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He knows this is wrong, that if he doesn’t stop soon, he might get hooked on it and then he’s going to have a whole slew of problems later on down the road. But as Jungkook exhales slowly and watches the smoke curl out of his mouth and into the air, he can’t help but find some kind of twisted beauty in it. He’d originally started after he’d met up with a childhood friend a few weeks ago, who had picked up smoking as a stress-reliever. Jungkook had always been opposed to the idea, knowing the risks associated with it. Yet, for some reason, when Kimoon offered him a cigarette, Jungkook’s curiosity had gotten the best of him and he’d taken it. The first one was terribly unpleasant and had caused Jungkook to cough violently while Kimoon laughed at him. “It’ll get easier,” Kimoon had said, whacking Jungkook on the back. The next time he lit up, Jungkook had surprised both of them by asking for another one. Before the weekend was up, he’d bought his first pack. He found that they really did make him feel more relaxed, but whether that was because he’d convinced himself they did or they actually did was a different question.
Lately, they’d been running non-stop and Jungkook really feels the pressure of this comeback weighing heavily on him. He’d been having restless nights of sleep, racing thoughts and climbing anxiety each time he was supposed to go in for an interview with an English journalist because he knows his English is still subpar. Logging into any of their social media accounts for the obligatory post always left him with a million comments about how he could be better, and while everyone else tried to remind him he’s the Golden Maknae, he’d started feeling like he wasn’t fulfilling that title anymore.
“What the hell are you doing?” someone’s voice asks from behind Jungkook, and in his surprise, he inhales a little too sharply and ends up coughing on the smoke he’d just admired moments prior. He brings up his arm to cover his mouth. He’d thought everyone was asleep or out, and that he’d be safe to sneak a cigarette before he went to bed and no one would be the wiser. Clearly, he did not anticipate Namjoon coming home from the studio before midnight and catching him on the balcony.
“Um,” Jungkook struggles to find a reasonable explanation, because there isn’t one. Maybe if he blinks, he’ll discover that this is all a nightmare and the dream will shift, or Jungkook will wake up in his bed, his secrets still his. However, even after blinking a couple of times, Namjoon is still standing in the doorway, frowning at Jungkook with an extremely stony expression on his face.
“Jeon Jungkook, look me in the eyes and tell me you are not smoking right now, on our balcony, where anyone could see you,” Namjoon orders. Even though he looks calm and almost sounds it, Jungkook knows Namjoon well enough to know that he’s pissed. Namjoon and Jungkook both know he’s absolutely incapable of lying straight to any of his hyungs’ faces, but especially Namjoon’s. When Jungkook doesn’t say anything, Namjoon sighs and shakes his head. “I don’t even know what you’re thinking. I know you’re old enough know better. That shit can do permanent damage to your lungs, not to mention what would happen if the press or ARMY saw you somehow.” Jungkook wants to argue that that he’s not a child and there’s no reason for Namjoon to bring his age into this, but he thinks that would just prove Namjoon’s implied point, which is that he’s acting immaturely.
“I’m sorry,” is what he offers meekly instead, avoiding Namjoon’s eyes so he doesn’t have to see Namjoon’s disappointment staring him in the face. “I’ll quit, I –”
“Okay, Jungkook,” Namjoon scoffs, turning around and marching into the dorm and ending the conversation. Jungkook doesn’t know why tears sting at the corner of his eyes, because Jungkook deserves Namjoon’s disappointment and annoyance. Jungkook really shouldn’t be smoking, it’s putting his voice at risk, and by extension, putting all of their careers at stake. Subconsciously, Jungkook lifts the cigarette back to his lips and inhales deeply, holding his breath for a few moments before letting it go again. He feels the tension leave his shoulders as he slumps against the railing, watching the smoke disappear and wishing he could, too. And then Jungkook realizes that he’s still out here smoking where anyone can see him despite Namjoon having chastised him literally seconds ago and feels guilty. Even so, it’s not enough for Jungkook to go back inside until after he’s finished the cigarette a few minutes later.
Fuck, Jungkook’s selfish.
Jungkook doesn’t sleep well that night, replaying the conversation he’d had with Namjoon over and over again in his head until it feels like he’s reliving it over and over. He hates disappointing his hyungs. They’ve helped him grow so much that Jungkook is going to owe them for the rest of his life, and probably all of the ones after that. The thought of him repaying them with disappointment makes his stomach turn.
