Chapter Text
The rehearsals began at full pace, next day onwards. After all, it was a one day rest that their manager hyung had somehow squeezed in, watching their state. They were targeting to record their new piece by the end of that month - which meant practice until perfection. The vocals had many high pitched variations and harmonizations that required extra care. Jungkook, Jin, Taehyung and Jimin were fully occupied with their vocal trainings in between dance practices while the rap line were practically living in the studio - tweaking, merging, cutting, writing, re-writing - until it sounded perfectly synchronized.
Namjoon made sure they all had their food on time during the hectic schedules they were pulling off. But that was all he could manage right now. As to getting enough sleep, he could only pray that his fellow members took care of themselves to sustain their lives. Healthily.
Yoongi and Jin hadn't talked to each other since the hyung situation as the maknaes called it. They never even greeted each other. Anytime somebody brought the topic in conversation Jin would get up and leave, and Yoongi would ignore them until they stopped. Jin had shifted to the living room couch for nights they spent at home, refusing the maknaes offer to share theirs. (He wanted to wake up in one piece - thank you very much!)
On mornings, Jin would wake everybody up except Yoongi. And if it was Yoongi serving food, he would lay the table and dishes for everyone except Jin. Things got to a state where they refused to be in the same room unless they were rehearsing, where they had no choice but to stay.
The intense tension was also affecting the other members. Neither Jin nor Yoongi seemed to be okay. Even though they pretended to be fine and laughing about when they talked to their dongsaengs, it wasn't hard to notice the fakeness in those smiles.
Namjoon was constantly put on edge, having to deal with more things than usual, because of the lack of interest his hyungs were showing. Jin had stopped bothering with handing out punishments - and the maknaes, who had tried to provoke a reaction from him and failed, felt their hyung didn't care about them anymore. It was an absolute mess.
About six days after the hyung situation, Namjoon woke up in the middle of the night having to attend to nature's calls. He cursed his decision to have the whole pitcher of juice Jiminie brought right after dinner. They were already scraping barely few hours of sleep. And waking up to pee in the middle of a three hour night was such a waste! However on his way back to bedroom, his steps faltered, hearing light sobs from the living room. Peeping from behind the door, revealed a sobbing and shaking Jin, sitting on the floor, his back against the couch, his knees drawn up to his face.
Namjoon slowly tip-toed back to his room, mind wondering. How on earth was he supposed to solve this issue???
Next day morning, Namjoon had walked in on Yoongi, who had spent the night in the studio. Yoongi looked like a zombie, lying fast asleep on the floor, his eyes and face swollen. Namjoon silently tip-toed in, grabbed Yoongi's jacket from the chair, and draped it over his curled form.
'This has to stop.. ', thought Namjoon, as he walked away from the studio, towards the practice floor, heading to the corner where they kept juice packets in a box.
He motioned Jimin to come, who had happened to pass him just then.
"Jiminie... Quickly run over to Yoongi hyung's studio and leave this there?" He said, handing over a juice pack.
Jimin nodded and took off with the juice pack - lightly humming a line he had been trying to nail since morning.
Next Namjoon scanned around and found Jin, talking with one of the backup dancers animatedly. Namjoon knew for a fact that Jin hadn't had a morsel of food that day (As would be the case for Yoongi too probably). And Jin had danced on an empty stomach, a feat that would have gotten their bottoms lit, if any of them had done it and Jin came to know about it.
Namjoon quickly made up a plan in his head to corner his hyung, and called out to Jin, grabbing his hands and pulling him into the locker room behind the dance floor, when Jin approached.
"Here, drink this. Now. ", said Namjoon, handing over a juice packet to Jin. That was all he could find at the moment. But still something was better than nothing.
"You can't keep doing this. You can't ignore your well-being hyung... You'd have blistered my butt, if I pulled a stunt like that... " Namjoon said, his concern evident in his not-so-gentle tone.
"I'm sorry Joon-ah... I'm just not hungry today... ", said Jin, his eyes cast down, and making a half hearted attempt at opening the packet, to appease Namjoon. He really had no appetite these days.
