Work Text:
Namjoon hadn't been asleep for long when his alarm went off. Unlike most mornings, though, he got up right away. He had a mission. It was Seokjin's birthday and his hyung was going to get some seaweed soup. No matter what obstacles Namjoon had to face. He was about to leave the room when he noticed Taehyung staring at him.
“Hyung. What are you up to?” he asked, a grin on his lips as if he could already tell he was planning something for Seokjin's birthday.
He filled him in on his plan and Taehyung immediately wanted in as well.
“We can't just buy it, though.” He said, scratching his chin as he thought. “We have to make it.”
“Tae. The two of us could probably set not just the kitchen but the whole building on fire. Only by trying to boil some water.”
“Good point.” hummed Taehyung. “We should ask Hoseok hyung, Jiminie and Gukie for help.”
He agreed and they both tiptoed to the others' room, waking them up. It didn't take much to convince them to be on board, Jimin getting excited right away.
They all migrated to the kitchen, keeping as quiet as possible to not wake Seokjin up. They considered asking Yoongi's help as well, but Seokjin was a light sleeper, so it was risky. They looked up the recipe on Naver and it apparently wasn't hard. They started off pretty well, Namjoon and Taehyung only passing tools and watching the other three work, too clumsy to actually help with the cooking. But then, of course, like always, the bickering started. They were all very stubborn, after all.
“Trust me.” whispered Hoseok.
“No, hyung, trust me.” muttered Jeongguk, putting a frying pan with the seaweed in it on the heat.
“What if you're both wrong...” wondered Taehyung.
“Wait, wait, shhhh.” shushed them Jimin, looking towards the door. “I heard footsteps.”
They all fell silent, listening carefully to detect any movements coming from the corridor. The door creaked open and Yoongi's head poked inside, glaring at them.
“Oh, it's you.” mumbled Hoseok.
They all let out a sigh of relief, turning back to their work.
“The hell are you doing?” asked Yoongi, entering the kitchen and approaching them, a frown on his face.
“We're making seaweed soup for hyung's birthday.” explained Taehyung, grinning widely.
Yoongi rested his hip against the counter top and studied them for a few seconds, his frown turning into a scowl.
“Wait, you should actually go back to your room! We need someone to distract hyung in case he wakes up!” exclaimed Namjoon, snapping his fingers and pointing to Yoongi.
“Why don't you go suck his dick to keep him distracted?” muttered Yoongi, looking away.
They all fell quiet again, the air suddenly tense. The seaweed in the pan was sizzling, but no one moved a muscle to do something. They were all staring at Yoongi, who realised what had come out of his mouth and sighed deeply, rubbing at his face aggressively.
“Shit, sorry, I didn't mean that, I'm sorry.” he said it while looking Namjoon in the eyes and the younger boy could see the sincerity in them.
“Hyung, it's okay...” tried to reassure him Namjoon, attempting a weak smile.
“No, it's not.” Yoongi shook his head, passing a hand through his messy hair. “That was inappropriate and I was an asshole, I'm sorry.”
“Apology accepted.” Namjoon stepped closer to him, putting his hand on his hyung's shoulder and squeezing down on it, the smile on his lips more sincere than the previous one.
Yoongi nodded his head once in acknowledgment, biting down on his lower lip and pushing himself off the counter top. He sat down in front of the fridge, looking up at the rest of them as they went back to work, Jeongguk finally turning off the fire under the frying pan. Except for Hoseok, who excused himself, saying he would be right back before disappearing out of the room.
“I think it's ruined.” whined Jeongguk, examining the seaweed.
“It does look burned.” noted Jimin, pouting his lips.
“That's probably 'cause you left it on too long.” explained Yoongi. They all glanced back at him. He was still sitting down in front of the fridge, his head resting against it and his eyes closed. “You don't have to fry it. I think it's called sauté or some shit...”
“See! I told you I was right and you had to trust me!” said loudly Hoseok coming back.