Even though he’s able to doze off for a few hours, he can’t shake the negative thoughts and he ends up getting up an hour before everyone’s alarms are supposed to go off. The sun is just starting to rise, so Jungkook starts the coffee machine and steps out onto the balcony to watch. He doesn’t even realize he’s reaching into his sweatpants pocket for a light until he’s holding the lighter in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Jungkook hadn’t realized how used he’d gotten to smoking whenever he felt some stressed out. He peeks his head back into dorm but doesn’t hear anyone stirring. He’s probably fine to have one smoke, just one.
So he lights the cigarette between his lips, hand cupped around the light so the light breeze doesn’t put it out. He inhales deeply as he slips the lighter back into his pocket and leans his forearms against the railing to look out over Seoul. Everything seems so peaceful and quiet. It’s been a while since Jungkook has woken up early enough in the morning to appreciate it, although Jungkook really does value his sleep and doesn’t want to make a habit of this, no matter how serene it is. He smokes through his first cigarette in no time, lighting up a second just because he wants to keep the buzz in his veins a little longer. Especially since they have a full schedule today and it’s likely that Jungkook won’t get a chance to sneak off for a cigarette until they get back home later. Plus, he knows nicotine is an appetite suppressor and since management suggested they all try and lose a few kilos, he figures he probably won’t be hungry for breakfast.
“Kookie, the coffee machine has been beeping for ages ohmygodwhatareyoudoing?” Shit. Jungkook tries to hide the cigarette behind his back as he turns to smile at Jimin, who is staring back at him wide-eyed. He feels even worse when he sees Jungkook’s favorite mug in Jimin’s hand, full of coffee that Jungkook has no doubt has the perfect amount of cream and sugar in it for his tastes. He thought he couldn’t feel any worse after Namjoon had caught him, but looking into Jimin’s slightly confused and shocked eyes makes him feel like he might actually be human garbage.
“Uh, hyung,” Jungkook says, and then his mind blanks. He goes to drop his cigarette so he can subtly stomp it out and make something up, but Jimin moves faster than him and grabs Jungkook’s arm so quickly that Jungkook doesn’t even think about reacting until Jimin’s holding Jungkook’s wrist and smoke is blowing directly into Jimin’s face. “Hyung, what –?”
“Jungkook, are you… smoking?” Jimin asks, despite the answer being completely obvious, which would be comical if they were discussing anything other than this. Jungkook once again finds himself unable to respond, not wanting to say the truth out loud. He tries to move his hand such that the smoke doesn’t keep blowing in Jimin’s face because that must be disgusting, but Jimin’s hand keeps Jungkook’s right in place.
“Yes,” Jungkook admits defeatedly once it becomes clear that Jimin is not going move until Jungkook says something verbally.
“Why?” is Jimin’s next question. He looks less disappointed than Namjoon had, but much sadder. Jungkook doesn’t know which one is worse. He doesn’t even know how to answer Jimin’s question and curses himself for starting the second cigarette, which he’s not even going to get to finish at this rate. He needs to finish this conversation before anyone else gets up and finds out as well. It’s bad enough he’s slipped up twice in less than twelve hours when he’d been able to get away with it for months with some mouthwash and body spray.
“It’s just a one-time thing, and it tastes terrible,” Jungkook lies easily, scrunching his face up in a mock expression of disgust. He hopes Jimin buys it, and he puts out his cigarette before dropping it off the balcony. He probably shouldn’t have littered, but at this point, Jungkook will do anything to get out of here. Jimin’s expression softens, and he hands Jungkook the mug of coffee which makes Jungkook feel guilty about lying to him.
“Okay, well just don’t do it again. You know Namjoon-hyung and Jin-hyung would probably freak out, not too mention we need your lungs in tip top shape,” he teases, pinching at Jungkook’s side before skipping inside where Jungkook can now hear who he assumes Jin is starting breakfast for those who want it. Jungkook sighs heavily to himself, hoping that Namjoon and Jimin don’t happen to compare notes.
Jungkook works a lot harder to keep his smoking a secret. Namjoon doesn’t approach him about it again, but Jungkook catches him giving him suspicious looks every time he takes a break from anything to go to the bathroom or go get a drink of water. When one of the vocal instructors tells Jungkook he should work on his breath control a little more on his own, Namjoon is standing on the other side of the glass, giving him an indecipherable look. Jungkook knows he’s fucked up, but even so, he still can’t find it in him to stop.