"That's the lamest excuse I have ever heard... " Proclaimed Namjoon, throwing his hands up, clearly angered at the dejected mood his hyung seemed to be in.
"What do you want then? Blister my butt?.... Will you be happy if you punish me?... " Asked Jin, with no change of expression on his face. It seemed like all his dongsaengs were disappointed in him.
Namjoon was taken aback at his hyung's sharp words. But it didn't seem like a bad idea. If that's what it took to knock some sense into his hyung's head, then maybe that's what he should also do. Or not.
"Do you usually punish us to feel happy about it? " Namjoon shot back. That seemed to have struck a nerve. Namjoon noticed the sudden change in his hyung's face.
"What is it with all of you? Did you all honestly think that I enjoyed punishing you??...First it was Tae, then Yoongi and now you..." Shouted Jin, throwing the juice pack on the floor and storming off the back entrance of the locker room, leaving a very shocked Namjoon behind him, and running straight into Sejin, their manager.
"I'm sorry hyung. Didn't see you...your phone ..." Quickly apologised Jin, cursing under his breath, noticing that he had made the manager drop his phone on impact.
They all called Sejin 'hyung' as directed by Sejin himself. Even though he was their manager, he was more like an elder brother to the seven members. They all looked up to him, and respected him a lot.
"It's okay Jin-ah... My phone is still working... " Sejin said, his face somehow looking different, lacking his usual smile.
Sejin had overheard the not-so-silent conversation Namjoon and Jin had had earlier in the locker room, and was about to intervene when Jin had bumped into him. Things hadn't sounded well at all. Their choreographer had also mentioned that something was off with the members this week - and he was going to have a word with all of then after practice today. But it seemed like someone needed to be taken care of first.
"Seokjin. Can we step into my office for a bit?.. " Asked Sejin, his tone very formal.
"Yes... Of course hyungnim... " Stammered Jin, slightly flinching at the formal tone. It sounded like Sejin was upset with him. 'As he should be... ', came a voice from within him. He had probably just ruined Sejin's phone, without which he couldn't live. A major part of Sejin hyung's work involved calls and meetings and coordination with agents, arranging for their shoots and programs and what not!
Jin couldn't stop fidgeting, when they had finally reached Sejin's office and he had been made to take a seat in front of Sejin's desk.
Watching Jin carefully, Sejin began, "Jin-ah... I will directly get to the point. I happened to overhear your conversation with Namjoon... "
Jin nodded, and slouched in his seat.
"Is it true that you haven't had any food today?"
Jin nodded yet again, not liking the unexpected direction this conversation was taking. He thought this was going to be about the phone.
"I hope you respect me enough to give a verbal answer to my questions, Seokjin...I'd also prefer you looking at me while you answer..."
Jin's head shot up at the reprimand. He rushed to apologise.
"I'm sorry hyungnim.... It's true... I haven't eaten anything today... "
"And you went to practice on empty stomach... Just like that? " Sejin's words were serene and calm. He never raised his voice to express anger. But somehow, it was always conveyed whenever necessary. Like now. Serene and calm, but sharp enough to sound harsh at the same time.
"Yes hyungnim. " Jin answered, not feeling entirely guilty for not eating, but surely guilty for disappointing Sejin hyung.
"Is there anything bothering you? Did something happen among the members?..." Sejin said, still calm, and carefully observing Jin's reactions to his questions.
"No." Came Jin's quick reply.
"I hope you don't lie when you talk to me."
When Sejin didn't look convinced with the answer he had given, Jin continued, "there's nothing bothering me - I was just not feeling hungry today. Nothing is wrong."
Not even a stutter had escaped his mouth as he smoothly lied. He didn't want Sejin hyung to worry about him now. The man had too many things on his plate already.
Sejin nodded, aware of Jin lying to his face.
Just an hour ago, he had gotten a call from Jimin, informing that Yoongi wasn't feeling too well and would be taking off for the rest of the day. Jimin had said 'it wasn't anything serious, and was probably just fatigue' - as per Yoongi. On further probing, Jimin had come clean with the hyung situation that had been happening for a few days and how both his hyungs seemed to be off recently.
After a moment of thought, Sejin sent a text message, before addressing Jin, who seemed to have wandered off in his own land of thoughts.
