kicks ✓ || namgi || k.th

038: dim

chapter 38: dim
location: biloxi, mississippi, day 2

Namjoon glared at Hoseok. "You are gonna get us so busted."

Hoseok grinned. "No, I'm not. Our license plate says Virginia today."

"Yeah, what are seven Korean men from Virginia doing at the Imperial Palace?" They both looked up at the massive resort and casino, towering above their heads. All resorts in Mississippi had to sit on the water, but the entire shoreline was full of them.

"I wanted to do something fun for us." Hoseok did a little dance.

"We've already been to a casino. Remember how you had to win back all our money in Atlantic City?"

"Yeeeeeeeeeeeah, man." Hoseok had a wild grin on his face. "Besides, the others already went inside without us."

What. Namjoon groaned and walked inside, leaving Hoseok outside in the heat. The place looked like an arcade inside, with machines everywhere of all shapes and sizes. But when Namjoon looked closer, he could see they were slot machines, not actual games of skill. He stepped away from the machines. Best to make your money and to keep it safe, rather than to risk it all. It was one thing to make a calculated business move. It was another to waste it.

Both men found their way to the hotel side's front desk, where Jungkook was trying to confirm their reservation. Namjoon pulled the money from his back pocket, and the front desk girl immediately shut up and took it. "Well, you're the ones who wanted to stay here. Let's get into our rooms."

They were led by a porter up seven floors to a pair of rooms, taking over and throwing bags everywhere. Then they all changed clothes and hit the casino floor. Most everybody else was dressed nicely, so the seven kids in their jean shorts and t-shirts looked a little...off, to say the least. Sure enough, Namjoon could tell that everybody was looking at them.

"We shouldn't have come here," he whispered.

His eyes darted around, looking for Yoongi, but he couldn't find him anywhere. On top of that, the casino noise was starting to get to his head. What if someone recognized them? What if someone recognized the van? He turned when he heard noise and saw that Hoseok had made himself at home at the blackjack table, playing against the dealer with a smile on his face. Jungkook and Seokjin were nearby, thank goodness. And -- of course, there was Jimin, flirting with a man who was so obviously gay. They weren't all up on each other -- being out and physical would probably get you arrested in the Deep South -- but Namjoon could just tell by the look in Jimin's eyes that he was interested.

"Joon."

He turned, but it was Taehyung, not Yoongi. "Hey."

"They've got a computer room, I'm gonna go use it for a while, okay? See if you-know-who finally actually emailed us."

"Yeah, just...like, stay there, okay?"

Taehyung chuckled. "I didn't know you were turning into a valley girl, Namjoon."

What? Oh. Namjoon rolled his eyes, then started looking around for Yoongi. Had he gone back upstairs? That made the most logical sense, so he took a deep breath and tried to relax. A waiter passed by with a tray of champagne, and he downed the entire thing, hoping it would make him feel better. Then, he sat in front of a slot machine and fed some money into it. When he pulled the lever, he watched the three reels spin in front of him. At some point, another man passed around alcohol, and all of the fruit labels on the reels started to blur together. How long had he been sitting here? Did it matter?

"Joon. Joonie." A pause. "Randa. Runch Randa!"

Namjoon still didn't move, so Yoongi kissed him, right smack dab in the middle of the casino. It took a full ten seconds for him to register, and he put his hands on Yoongi's shoulders. "Hey, Yoongi. There you are." The entire world was spinning when Namjoon tried to open his eyes.

"Are you okay?" Yoongi made a face. "Never mind. You're not okay."

"Hey, punk," Yoongi heard a voice, and then he was shoved out of Namjoon's arms. "We don't want queers on this floor."

"Yeah, faggot, get out of here," another man yelled. "Girly boy."

"Quick, get some bleach before we catch their cooties!"

"Let's go," Namjoon said, and he stood up way too quickly, grabbed Yoongi's shoulder, and tried to move out of the way -- but instead, knocked right into another slot machine.

Yoongi, thank God, was stone cold sober. He grabbed Namjoon's hand and pulled him out and away, away from the slot machines, away from the casino floor, up to the elevator. He didn't say anything until the elevator doors closed. "Joonie, you are drunk!"

"I am?" Namjoon admired his reflection in the mirrored elevator walls. "Oh, look, I guess I am."

Yoongi huffed. "Babe, I am gonna get you back to the hotel room and order you a pizza."

"Aww, you called me babe?"

"I am gonna call you a lot more than that if you..." Yoongi couldn't think of a good comeback, so he just kissed Namjoon instead. This time, nobody could see them in the elevator. The doors were closed for thirty seconds or so, which was all that Yoongi needed.

"Yoongi," Namjoon whispered as the door opened on their floor.

"Hey, we're gonna take care of each other, okay? That's what it means to..." Yoongi stopped himself again, realizing he was about to say the L word. He figured Namjoon already knew he loved him, after all they had been through, but he wanted to save the word for a time when Namjoon wasn't drunk off his feet.

"Randa," he whispered, again, at this point basically carrying Namjoon on his shoulder. He sang it, this time. "Runch Ran-daaaaaaa."

"Mmmphf. Agust Deeeeeeeeee. What does that even stand for, anyway?"

"You don't want to know." Yoongi finally reached the hotel room, unlocked it, and pulled Namjoon in. "You're eating this pizza I'm ordering, and then you're going to sleep." And, in reality, Yoongi had been hoping the two of them would do more than just sleep. They were, after all, alone. But Namjoon was so tired that he ate two pieces of pizza, once it arrived, and then passed out asleep on the floor.

Yoongi simply laughed and dragged Namjoon into the nearest bed. "I hope the others are having a better night than I am."

--

Asterhythm: A quick note about my decision to use a VERY offensive gay slur. First off, I am extremely gay and take up several of the letters of the LGBTQ alphabet. Second off, it's been a while because this term is usually used against cis gay men, but yes, I have been called this. Third off, a gay man being called this in the 90's was 120% a thing. Thank God this word is recognized as a gay slur these days. I went back and forth on my decision to include it, and went with the decision so I can pass on the education. I was there. We've come so far, and it's such a blessing, but we have so far to go. (Also, if I ever see one of you use that word, I'mma have a come-to-Jesus moment with you.)