Chapter Text
It was hard to pinpoint the exact moment where Namjoon caught on to it. He was a busy man after all. It was hard for anyone to understand everything that was going on, especially now that they were getting accolades and more media attention. The weight of it all fell heavy on Namjoon’s shoulder, but he was not the type to complain. Complaining would be like giving up, and he knew that people counted on him to remain strong, supplying him with all the support he needed. If Namjoon fell, BigHit would as well.
So when Namjoon was sitting in the living room well past midnight trying to enjoy some downtime whilst the noisiest members were off to bed, he didn’t expect his heart to be thrashed and his windpipes crushed.
Maybe he was feeling the effect of the Ambien a little early. But his eyes were focused on Jimin chewing bubble gum on the chair slightly opposed to him, scrolling down the media feed on his phone.
Jimin wasn’t feeling too well lately; his spirits were a bit down because he wasn’t sure he liked the persona the producers had stuck him with. Jimin, like Namjoon, liked cute things and downtime. He was happy as long as everyone was happy. He didn’t ask for a lot of maintenance, but Namjoon knew better than anyone that those who need help most aren’t the ones who ask for it.
He’d hoped that the maknae line would grow closer with time, and maybe they were close but Jimin always seemed like he needed an extra push, because he worked extra hard.
Namjoon was more than willing to be that for him, even though sometimes it was hard to tell what Jimin wanted or needed to hear. He liked simple compliments and appreciated in depth observations, but Namjoon could always tell that Jimin was having trouble trusting his every word. Growing was about overcoming insecurities, but it was hard when the negative voices were overwhelmingly loud.
A slight noise erupting from the kitchen disrupted his train of thought and a particularly loud and disheveled maknae appeared, rotating on his heels as he took in Namjoon just sitting there in his pajamas and Jimin in a hoodie and sweatpants.
He bit on his lip as if he didn’t expect his leader to be there, especially considering what he was holding.
Hairspray…. And a lighter.
Namjoon felt the blood in his veins chill as the maknae approached, obviously unsure whether or not he was making a mistake. Jungkook was a nice kid, a good kid, and Namjoon knew that the gags and pranks he pulled were never for his benefit entirely. No, Jimin liked Jungkook’s pranks. He seemed to enjoy how eccentric they were and how creative and different they could be from one time to the other. Truthfully, Namjoon allowed him one over the top prank every month. It wasn’t that he was concerned about his safety, or the rest of Bangtan’s… he just believed that giving Jungkook an inch could only mean him taking a mile.
It was alarming how right Namjoon was sometimes…
Jungkook seemed to make his decision and Namjoon watched, a little terrified as Jungkook started rambling about how in another life he was probably a dragon and that if he did his name would be a bad pun. Namjoon glanced at Jimin, already sweating but his worries took another direction when he saw the look on Jimin’s face.
Jimin was smiling, fucking beaming. His phone was idle in his lap, forgotten as he giggled, listening attentively to Jungkook’s rant and all of the sudden there was a gush of fire and Jimin clapped happily, eyes disappearing into a line as they did when he laughed.
Namjoon was floored. First of all, the smoke alarm was about to blast off he just knew it. And then there was this, this mess of teenagers and hormones that was unfolding before him. Jimin was laughing so hard he was bent in half and Jungkook was having a giggle fit on the floor. Namjoon took the lighter out of his hands, meeting no resistance whatsoever and hurried to crack open a window, concerned about the smell more than the other members waking.
Yoongi was not going to be thrilled, but Namjoon knew that he wouldn’t get up to voice that particular annoyance. Hoseok and Taehyung however…
Namjoon grabbed Jungkook by the ankles and proceeded to drag him out of the living before Jimin was to die of a seizure. He dropped him in his room and for all he knew, he might have just saved someone’s life. Jungkook offered no resistance, obviously too tired to come up with anything other than bad puns and dangerous tricks. Namjoon watched him climb into his bed and fall flat on his stomach and face buried in his pillow. He waited until Jungkook gasped for air and then nodded and closed the door.
When Namjoon returned to the living room to collect Jimin, he found him asleep, mouth hanging open and drool dripping from the corners of his mouth. It was gross, it was endearing and Namjoon couldn’t find it himself to wake him up even though it meant he would wake up with a sore neck.
He turned off the lights and exited, the ambien demanding that his brain shut off completely. He laid on his back, the image of giggling Jimin burned into the back of his head.
Maybe he was wrong, maybe all that Jimin needed was Jungkook.
An incredibly chaotic and dumb Jungkook.