"Jin-ah, how are the members coming along? Giving you a lot of trouble? " Sejin asked, as if they were having a normal conversation.
During the initial times, when they were just starting to get to know each other, Jin had quite a hard time dealing with the 'dishing out punishment' part of his hyung role that was expected of him, and had come to Sejin, to confess about him not being capable enough and offering to quit. Sejin had intently listened to Jin, patiently understanding his reasons and providing Jin with the strength and reassurance he needed, whenever he felt it was necessary, helping him out of his spirals each time.
"They're all doing good hyung... " Jin answered, almost on auto-pilot mode.
They were interrupted by an office boy, who brought a tray containing a sandwich and a packet of juice, setting it in front of Jin.
"Eat. Now." Sejin said to a confused looking Jin, his tone stern. Jin had never heard that tone from Sejin before, and rushed to obey, wanting to get away soon. He was growing tired of the interrogations everybody kept subjecting him to.
Once Jin had finished eating the food that was brought, he stood up, and bowed, thanking Sejin and turning to leave.
"Sit. We're not done. " Came Sejin's cold voice, right behind Jin, making him freeze for a moment, before obeying.
"Tell me Jin-ah. What would be the punishment if one of the dongsaengs lied to your face? "
Jin gulped, a chill running down his spine, before answering, "a sp.. spanking... Hyungnim.... "
"Good. You know then... " Sejin said, clearing his desk of the few items that were lying on it.
"Get up, step out of your pants, bare yourself and bend over the desk... " Sejin said, his voice betraying no trace of anger, if at all present.
Jin looked like he was shot. Hyung knew?... This was bad. Sejin hyung had never even gotten stern with any of them before. And he was planning to spank him now?
"I won't force you Jin-ah. You can walk out of here without taking the punishment - if you feel you dont deserve it. I won't stop you. "
Jin got up to do just that, but couldn't move from where he stood. He deserved it - he had lied to Sejin hyung after all. He had let down his dongsaengs. He had let down Yoongi. If anybody deserved pain, it was him.
For Jin, him facing a punishment, equated pain. He had never been subjected to proper discipline, other than the ones his abusive father dished out, which were more like torture sessions. His father never bothered to let him know why he was being punished most of the time. The only purpose had been to inflict pain until he felt satisfied that the boy couldn't take any more. Or until his temper ran out.
Very slowly, Jin pulled down his sweatpants and stepped out of them, dropping it in a pile on the floor. He then pulled down the boxers he was wearing (being a rehearsal day, he had just worn a comfortable set of soft clothes), before bending over the desk as instructed. He closed his eyes, and braced himself for the pain he expected. However, unlike those sessions with his father, Jin didn't feel waves of panic attack him, even though he was at the face of imminent pain. All he could feel was the guilt of letting down people who cared about him and he cared about. The disappointments.
Behind him, Sejin wondered if a spanking would trigger trauma response in Jin. But so far, the boy seemed to be calm. Sejin unbuckled his belt and pulled it off the loops of his pants, and folded it in his hand, buckle safely held tight.
"Jin-ah. I do not tolerate lying. And the punishment will match the offence. It is going to hurt.. " Sejin said, and watched Jin nod in response.
"But you can trust me not to cross the line. This is not meant to test your pain endurance... Do you understand? "
"Yes... Hyung." Came Jin's weak reply. He was going to endure it anyway. 'You are so weak to be crying out - man up and face your punishment boy..! '
"Then tell me what you did wrong... "
"I lied to you... " Jin said, his voice emotionless.
"About what? "
When Jin remained stubbornly silent, Sejin landed the first strike across his pale bottom. Jin flinched, but otherwise made no sign of the pain.
"What was the lie Jin-ah? " Repeated Sejin.
Silence. Jin wasn't responding. Answering that question would mean bringing up his and Yoongi's issue. And talking about that right now, would break him, Jin knew. He had disappointed everyone, he didn't deserve to cry about that and beg for forgiveness. 'Crying wasn't allowed...'