Namjoon hit him on the arm, shushing him. “You're gonna wake hyung up!” he whispered.
“Right, shit, sorry.” whispered back Hoseok. “I was right, though.”
“Whatever.” sighed Jeongguk. “We'll start over again.”
“We'll get it right, this time.” said encouragingly Namjoon.
“Hyung, you have only been watching us and done nothing.” mumbled Jimin.
“And that's how it should be, if we don't want him to set the kitchen on fire.” warned Hoseok, filling up a glass with water and crouching down next to Yoongi. “Here.” he offered the glass to his hyung and took out a pill from the small box he had kept in his sweats pocket.
Namjoon observed them, finding Yoongi's reaction adorable.
He had opened his eyes when he felt Hoseok approach him and then looked at him wide-eyed, as if Hoseok had just done something incredible.
“Headache, right?” whispered Hoseok, sitting down and crossing his legs, still waiting for Yoongi to take the pill and glass.
“How did you know?”
“Hyung, we've been living together for years, now. I know you.” replied Hoseok, a gentle smile tugging at his lips.
Namjoon felt bad for watching them. It felt like invading an intimate moment. It always felt that way with those two. He cleared his voice, turning his back to them. He caught the other three younger boys adverting their eyes as well, as if they felt the same way. “Let's go back to work.” he said quietly, pointing to the stove. The others nodded, focusing their attention on the soup again. The bickering was toned down, this time, Jeongguk and Jimin seeming to work better on their own, as Taehyung and Namjoon just watched them over their shoulders.
He heard Hoseok and Yoongi stand up, so he turned a little to glance at them. Yoongi put his glass in the sink, clearing his throat to get his attention.
“Joon-ah.” he called softly, his eyes cast low. “I'm sorry for snapping at you, earlier.”
Namjoon shook his head, trying to reassure his hyung once again, but Yoongi kept talking.
“I just...” he sighed, scratching his right cheek and taking a quick glance up at Namjoon. “I didn't get any sleep and I was already in a bad mood last night and now it's even worse and it's one of those days even if it's not even fucking 6 am and...” he took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment before reopening them, looking up at him and meeting his gaze. “I know they're all excuses, but I really am sorry.”
Namjoon smiled. He felt the urge to wrap Yoongi into a tight hug, but he wasn't sure if that would be a good idea. So he simply squeezed down on Yoongi's shoulder again. “Hyung, really, it's okay. It wasn't even offensive...” he shrugged, letting go of Yoongi.
“Are you saying you would suck hyung's dick?” piped up Hoseok, his grin innocent but the glint in his eyes mischievous.
Namjoon felt his face become very hot and he almost chocked on his own saliva. “That's– that's not what I meant!” he squealed.
The youngest boys hid their snickers behind their hands as they kept working, pretending to not have heard a thing.
“Uh-uh.” hummed Hoseok, pursing his lips.
“Ya!” protested Namjoon.
“Shh... you're gonna wake hyung up.”
Hoseok winked at him and Namjoon almost hit him with a flick to his forehead. He opted for a quieter way, flipping his friend off. At least Yoongi was smiling.
“Speaking of.” Hoseok turned a little bit serious, inching closer to Yoongi as if they were magnets. “I'm gonna go back with hyung to his room. So we can keep an eye on Seokjin hyung.”
Namjoon wanted to counterattack by saying that it was just an excuse to go back to bed and cuddle, but stopped himself. Yoongi looked like shit. The contrast of the dark circles under his eyes was making his face look even paler than usual. His shoulders were hunched and it looked like it was taking him a lot of energy to simply stand up. Namjoon had noticed, though, how Yoongi always looked a little bit better every time he slept cuddled up to Hoseok. It was as if Hoseok was Yoongi personal charger. But he wasn't sucking the energy off of Hoseok. It worked both ways. They both looked happier and more relaxed.
He felt a smile tug at his lips and let it spread. “Okay.” he said instead.
