"Who told you how to dance like this??" Jimin asked.
"Yea you can't tell us you told yourself, these moves were damn legit" Jhope said.
Hearing that was a huge compliment for Jungkook who knew what an amazing dancer Jhope was.
"I joined a street group for ten months and trained together with them. Its a pretty good crew so it was an honor. I've worked so hard to become as good as they are" Jungkook couldn't hide a proud smile.
"you should have told us earlier" Taehyung says. Jungkook looked him straight in the eyes those beautiful brown tiger eyes and saw a little childish sulky glance in them.
Is he embarrassed that he first underestimated me? Jungkook wanted to hug him so badly at this moment. He felt bad because he tricked him. All of them but especially Taehyung.

"well let's go get started again then. Now we know that we dont have to be easy on Jungkook"
They practiced for another two hours until it was 9pm. Jungkook learned the choreography and got the homework to listen to all the new songs they've been working on.
Since he's the main vocalist he has many many lines and a hell lot of work to do.

"guys let me breathe for a second" there were so many things he needed to keep in mind "please remember I also need to find myself a job, I need money or I can't afford living here"

Namjoon was quite quick to contradict, "oh no you can forget about that! You need to be in here with everything you've got!"

"yes we already thought about that" Jin said, "for the first months we are gonna be paying for everything you need and you concentrate on becoming a good band member"

"you can't just pay for me, you aren't my parents!" Jungkook said a little upset. He didn't like to be patronized.

"oh yes we can!" said Suga now in a commanding tone "trust me you'll need the time to work".

Jungkook was not at all happy about this idea but he didn't know what else to say.

"Ill take care of paying for your apartment, we basically live together anyways" Tae moved closer to Jungkook and their hands touched for a second.

"yea that was a good one baby boy" Namjoon said, "where would you get the money for that?"

Taehyung instantly got angry, he really doesn't like to be called baby boy.
With a small and a little bitter smile he responded:
"oh trust me dad, I'll have enough for that"

Jungkook drew in a sharp breath and Jimin looked at him curiously. He didn't like when Tae called someone dad but he couldn't tell why. He just didn't like it.
The others were too busy wondering where Tae could have money from to pay attention to Jungkook tho. Just Jimin smiled a little...