Spanking a non-responsive Jin would be fruitless. Sejin dropped the belt on the floor and grabbed Jin's arm, pulling him to the couch at the other end of the room. He then proceeded to pull Jin right over his lap, before peppering his bottom with sharp spanks.
Jin had his butt cheeks clenched, and his fist in his mouth, silently enduring the pain being ignited on his bottom. It stung terribly, but was nowhere near to what he was used to.
Sejin stopped his spanks, only when Jin's entire butt was evenly coloured a dark red. Jin was yet to make a sound or acknowledge the pain he was feeling, other than his involuntary jerks at sharper smacks. Sejin had to find a way to breakthrough the barrier soon.
"Since you won't speak, I'm going to." Sejin started, shifting Jin so that he was tilted forward at an angle, that exposed his sit spots more.
Smack. Smack. The hits were hard and delivered on the sit spots, eliciting a gasp from Jin.
"You are being punished because you ignored yourself Jin-ah. You can never torture your body for the problems you face. It's unacceptable."
Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack.
"You need to set an example for your dongsaengs - this is how you do it? By ignoring yourself and them?"
Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack.
Jin wasn't answering. Or making a sound other than his sharp intakes of breath when the strikes fell.
"You had an argument with Yoongi. Something isn't sitting well between you two. And it's been over a week. Would you let Jimin and Tae ignore each other after a fight?"
Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack.
"Answer me!"
"No... Ah!... No hyung... I wouldn't... " Answered Jin, wincing at the pain building up. He would cry out if he opened his mouth to talk. And once he talked he knew he would break down weeping. Hyung seemed to know everything already.
"Do you know that Yoongi has been suffering too? He called in sick an hour back... The two of you have been walking around ignoring your health, each other and the rest of the members.... And it shows in your work too... " Sejin continued, emphasising his sentences with harsh smacks to Jin's upper thighs - meant to sting, ignoring his own hand's flaming pain.
Jin felt his resolute wall cracking on hearing about Yoongi being sick. His dongsaeng was sick, and he was not even aware of it. And probably sick because of him. Tears started leaking, at the thought of how abandoned Yoongi must have felt because of him.
Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack.
"I'm disappointed in you, Jin-ah....I thought you trusted me enough to seek help when you needed it" Came Sejin's voice, breaking the dam of emotions Jin had built. The words were nothing new, nothing unheard of. But to hear it from Sejin hyung broke Jin's heart. Never had those words felt so hurtful before. Never had he felt so guilty about his actions. Jin broke down sobbing, laying limp on Sejin's lap, whispering incoherent apologies.
Sejin rubbed Jin's back, glad that the kid was finally letting out his emotions. Sejin let Jin cry for a few minutes, before laying his palm back on Jin's butt, letting him know before landing a smack hard on the very-red and hot skin.
"Ah...! " The smack burnt terribly. His skin was sensitive to even the light pats Sejin gave right before the next smack. He couldn't believe a hand spanking could hurt so much.
"So what are you going to do next? " Asked Sejin, his hand resting on the flaming skin.
"I.. I'll talk to Yoongi. I'll make things right between us... " Jin said, his voice shaking from sobs.
Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack.
"And if it doesn't work out?"
"I'll come to you. Discuss and ask for.... ...Ah!... ....he..help."
Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack.
"What about taking care of yourself? "
"I.. I won't... Ignore myself... I'm..sorry hyung... " Cried Jin, sobbing freely now.
Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack.
Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack.
The smacks were sharper, if possible. It felt like a fire was being lit on his behind. Jin found it surprising that he couldn't block out the emotions coursing through him, like he usually did when he got punished by his father. He couldn't believe that he, who had suffered such agony at the hands of his father, could barely stop weeping, from a hand spanking from Sejin Hyung.
Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack.
"Ah!.. Hyungnim... Please... " He cried out, trying to keep the squirming to a minimum. It burnt.
Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack.
Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack.
"You will never skip your food and sleep, to deal with stress again... You will never disrespect your body. I do not want to ever repeat this lesson. Do you understand?"
Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack.
"Aah! Yes hyung... Please... I understand... " Jin sobbed.
"Fine. Get up and over the desk. " Sejin said, hardening his heart. The kid's bottom was very sore, but he had to drive one more message home clear. No more lying.
