Beyond Repair (Min Yoongi)

27. Confirmation

Yoongi sat cross-legged on the floor of the interrogation room, Namjoon's jacket draped over his shoulders and a half-finished cup of hot chocolate clutched between his still-shaky fingers. All things considered, he had managed to compose himself impressively quickly, with the help of his friends. They were all gathered around him, gradually lifting him from his low with warm touches, familiar smells, soft voices, and laughter.

At first, the others had hung back, letting Jimin do the work of pulling Yoongi out of his own mind. But once Yoongi was breathing properly again, it was their turn to work their magic. They'd all taken their own seats on the floor and Namjoon had struck up a random conversation as if nothing was wrong. The conversation had taken so many random twists and turns, Yoongi almost had difficulty following along, but that's the way it always had been, before, and feigning normalcy had helped Yoongi return to it.

"And that's why Jimin is completely freaking wrong and should be exiled for eternity and also forever," Taehyung concluded.

"You make some very valid arguments," Jimin congratulated, "but I stand by what I said. Pineapple on pizza is correct and delicious."

Seokjin made a mock gagging sound and Namjoon rolled his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Jimin, but it's like Tae said: sweet things should not be on pizza, no matter how much you like sweet-and-savoury combinations," said Hoseok.

"Thank you," Taehyung said, nodding approvingly at Hoseok.

"Jesus Christ, this is the Mint Chocolate Debate all over again. Let's all just agree to let people enjoy what they enjoy," said Jungkook.

"Why did you guys make my forbidden words 'hahaha' and 'uh', anyway?" Hoseok pouted. "That was like, the meanest thing you could have done to me."

"That's why we did it!" Teahyung's innocent, joyful tone did not at all match with his evil smile.

"You're still hung up on that?" Seokjin laughed.

"It's been long enough, you need to let that go," said Namjoon.

"Let it go, let it go, can't hold it back anymore~!" Jungkook sang under his breath.

"Let it go, let it go, turn away and slam the door~!" Jimin and Taehyung joined in at full volume.

Yoongi silently gulped down the rest of his drink, smiling appreciatively when Jungkook stopped singing and leaned forward to take the empty cup out of his hands, tossing it into the trash bin in the opposite corner of the room. Yoongi then looked at Jimin, holding out one hand, and Jimin instantly understood what he was getting at. After Jimin helped him up and got him settled back in his wheelchair, Yoongi looked at Namjoon.

"Can you please tell Detective Hwan, I'm ready for him to come back?"

"Of course," Namjoon said. He left the room and came back only seconds later with the policeman in tow.

"You wanted to see me, Yoongi?" Hwan asked.

"Yes, Detective. I want to resume the interview. I'll tell you whatever you want to know. But I need my friends to stay here with me."

Hwan rubbed his forehead as he sank down into the chair opposite Yoongi. "We usually don't let multiple civilians into the interview room at once, but I suppose I can make an exception. Are you ready to continue?" he asked, reaching for the camera.

Yoongi nodded, straightening his posture in an effort to gain some dignity back in the eyes of whoever was going to watch the video. Jimin didn't let go of his hand, though, and that little bit of contact was what gave Yoongi the strength he needed to keep going.