Smoke Song

Voice

"Jungkook!"

Jungkook looked up from his sheets, breaking into a smile. Taehyung leaned on the doorframe, miraculously scar-free, sporting his typical boxy grin.

"Are you okay?" Taehyung said, crossing into the room. "You were asleep forever."

"I'm fine," Jungkook said. He was only half-lying. Seeing Taehyung filled him with a deep, unexplainable sense of relief. He reached out, and Taehyung took the cue, reaching out and wrapping him in his arms.

"I'm so glad you're alright," Taehyung mumbled.

Jungkook nodded, tucking his head into Taehyung's neck and taking a deep breath. Taehyung's warmth and weight were soothing. He sighed, closing his eyes, and Taehyung chuckled.

"Sleepy already?"

"No," Jungkook grunted.

"Good," Taehyung said. "Need help getting dressed? Jin-hyung wanted to talk to both of us."

Jungkook whined, tightening his grip on Taehyung. Taehyung just laughed, running a hand through Jungkook's hair.

"You need a haircut, too. Get rid of those singed ends."

"Shut up!" Jungkook's voice cracked, and he turned red as Taehyung laughed harder, patting his back.

"Come on. We shouldn't keep them waiting."

"I don't want to," Jungkook grumbled.

"Then I suppose we have a problem." Taehyung poked the top of his head, chuckling to himself. "Come on. I want to show you around."

The hideout was huge. Taehyung recommended the elevator, and Jungkook's jaw nearly hit the floor when he watched his friend enter a number into the keypad instead of pressing a floor button. Taehyung kept up a running commentary about 'studios' and 'musical equipment' and 'bedrooms' as they descended to ground level, numbers flashing by faster than Jungkook could keep track. When the elevator doors opened, a few girls called Taehyung's name. He waved, grinning, and wrapped an arm around Jungkook's shoulders, guiding him past the giant set of automatic doors to a cafeteria that looked big enough to seat most of the population.

"We can explore later," he said. "There he is! Jin hyung!"

Heads turned. Jungkook felt his face heat up as Taehyung waved to a figure smack in the middle of the cafeteria, jumping up and down. Taehyung glanced over at him and laughed, shaking his head, then dragged him through the crowd, only his tight grip on Jungkook's hand betraying his nerves.

"Hey!" Jin said as they sat down, laughing. "You didn't need to draw attention to the poor kid."

"Eh," Taehyung chuckled. "It'll be good for him to get used to it. What did you want to talk about?"

Jin chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "Well, I was wondering if you'd like to help us out."

"Help you out?" Jungkook said, biting his lip.

"Yeah," Jin rested his arms on the table, leaning forward. "With your powers. Would you join the rebellion?"

"Powers?"

Jungkook glanced at Taehyung, whose face had lit up with excitement. His friend was staring at Jin, a smile slowly spreading over his face.

"Yes," Jin said, "Your voice is a powerful thing. With a little work, you can use it to fight the antis."

Jungkook looked down at his hands, turning them over in his lap. His throat ached, a slight buzz sitting underneath his skin. He swallowed, biting his lip, and tried to refocus on the conversation, but it all seemed too good to be true. A rebellion? Hidden all this time? A full city of people who fought with their art?