Jin slowly got himself on feet, before walking over to the desk and bending over, his breath hitching in his throat from the sobs.
"Five lashes Jin-ah..." Sejin said, before the belt swung.
Swish. Smack.
Swish. Smack.
"Aah!....I'm sorry hyung... Please... It hurts too bad.." Jin cried out, not caring about dignity anymore, bringing his hands back to shield his poor behind. A moment ago, he wasn't sure if it was hyung's words or spanks that hurt more. But now, there wasn't much to be doubtful of!
"You will not lie to me again. Do you understand? " Sejin asked, his voice stern.
"Yes hyung. I'll... I'll ne..never lie to you... "
"Last three Jin-ah... Move your hands... "
Swish. Smack.
Swish. Smack.
Swish. Smack
"Ah!....I'm sorry... I'm sorry... "
The last three strokes fell across the middle of Jin's chastised butt, painting red streaks over it. Sejin pulled Jin into a tight hug, rubbing circles on his back in an attempt to calm his hiccups. The boy was crying profusely, scaring Sejin a bit. It was a harsh spanking. His butt had to be in a lot of pain. But there was no other way to get through to him. Jin was buried too deep in his own well of self-pity to listen to anything Sejin had to say, unless he brought the boy back out.
"There there Jin-ah. Calm down. Everything is fine. You are forgiven. Stop crying before you make yourself sick now... " Coaxed Sejin, righting Jin's boxers gently before pulling them both to the couch once again. Sejin sat, while Jin laid on the couch, curled on his side, his head resting on Sejin's lap.
Jin's sobs didn't seem to reduce though. Just when Sejin had started getting concerned, Jin spoke, in broken words. "He hates me hyung. I don't know what I did or said, but he hates me so much... And I.. I can't.. Bear to ... to... ", and the sobs continued for another five minutes.
Sejin stroked the wet hair away from Jin's forehead, while talking calmly, "He was upset when he last talked to you Jin-ah... Talk to him gently and solve this issue once and for all tonight. If it doesn't work, both of you are to visit me tomorrow morning... You get me? " Jin nodded, his sobs slowly getting under control.
Sejin was also aware that this was probably the first time Jin was ever comforted after a punishment. He felt bad for the boy having had to suffer so much in his childhood. He let Jin lay on his lap until all of his hiccups disappeared and his breathing got back to normal while he stroked Jin's forehead lovingly, regretting having to have caused the sweet boy so much pain.
"Thanks hyung.... " Jin said slowly getting up after a while, flashing a wet smile. "That hurt too much though.. " He added, as he limped to the door.
"Well, you lied to my face. I went easy on you because you looked pitiful.. " Grinned Sejin.
"That was easy?!" Exclaimed Jin, making a funny expression before waving goodbye.
"I have called a cab for you - go straight home... " Called out Sejin behind Jin, breaking into another grin. His sore hand will need some ice tonight.
________
Jin reached their home ten minutes later, and managed to limp his way to his room. His bottom was definitely going to be sore for atleast a couple of days. Who knew Sejin hyung had such a heavy hand! However, Jin's thoughts came to an abrupt halt, watching Yoongi curled up in his bed, fast asleep, his face pale and tired.
He had forgotten that Yoongi had called in sick and taken the day off. He slowly made his way closer, and pressed his palm on the younger one's forehead. Thankfully, there was no fever.
Yoongi stirred awake at the touch, and was taken aback to see Jin standing there gazing over him, a look of concern on his face. Yoongi, quickly sat up on his bed, scurrying away from Jin's reach, settling on the farther end of his bed.
"Are you feeling better? " Asked Jin, trying and failing to keep the tone of worry away from his words.
"I'm okay. I was just tired. " Answered Yoongi, looking warily at Jin, before getting off the bed to leave.
Jin however caught Yoongi's arm on the way. "Wait. Let's talk. " Motioning Yoongi to sit, letting go of his arm. Yoongi obliged, deciding to hear whatever his hyung had to say. He deserved every harsh word that his hyung wanted to say. He had caused such distress to Jin hyung.