He starts going so far as to smoke out his own window in the mornings or taking the elevator down to the floor level and standing at the back of the complex at night to avoid anyone finding him. He gets irritable during the day when he doesn’t have a smoke, and so he starts taking ‘long walks’ during the lunch breaks to ‘clear his head’ and ‘get some inspiration’. He tries not to met Namjoon’s eyes when he says it, but Namjoon’s been pretty busy lately meeting with managers and producers during any breaks in their schedules that he usually isn’t around. Jin praises him each time for being such a hardworking maknae, slipping a few bills in his pockets and tightening his scarf, making Jungkook promise he’ll pick up some food from a stall along the way and be back in time for the next rehearsal or recording session or meeting or whatever.
The only thing Jungkook manages to do right is drop the kilos their one manager had requested since he drinks coffee for breakfast and only is hungry enough for a pastry or small sandwich at lunch time. He uses the rest of Jin’s money to buy cigarettes when he runs out, more guilt swirling in his stomach each time he hands over the bills to the convenience store cashier. When the manager praises him after their most recent weigh in, Yoongi throws his arm around Jungkook’s shoulder and quietly promises to treat him to lamb skewers for dinner later that night as a congratulations.
He must get too complacent, which he only realizes once Jin barges into his room while Jungkook is smoking out his window about an hour and a half after everyone goes to bed. Jungkook hadn’t bothered to lock his door as he still needed to shower, and he’d assumed everyone would be long asleep. He probably should have locked it, he thinks, looking up to see Jin standing frozen in his doorway with his hand on the doorknob, whatever words he was going to say dying in his throat before he can say them.
“Jeon Jungkook,” Jin finally says, and Jungkook winces, setting the cigarette down on the ashtray next to his window. He’d thought it was bad when Namjoon said his full name, but he’d forgotten that Jin saying it actually reminds him of his eomma chastising him rather than his idol, and it definitely hurts him a little differently and a little deeper. “So you didn’t actually stop.” Jungkook opens his mouth and closes it immediately after, feeling a little blindsided even though he knows he deserves it.
“You –?”
“Namjoon told me months ago,” Jin explains, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “He was really upset, you know, but I told him you were probably stressed, and he was just tired, and if you said you would quit then you would because you would never lie to us. Especially when you know this puts all of our careers at risk, not to mention your own health.” Jungkook didn’t think it was possible to feel any worse, but apparently it is. “And when Hoseok found a lighter when he was putting your laundry in the wash, I just assumed you’d meant to throw it out so I did for you, because I thought, why would Jungkook need a lighter if he’d stopped smoking?” Jungkook winces as Jin’s voice takes on more of a sharper edge. “But I guess you haven’t, have you?” Jungkook doesn’t even have to answer, instead dropping his gaze to the floor and inspecting it as if it was the most interesting thing he’d ever seen in his entire life. “This is a problem, and we’re going to talk about it, right now. With everyone.”
“What? No, we don’t have to do that, I’m quitting, I swear,” Jungkook tries, but Jin shakes his head.
“If I could trust you on this, I would, but I really don’t think I can,” he frowns and turns on his heel to march back out into the dorm. That sentence feels more like a slap in the face than if Jin had actually reached out and struck him. He might have actually preferred that, honestly. Jungkook doesn’t know if he’s supposed to be following him or staying, so he walks over to the door to peek out into the hallway. Jin is going door to door and waking everyone up, which is going to make the members hate him even more than if they’d just waited until a reasonable hour to do this. Jungkook itches for a smoke and wonders how bad of an idea it would be to turn around and lock himself into the bedroom for a smoke, and then remembers exactly why Jin is waking everyone up in the middle of the night and thinks no one would think too highly of him if he does that.
“What’s going on?” Taehyung chirps, poking his head into the hall, looking much too awake for anyone who would have just been woken up. Which probably means he was not yet asleep, and Jungkook really should have checked to make sure everyone was before he just recklessly lit up with an unlocked door.
