Chapter Text
The first time it happens, Yoongi is not even sure what to think, much less what to say.
He is sitting inside his studio, working on a beat that had been stuck in his head for the past 3 days, when he gets a text message from Jimin.
"Are you coming home today hyung?" The younger sent.
Yoongi know why he's asking. He's done it before, stayed in his studio for the night. Sometimes even nights. But he can't bring himself to leave before he's finished. It's not like he would get any sleep anyways, he would go back home only to stay awake, this same song playing again and again on his head until he finished it.
"Who's asking?" He responds, because sometimes Jimin too lets himself be taken away by music in the form of dance practices and Seokjin is the one who's in charge of collecting everyone, even if it means asking Jimin for help reaching the rest of the members.
"Me." Is the one worded answer he gets and that's when he knows something is up. Park Jimin, the boy who makes sure no one misunderstands his intentions so they don't get hurt, never answers texts through one worded sentences. He clicks the "Call" icon right away.
"Hyung?"
"Where are you, Jimin?"
It takes a couple seconds and a few noises from the other side, like Jimin is moving around, but the Yoongi hears his quiet " I'm home."
"Where is everyone?"
"Here, too." Then what could be the problem?
"Are you okay?"
And when it takes more than a few seconds this time, Yoongi knows the answer.
"Did something happen? You can talk to hyung, you know."
"I know."
And then the line goes silent, but Yoongi is patient.
"Hyung, can't you just come home? It's late."
It is pretty late, he notices once he closes the program he was working on, late enough for Jimin to be asleep by now.
"Why aren't you in bed, Jimin?"
"Who said I'm not?" The younger answers.
"Then why aren't you sleeping?"
And when the line goes silent once again, Yoongi he knows he hit the nail on the head.
"I'm coming home, alright? I'm just saving the projects and leaving right away, wait for me."
"Thank you, hyung."
///
When he gets home, the house in silent save for the television on, Taehyung cuddling an asleep Jungkook on the couch.
"Is everyone asleep?" He asks, because once again, it is pretty late.
"Yeah, Hobi hyung and Jimin were the last ones to arrive, but hyung said they had dinner right after dance practice." The younger answers, while combing a hand through Jungkook's hair.
"Is Jimin in his room?" He asks, already walking in that direction.
"Did he message you again, hyung?" Tae furrows his brows in confusion.
"Yeah, but it's ok, I had to come back home eventually." He shrugs "I'm gonna head to bed, don't sleep on the couch or you'll wake up with a sore back."
"I won't. Night, hyung."
"Night."
///
When he gets to Jimin's room, he knocks on the door, but only gets in after the soft "come in" from Jimin.
"Hi, Jiminie." He says, closing the door silently behind him.
"Hi, hyung." The younger answers, followed by a yawn. "Did you finish the song?"
"Not really." He says truthfully, but before Jimin can feel guilty, he continues. "It's okay though, I was stuck on that same part for the past hour or so."
"It's gonna be ok, hyung. I know you can do it." He gives back, and when the soft smile doesn't reach his eyes, Yoongi remembers why he was here in the first place.
"Are you gonna tell hyung what happened?"
"That depends. Are you gonna stand there all night?" The younger asks, raising the covers so Yoongi can get in with him. When they're both comfortable and Jimin has been silent long enough for Yoongi to start thinking he fell asleep is when he finally says something. "I had a nightmare."
"Care to share?" The older asks, and is met with silence. "Jimin?"
"I had a nightmare with hyung." He answers quietly, and before Yoongi can ask anything, he explains further "Hyung didn't come home from the studio, but we didn't mind cause you don't always come home. But you at least shoots us a text. In the nightmare, you were radio silent, so I knew something wasn't right. When I asked Joon hyung if we could come to the studio to check on you, he said you had left. Like, left left. Forever."
"Jimin?"
"It scared me so bad, hyung. I thought he was joking, and then I ran to the studio, but you weren't there. You left a note thanking us for everything but that it was too much and you couldn't keep going." He dries a few tears that scape the corner of his eyes. "I was so scared hyung. I thought you left for real, that's why I asked you to come home. I needed to make sure you would, that you wouldn't leave. That you were still here."
"Jimin-ah." Yoongi starts, his voice rough, but he doesn't know what to say. "Hyung is here now."
"I know, sorry for taking you away from the studio, hyung. I just needed to see you."
"It's okay, Jiminie. Hyung is here now and I'm not leaving. Not now, not ever." He pulls the younger closer to him, thoughts swirling through his head. A nightmare like that would obviously leave an impression on Jimin, but Yoongi didn't think expect the tears. They were all very close, of course it would hurt, but if the nightmare had been that real, how could he blame Jimin for needing a proof that he was staying?
"Promise me that if you ever leave, you'll at least say goodbye." Jimin burries his head on Yoongi's neck, half his speech muffled.
"You won't need a goodbye, Jimin-ah. I'm not leaving, I promise." He leaves a kiss on the younger's head, not knowing what else to do, much less to say. And when he doesn't get an answer but Jimin's breathing slows down, he finally lets out the breath he didn't even know he was holding. With his heart slowly breaking bit by bit thinking of Jimin waking up crying - maybe even sobbing - and his throat feeling raw and scratchy, like he was the one crying, he finally closes his eyes and lets himself be taken by sleep.