Jin slowly walked over to his own bed, trying his best not to limp, contemplating the matter of sitting for an entire minute in his head, before deciding to just bear with it, and slowly sitting, letting a faint wince out.
Yoongi was carefully observing his hyung's movememts. It was very clear that Jin was hurt. Yoongi suddenly found a flurry of questions attacking his mind. Did his father get hold of him again? Was his hyung badly injured? Yoongi opened his mouth to ask Jin just that, when he was interupted by Jin's statement.
"Yoongi-ah... Please forgive me... "
Jin looked so, so earnest in his request, his eyes glazed with unshed tears and his face expressing deep regret, that it broke Yoongi's heart. Why had he apologised? When it was Yoongi who brought all this trouble.... However, he was once again interupted by Jin, who continued with his speech.
"I'm so sorry for pretending not to care these past few days. I was silently watching you, but didn't show it because I didn't want to upset you further... When I heard you fell sick today, I felt so broken... I... I am a terrible hyung Yoongiyah... Please forgive me... I.. I will do anything to earn your forgiveness.... " Jin said, sobbing his heart out. He was emotionally wrung, and his tears didnt seem to have any trouble falling today.
Yoongi, who had had enough, could wait no longer. He rushed to where Jin was sitting, and embraced him, sobbing and whispering sorrys of his own. Then, as abruptly as he had hugged Jin, he broke off and fell to his knees on the ground. He then straightened, so that he was properly kneeling, his palms resting on his thighs, and his head bowed down.
Jin who had noticed what was happening, was quick to stop his sobs.
"Yoongi-ah... What are you doing... Get up... " Jin said desperately, not understanding why Yoongi was acting all weird.
"No... I did wrong hyung. It's all my mistake. I should have just openly told you instead of being rude and talking back. I even hurt you on purpose hyung. My actions were unacceptable and I have been dying with guilt ever since... " Yoongi said, still kneeling, his knees starting to tingle uncomfortably.
"What was it that upset you? " Jin asked, calming down a bit.
"It sounds silly now. But it all started because of a glare you sent my way - when I...when I told Jungkook about his last dose of medicine, and he visibly went into a sour mood...and you glared at me.....I felt it was uncalled for, and felt upset.... "
Jin brought a palm to his face. A glare... Was that all it took? He remained silent, letting Yoongi continue.
"I had just gone out of the apartment for a bit of fresh air at first, but then decided to take a walk... And had somehow ended up on the swing, not really intending to be going there... I was sorting my thoughts, convincing myself that I was being unreasonably upset for nothing, and ready to come back in.... When you grabbed me by the ear - without even asking me why I was upset.... I...I thought that you wouldn't have straight gone to punishing, if it was any of the other dongsaengs... I felt, it was always me you were harsh on.... "
Jin nodded, understanding why Yoongi's feelings seemed to make a little sense to him. Yoongi being the eldest one among his dongsaengs, and someone who didn't appear too cuddly, Jin had always treated him the way he thought Yoongi would want. There were very rare occurance of the coddling he did with the others. Talks between Yoongi and Jin were always curt, to-the-point type, edging on being blunt. But he never meant to appear harsh towards Yoongi. It was a mistake on his part... An unintentional mistake - but a mistake all the same. He never knew he had been hurting Yoongi all this while.
"Then... Things escalated from there.... You pulled me over your shoulder carrying me back... Threatened to punish me outside... Even landed a few swats... All added fuel to the fire... And made me stupidly angry hyung... Stupidly angry enough to provoke you into punishing me more... So that... So that I could hurt you by saying things I knew would hurt you... I don't know why I was so evil... But that's why I said what I said... I regretted every word that left my mouth afterwards.... It killed me to see the pain on your face when you stopped punishing me halfway and went off.... Your cold demeanor while you punished me tugged at my heart...Every single moment afterwards, till now, had been crushing me with guilt with the words I said and the things I did to hurt you.... I saw your swollen eyes every morning, I saw you skipping meals and going to practice on empty stomach.... I was concerned but didn't dare come talk to you when I had done such terrible things.... I... I'm sorry hyung.... I'm so sorry... I don't deserve your care... Or forgiveness..."