“We’re having an intervention,” Jin informs him flatly, returning to Jungkook’s side and dragging him out to the living room. He’s pushed onto the couch, and the other six members in various states of sleepiness stand in front of him. Jungkook really would like the floor to open up and swallow him whole. “Jungkook, would you like to explain what we’re all doing here at 1:13 in the morning?” Jungkook grimaces as he watches Yoongi glower into his blanket and Hoseok involuntarily let out a big yawn. He really is selfish. He should have been more careful, or better yet, shouldn’t even have taken Kimoon’s offer for that first cigarette. Or, he shouldn’t have let Kimoon’s laughing at his inexperience as a challenge to be able to smoke without coughing. “Okay, well if Jungkook’s not going to own up to it, I’ll just say it: Jungkook’s been smoking.” Jungkook really doesn’t want to watch everyone’s reactions, but he also can’t find it in him to tear his eyes away from their faces. Taehyung and Hoseok look mildly shocked, Yoongi’s face is unreadable, Jimin looks even sadder than the first time he’d caught Jungkook, Jin still looks pretty furious, and Namjoon… Jungkook has never seen Jungkook look this disappointed ever.
“Still?” Namjoon questions, although it doesn’t quite sound like he expects an answer. “You said you were going to quit. We talked about how you should have known better about this, and you said you would quit. Months ago.”
“I know, I’m…” Jungkook trails off, not knowing what it is that he is.
“You lied to me,” Jimin breathes out, almost too quiet for Jungkook to catch. “You said it was a one time thing, but you just lied. Right to my face, and you, you d-didn’t even hesitate.” Taehyung wraps his arms around Jimin’s waist instantly while Jimin sniffles, and Jungkook feels like scum. He’s made Jimin cry because he’s a terrible human being.
“I wanted to quit, I tried! But –”
“Did you? Did youseriously try?” Namjoon asks, sounding resigned, and Jungkook swallows hard. Did he? Each time Jungkook had woken up, swearing to cut back the number of cigarettes, something had happened and then he’d end up with a light in his hand and smoke curling out of his mouth. He didn’t look into any smoking alternatives, just chose to try and hide it better. His silence gives them all the answers they need, and Namjoon sighs. “Yeah, okay. Jungkook, I cannot believe you. We have the biggest comeback of our careers coming up, and you’re ready to risk it for – for what? What are you accomplishing with this?”
“I’ve just been stressed,” Jungkook mumbles, and Namjoon throws his hands up.
“We’re all stressed, Jungkook! Yoongi and I are in the production studio every single night making sure the songs that you can’t even sing anymore, are perfect. Hoseok is in the dance studio every single night, choreographing routines that you can’t even get through anymore. Taehyung, Jimin and Jin are stepping in and filling in more than their equal share because you can’t pull yourself together and act like an adult for once!” There’s a gasp from one of the members but Jungkook can’t figure out which one, too busy trying not to burst into tears at Namjoon’s lecture. He knows they’re all stressed. He’s not the only one in this band, and he should have been thinking of the others, has been thinking of the others, and yet at the end of the day, he’s still just a selfish child. Not good enough for them.
Jungkook doesn’t even realize that’s he’s stood up, doesn’t hear the rest of them calling his name, doesn’t even register his feet moving until he’s running out the door with shoes that he doesn’t remember putting on and no jacket. He doesn’t register the sound of some of the rest of the band running after him, doesn’t take note of which streets he’s running in until he’s sitting on a cold bus, which he then realizes he has no jacket.
-
They lose track of him pretty fast. Hoseok is able to follow him three blocks, but Jungkook manages to cross a street while Hoseok has to wait for a bus to pass and when it finally does, Jungkook is nowhere to be seen and Hoseok has no idea which way he might have gone. When he turns back around, he sees Yoongi running down the street to catch up.
“He’s gone,” he tells him, watching Yoongi’s breaths turn into little clouds as he tries to catch his breath. “There was a bus, and… where’s everyone else?” Yoongi grimaces, straightening back up as he regains air in his lungs.
“They all stayed behind,” he tells him, and Hoseok frowns. Sure, smoking isn’t Jungkook’s smartest decision, but he doesn’t understand why everyone is reacting like this. Jungkook had looked like he was going to cry the entire time they were berating him, and Hoseok wonders if they’d noticed his hands start to shake. Hoseok was too stunned to say anything while Namjoon was speaking, and by the time he’d gathered his wits enough, Jungkook was halfway out the door.
“I don’t understand why this is such a big deal?” Hoseok questions, holding out his hand for Yoongi to grab on to as they turn back toward the dorm.
