PERSONA ✓

36.

"This is, and I cannot stress this enough, the best idea you've ever had, hyung!"

Jungkook bounced on the couch. He was in his pink bunny pajamas, and Namjoon had the urge to pinch his cheeks.

"The others aren't even here yet. Could you calm down a little?"

Jungkook stopped bouncing and puffed his cheeks. "Anyways, hyung, be honest, you didn't suggest we had a sleepover just for fun, right?"

"Obviously not." Namjoon patted his sleeping bag down. "It's to cheer up Hoseok."

"Right," said Jungkook. "And the new hairstyle?"

Namjoon ran a hand through his hair. He'd allowed his blonde hair to become blue at the ends. "Everyone knows the truth, now, Kook. It's just a small change."

"Um... I don't think these fit me," came a small voice from the doorway. Hoseok was wearing Namjoon's old pajamas, and they swallowed him up as if he were a child. The sleeves covered his hands completely and the shirt was far too large for Hoseok's petite frame.

"Aw, you look so cute," said Namjoon.

Hoseok blushed. "When --- when are the other gonna get here?"

"Right about---"

The doorbell rang.

"Now," Namjoon finished. Jungkook hopped off the couch to answer it. Namjoon glanced at Hoseok.

"You alright?" He asked, putting a hand on his shoulder.

Hoseok shrugged. "I guess."

That wasn't really the answer Namjoon was hoping for. He wanted a little bit of vulnerability, but he couldn't expect much. Hoseok was going through a lot, and he didn't seem like the type of person to confide in others. Namjoon hoped that soon enough he'd realize he could confide in the team, if he ever wanted to, of course.

Jungkook opened the door to Seokjin and Taehyung. Those two were the first to arrive. Seokjin was wearing a hoodie and some pajama pants. Taehyung had on a long sleeved black shirt and sweatpants.

Taehyung took a look at Jungkook's pajama set. "Were we supposed to match?" he asked.

Jungkook shook his head and gently took Taehyung's hand, guiding him in. Taehyung didn't shy away from the touch.

"Nuh-uh," said Jungkook. "But you know me, hyung. I'm classy like that."

"Classy is not the word I would use."

Seokjin's eyes twinkled as he smiled at Namjoon, tilting his head towards the two younger boys as if saying, Look at them, getting along.

As Seokjin went to close the door, he stopped. Yoongi and Jimin had arrived. They were both wearing matching pajama sets as well.

"...We didn't get the memo," Seokjin said, referring to himself and Taehyung. He closed the door and locked it. "Hey, where are the butlers?"

"Gave 'em the day off," said Jungkook. He stood on the couch again, doing a small dance like he couldn't contain himself.

"What do people do at sleepovers?" Taehyung asked.

"Sleep. Over," Yoongi deadpanned.

"I was thinking first we could actually try and bake something," said Namjoon.

"Baking?" Jimin asked. "Hell yeah, let's get it. I'll wipe the floor with you all."

In the end, Jimin did wipe the floor with them.

They were all having fun and laughing as they baked. Yoongi got a face full of flour thanks to Jungkook, and he pretended to be angry about it. Namjoon could see right through his fake grumpy face.

Hoseok smiled occasionally but he really didn't seem to be having a good time. It seemed that he liked the cake the boys had baked, though, so that was a win.

And it was nice. Namjoon liked having his team, his friends, over at his house. No mind control or crime or bullies from school. Just them having fun.

In the end, they decided to watch a movie. Jungkook chose Titanic, for reasons Namjoon couldn't truly comprehend. Jungkook and Jimin even went as far as to reenact a scene from the movie.

It was when the movie ended and they turned the lights back on that Namjoon saw Hoseok was curled up and asleep on one side of the couch. Yoongi was bored and on his phone, and Taehyung had his head on Seokjin's shoulder, eyes closed.

Namjoon said, "There's extra rooms upstairs."

"This is the part where we sleep over," Yoongi began to say, but then he saw that Taehyung was almost asleep. He lowered his voice. "Oh, shit, sorry."

Seokjin gently nudged Taehyung. "Hey, little dipper, why don't you go find a room? I'll join you later."

"I'll make sure he doesn't get lost," Jeongguk offered, and he stood up. Taehyung stood as well, rubbing his eyes a bit.

"I'm gonna turn in for the night, too." Jimin stood and stretched. "Night, guys."

The others who remained downstairs chorused their goodnights. Namjoon listened to the three sets of footsteps fade away on the staircase before he glanced at Hoseok. He was curled up on his side, arms tucked close to his chest as he slept.

"I don't like seeing him like this," Namjoon said.

Yoongi sighed. "And kids at school are just making it worse."

Seokjin hummed. "It's alright. We'll protect him."

Namjoon drummed his fingers on the side of the couch. "We don't know Doyoon's next move. Ever since he revealed our identities, it's been radio silence from him."

"He might be planning something big," Yoongi said. "Would we even be ready for it?"

"I'll make sure we are," Namjoon promised.

Seokjin raised an eyebrow at him. "It'll be a collective effort, Namjoon. Don't take all the responsibility on your shoulders."

"...Right. My bad."

Yoongi glanced at Namjoon. "Don't do the whole hero goes alone thing, man. We're all gonna teach Doyoon a lesson in one way or another."

"...We should get to bed," Seokjin suggested. "We don't know what we'll have to face tomorrow."

"Yeah," Namjoon agreed, but he didn't stand. Neither did Yoongi or Seokjin. Namjoon didn't want to think that they were sitting here out of fear---but he knew that, deep down, he was afraid of what Doyoon might do next. He was terrified that the team wouldn't be able to stop him. They were all only teenagers, after all, and the weight of the world was on their shoulders.

So the three of them sat, waiting, until the sun rose.