Yoongi broke off in hard heaving sobs, following his long confession. Everything that had been eating him up inside out, he had laid out bare. His hyung must truly hate him, now that he knows...
Jin, for his part, was stunned by Yoongi's confession. Yoongi, who preferred talking only when necessary, who could be described as a man of few words, had just spoken non-stop for about three full minutes. Not just talked, but literally confessed his innermost feelings. It all made perfect sense now. Why Yoongi had acted the way he did... If only Jin had known, they could have avoided all this pain.
Jin reached out, and grabbed Yoongi by his arms, pulling him up, into a hug on Jin's bed. He rubbed the younger one's back, coaxing him to calm down.
"Sh... Shh... It's okay. Everything is okay... You are fine. Stop crying Yoongi-ah.. I understand now.. I'm so sorry you felt this way baby... " Jin cooed into Yoongi's hair, while he felt the shudders of Yoongi's sobs.
"I'm sorry for hurting your feelings Yoongi-ah. Please forgive hyung... And promise that you will tell me next time I do something that upsets you... Okay? And I promise to listen too..." Jin continued, making Yoongi look into his eyes as he spoke.
Yoongi nodded, his tears now starting to stem. They stayed in the warm embrace for few minutes more. Jin's cuddle felt very heartwarming - Yoongi could almost feel his worries melting away- a sense of calmness settling in, as he listened to the rhythm of Jin's heart beating. No wonder the dongsaengs never left Jin's side after being punished!
"I missed you Yoongi-ah. These few days. I know it's too cheesy for you. But I missed seeing your cute grumpy face when I woke you up in the mornings, cooking breakfast together, your eye-rolls at the things I said - I missed you so much... " Jin said warmly, his heart finally feeling full.
"I missed you too... " Said Yoongi, before getting up, hiding his blush. "I'm going to have a shower.. " He said, before rushing off, fleeing the scene.
Jin smiled at his adorable dongsaeng, not missing the blush that had spread on his face, and slowly shifted to lay down on his stomach. His butt had been killing him all this time!
However, Jin's peace was short-lived, as an angry and red-faced Namjoon entered his room and started talking.
Namjoon was shocked at the way Jin had reacted in the locker room earlier before rushing out. But he decided not to dwell too deep into it. However, there was no sign of Jin afterwards. He wasn't there for their practice sessions in the later half of the day. Neither had he replied to Namjoon's text messages or calls. It was finally ten minutes before their practice ended, that Namjoon ran into Sejin hyung, who mentioned that Jin had taken the rest of the day off because he wasn't feeling well.
Well of course he wouldn't feel well. He had been too busy ignoring food, sleep, mental peace and now everybody else in the team - too far gone into self-pity to even care. Namjoon couldn't let this continue.
So he stormed into Jin's room, as soon as he reached home, opening the door to reveal a half asleep Jin, peacefully laying on his bed, his face still looking unwell. Namjoon didn't care he was probably disturbing his hyung's sleep - he wanted Jin to know that this couldn't keep going on.
"Hyung... Jin hyung... " Namjoon called, loud, his voice betraying every bit of anger he felt.
"Joon-ah... What is it.. " Groaned Jin, stirring awake from the two - minute sleep he was having.
"Why are you so irresponsible?... You don't have your food on time, or sleep properly at night, you won't talk to Yoongi and get things cleared up, you are reckless enough to dance on an empty stomach and now you stop answering your phone too?!!... Do you think your actions are acceptable?!??...I CAN'T LET THIS CONTINUE...IT ENDS HERE" Namjoon said, his tone very stern.
Jin, who was very much awake by now, stared wide eyed at his used-to-be-sweet, loving, adorable dongsaeng. No wonder the maknaes hated to be scolded by Namjoon. Jin himself felt like hiding under his covers, and flinching at Namjoon's stern scolding. What he said was right though. Jin had been acting way too irresponsible.
"I'm sorry Joon-ah... Hyung is very sorry for his actions... It won't happen again... " Jin said, his expression earnest.
However, his apology didn't seem to appease Namjoon who still looked pretty pissed.