The maknaes seemed to catch up as well, none of them teasing their hyungs, but simply nodding their agreement.
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As soon as they left the room, Hoseok slipped his hand into Yoongi's, intertwining their fingers. Yoongi held tightly on them, looking in front of himself.
“You think we're being responsible adults by leaving the kids alone in the kitchen?” he asked, his voice barely over a whisper.
Hoseok chuckled softly, swinging their hands. “They'll be fine.”
Yoongi hummed in reply, a small smile on his lips. He stopped in front of the door to his and Seokjin's room, biting down on his lip. “Seok-ah.”
Hoseok waited for him to elaborate, knowing too well how hard it was for him sometimes to say what he was thinking. He caressed his knuckles with his thumb, hoping it would help.
“Thanks.” he finally whispered, meeting Hoseok's eyes and blushing a little.
Hoseok grinned. He lifted up his free hand and brushed Yoongi's dark hair from his forehead, leaning in to leave a quick kiss there. “Of course.” he whispered back.
Yoongi blushed harder and looked down at the floor.
“Let's go back to bed.”
They opened the door, careful to not make any sound. Hoseok was used to sneaking inside his hyungs' room in the middle of the night and in the complete darkness, so he guided Yoongi to his bed. They quietly went under the covers, Yoongi immediately cuddling against Hoseok's side, his head pillowed in the crook of his neck.
Most of the times, Hoseok was the one being the big spoon and holding his hyung, but, somehow, he still felt safe. As if Yoongi being there with him could protect him from anything. It was his safe place. His home.
Before he could realise it, he started to doze off as well, Yoongi's soft snores lulling him to sleep.
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Seokjin woke up suddenly, sure he had heard a noise. He opened his eyes and laid under his blanket, listening carefully. The only thing he could hear was Yoongi snoring lightly. Along with someone else. He sat up, looking over at his friend's bed and finding him in good company. It wasn't the first time he had caught Hoseok and Yoongi cuddling, but he still felt bad. He knew Hoseok liked to cuddle and usually did it with the kids, who also seemed to really enjoy it, but he couldn't understand all the sneaking in the middle of the night just to be together. Why couldn't they just ask to switch rooms if they liked to sleep together so much?
Seokjin sighed, laying back in bed and trying to go back to sleep. His alarm still hadn't gone off, which meant he could catch some more sleep. Maybe. Or maybe it was about to go off. He didn't check the time to not get his hopes up. He was about to doze off again when he heard Hoseok stir and mumble something along the lines of “I shouldn't have fallen asleep too”.
Then, he heard him shake Yoongi awake as well, getting some groans of protest in response. “Hyung, come on, we need to wake up before Seokjin hyung...” he whispered, still trying to wake up Yoongi.
Seokjin had had enough. He opened his eyes, sat up a little and rested his chin on his palm, watching the pair.
Hoseok glanced in his direction and screeched in shock when he realised Seokjin was awake and watching him. That seemed to also wake Yoongi who sat up abruptly, looking around confused. “What?”
“He was just staring creepily at me!” explained Hoseok, a hand on his chest. “He scared me!”
Yoongi looked over at Seokjin, his mouth hanging open. “Ha.”
“I wasn't staring creepily at you.” defended himself Seokjin, sitting up in bed and putting his legs up, resting his chin on his knees to stare at them some more.
“You're still doing it, hyung.” whined Hoseok.
“I'm just looking at you because I don't understand.”
“Don't understand what?” asked Yoongi.
“Why do you keep sneaking around?”
The room was still dark, but Seokjin saw both boys blush to the tips of their ears.
“I know I can't speak for the others as well, but I'm pretty sure if you bring up the subject over dinner or something, we could discuss a different rooms arrangement. I definitely wouldn't mind switching rooms.” he kept his tone soft, hoping to not make the others feel uncomfortable. He just wanted them to be openly happy.