"Sure, it won't." Said Namjoon, covering the distance from the door to Jin's bed in two steps, and placing a hand on Jin's back, effortlessly and effectively pinning him to the bed, while the other hand raised above his head before landing with a sharp sound on Jin's sweatpant covered bottom, eliciting a high pitched cry from Jin, who twisted away from Namjoon's reach.
"Owwwwww.... Joon-ah... My butt's already blistered!!!" Cried Jin, tears falling from his eyes at the sting. That one smack was enough to re-ignite the flame that had somehow soothed a little over time. Namjoon sure had a heavy hand. Aish! Couldn't the brat atleast warn?!
Namjoon immediately pulled his hands away and stood back, hearing the cry of his hyung. The smack wasn't hard enough to warrant that loud of a cry, especially from Jin.
"Blistered? Hyung are you injured?... " Asked a worried Yoongi, who had walked in with a tea tray at the moment Jin had cried out. He had totally forgotten to ask Jin about his painful movements he had noticed earlier.
Namjoon looked at Yoongi, with a tilted head, confusion written on his face (since when were they on talking terms?!), but chose to remain silent. He didn't know if Jin hyung was badly injured either.
"I thought Sejin hyung told you why I took the rest of the day off... I was punished...by Sejin hyung.. " Jin said, blushing furiously, his ears turning red.
"Sejin hyung!?? " Asked both Yoongi and Namjoon at the same time.
Jin nodded, burrying his face in his arms. Talk about being embarrassed enough to want to disappear!
There was complete silence for an entire minute.
"Shall I apply some ointment then? You seem to be too sore. We still have practice tomorrow... " Namjoon said recovering quickly, saving his questions for later as clearly Jin looked uncomfortable admitting what he had just said.
But it was still quite difficult to believe that Sejin hyung would punish any of them, let alone Jin.
Jin nodded. It was embarrassing, but he needed to be able to dance tomorrow. Soon, he felt Namjoon's cool fingers applying the ointment on his flaming skin. Jin kept the wincing to a minimum, the feel of this ointment, all too familiar to him.
"He got you good huh?!... Your butt is all red and swollen... And there are few welts too... " Namjoon said casually as he applied the ointment.
"Thanks for the detailed description Joon-ah. I can almost picture my butt now, besides feeling the pain!...do you see your hand-print too?!" Said Jin, smirking, sarcasm oozing.
Namjoon remained silent not knowing what to say to that. He had actually dared to smack his hyung, after all! Where had the courage come from?!!
He finished applying the ointment, and gently righted his hyung's clothes. Jin seemed to be lost in thought.
"Were you actually planning on punishing me?" Asked Jin, after a while, genuinely curious.
Namjoon blushed before answering, "Yes- you were being too reckless hyung. I even sent the maknaes away, to ensure some privacy... "
Jin nodded, not commenting. Not that he was in any position to complain. He had kind of quit on his hyung role the past week - that too without a warning! There's no wonder his dongsaeng considered spanking him.
"It's just that you wouldn't let any of us get this far without facing consequences. It's only fair that you know we care about you too, just the way you care about us. There's no way I could let you, BOTH, continue with your stupidity any longer...just because you are hyungs...." Namjoon added, glancing over at Yoongi, towards the end of his speech.
Yoongi chose not to comment either, harbouring similar thoughts to Jin.
"I understand Joon-ah. It's okay. Everything is fine now. I talked to Yoongi. We have settled our issues...hyung is really, really sorry...." Jin responded, gently patting Namjoon on his knee.
"I'm sorry too. I didn't know you were sore.... Earlier... When I... You know... "
"Spanked me.. Yes... That's okay too. You don't have to feel bad about it. You only did what you should have done as a leader... " Jin helped, watching Namjoon struggling with words. It was a little embarassing, yes, the fact that his dongsaeng had to go to such an extend to rein him in. But it wasn't anybody's fault but his.
"A warning would have been nice though...!! My butt's been throbbing like hell from that one smack...what is your hand made of Joon-ah....?!" Added Jin, chuckling, visibly lightening the tension that surrounded them.
Both Yoongi and Namjoon had broken into light laughter at Jin's exclamation. It felt nice, that for once, there wasn't anything to worry about.
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