“Um...” Yoongi seemed uncomfortable anyway, fidgeting with his hands in his lap, his eyes cast low.
“Okay.” simply whispered Hoseok, smiling at Seokjin who smiled back.
Yoongi cleared his throat and looked like he wanted to say something too, but was interrupted.
They all stared at the door, which was being opened very slowly. Very slowly. Then Taehyung's nose appeared, sniffing the air.
“I can't smell anything...” he complained with a whispered.
“Hyung! How can you smell if someone is awake?!” came another whisper.
The three hyungs exchanged a look, shaking their heads.
“Ya! We're all awake.” called Yoongi, rolling his eyes.
“Oh.” replied Taehyung, still whispering. He closed the door again, making the others even more confused.
“What are they doing...?” mumbled Seokjin, getting out of bed. But he didn't get the time to stand up that the door was being thrown open and the lights turned on, almost blinding him. “What?”
“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!! Happy birthday dear Jin hyungie~~ Happy birthday to you!!!!”
Seokjin's eyes adjusted to the light and he found himself staring at four of his younger brothers grinning widely, Jimin holding a tray with a bowl of what smelled like seaweed soup.
“Hyung, happy birthday!” he cheered, giving him the tray and clapping his hands happily.
“Jimin hyung and I made it! Here, try it!” said excitedly Jeongguk, holding out a spoon and chopsticks.
“I decorated it!” announced Taehyung.
Seokjin glanced at them suspiciously, before looking down at the bowl in his hands. Some pieces of meat were neatly arranged to form a heart. He sniffed it cautiously, making Hoseok bark out a laugh.
“Ha, hyung!” whined Namjoon. “We're not trying to poison you!!”
“Maybe not on purpose...” teased Seokjin. He put the tray on his thighs and took the offered spoon and chopsticks. “I'm joking. It smells delicious.” He couldn't deny that he was surprised. He hadn't expected his dongsaengs to cook for him. But he was grateful. “Thank you. I'll eat it well.” he said, smiling up at the kids, whose grins became bigger. He took a spoonful of the soup and ate it, letting out a pleased moan as the taste filled his mouth. “It is delicious!”
“Really?”
“Really.” he slurped up some seaweeds and then some meat. “You actually made it?” he asked.
“It was Namjoonie's idea.” piped up Hoseok. He was also sitting up in bed, hugging Yoongi from behind, his chin on the older's shoulder as he watched Seokjin enjoy his meal.
“Well, my idea was to buy it, since I didn't want to set the kitchen on fire for your birthday...” replied sheepishly Namjoon, scratching the back of his head, messing up even more his already messy hair. “But then the others were awake and wanted in too and we just decided to try and make it.”
“How long have you been awake to do this?”
“Not long!” answered Jeongguk.
“It wasn't that hard!” added Jimin, smiling brightly.
As if Seokjin couldn't tell they were both lying. He hid his smile by slurping up some more soup. It really was delicious. For some reason, he suddenly felt like crying. He hadn't eaten seaweed soup for his birthday in a long time, always too busy to even care about it. But then his younger brothers woke up way earlier than usual and went out of their ways just to cook it for him. He cleared his throat, looking up at all of them, one by one. “Thank you.”
“For not setting the kitchen on fire?” chuckled Namjoon, scrunching up his nose adorably.
“Yeah, that too.” he laughed.
Namjoon grinned widely before launching himself on Seokjin's bed, hugging him sideways.
“Ya! Kim Namjoon!” protested Seokjin, still laughing. “Don't make me spill this piece of art!”
“Oh, sorry, sorry!” Namjoon leaned away, sitting on the bed beside him.
“Ya, I didn't say to stop hugging me.”
The three maknaes giggled loudly and then jumped on the bed as well. Before he knew it, he was being hugged by all his members – Hoseok and Yoongi detaching from each other to join in. And in that moment, there was no other place he'd rather be than in the arms of his brothers. His happy place.