“Oh, I have a few choice words to say to them,” Yoongi all but growls, and despite the severity of the situation, Hoseok can’t help but grin at Yoongi’s protectiveness over their maknae. “I don’t care if Kookie has murdered someone, that is no way to talk to him.” His pace quickens, and Hoseok has to quicken his to keep up. “And now, Kook-ah is out god knows where, with no coat, no mask, where anyone could see him.”
“He’s going to be okay,” Hoseok tries, but he doesn’t know if he’s trying to convince himself or Yoongi more. The two of them fall quiet for the rest of the journey back to the dorm. He flings open the door, not even waiting to see if Hoseok is following him, and barges right into the living room where the rest of the band sit.
“Did you find –?” Taehyung stops suddenly, watching as Hoseok enters behind Yoongi and shuts the door firmly. Yoongi paces the length of the living room, and Hoseok plops down in one of the armchairs, waiting until Yoongi’s very short fuse is set off. Everyone watches Yoongi, the tension become more palpable as the silence grows and finally Namjoon clears his throat.
“He was acting immaturely,” he starts, but before he can finish Yoongi stops pacing and whirls to face him.
“Kook-ah? You mean, our maknae was acting immaturely? What a foreign concept!”
“He could ruin our comeback!” Namjoon yells back, jumping to his feet. “We’ve been prepping for months, and he’s not even trying! Open your eyes, Yoongi, we’re all working ourselves to death and he’s smoking himself to death!” His words hang in the air while everyone lets them sink in.
“It would serve you well to remember that I am your hyung. I smoke too, and you’ve never had a problem with that. Instead of attacking him, maybe we should have been trying to find out why he was so stressed that he felt nicotine could help him more than we could,” Yoongi replies calmly, but voice steely. He turns on Jin next, who has been sitting silently, watching the whole exchange. “Having an intervention where he felt ganged up on could only have made things worse. Did you stop to think about that, hyung?” Jin doesn’t answer, instead looking down at the floor, ashamed. “Our maknae is out there because he felt the only way to get out of this was to run away.” Namjoon has sat back down, and Taehyung and Jimin stay curled up around each other, too distraught to say anything. “I’m going to call Sejin-hyung.” Yoongi stalks off toward the kitchen, and Hoseok thinks he’s never been prouder of his Yoongi-hyung.
-
By the time Jungkook realizes that he’s cold, he’s sat on a park bench in a park he doesn’t think he’s ever been in. He wonders how long it will take for someone to stumble upon him and realize that he’s Jeon Jungkook, Golden Maknae of BTS, sitting alone in the middle of the night. Jungkook craves a smoke, but he remembers he’d left his pack and his lighter by his windowsill, where he’d been. He can see a convenience store not all that far away and he’s momentarily tempted to go buy a smoke, but Namjoon’s words ring in his head. Can’t pull yourself together and act like an adult. He feels tears stinging at his eyes and wipes at them, but more come and fall down his cheeks. If anyone did see him, they wouldn’t think he was Golden Maknae, they’d think exactly what Namjoon had said. He wonders if everyone’s been thinking it for a long time.
He’s scared at how reliant he’s become on cigarettes to relax him. He knows Namjoon is right, that continuing to smoke is going to impact his performances, and with a comeback so soon, he really should cut them out of his life. He needs to find a better way to deal with his stress, and Jungkook knows exactly where to start. He picks up his phone but finds that he’s still too nervous to call Namjoon (who can’t drive anyways), or Jin, so he settles on calling his next oldest: Yoongi. Yoongi picks up on the first ring.
“Suga-hyung?” Jungkook greets him, and he can hear Yoongi’s sigh of relief. Now he’s gone and stressed out the other members with his own childish tantrum, and Jungkook almost hangs up on Yoongi just to figure out how to get home on his own.
“Kookie,” Yoongi replies gently, “I was worried about you, brat. Where are you?” Despite the name, his tone is slightly teasing, and Jungkook knows he’s made the right decision.
“Uh, I don’t know,” Jungkook admits. “If I send you my location, will you come and get me?”
“Of course, you just hang tight and hyung will be there in no time,” Yoongi promises, and Jungkook can hear him moving around on the other end and the other’s voices. “Are you doing okay?” Jungkook hesitates, and then takes a deep breath.
“I really want a smoke, hyung, but I’m trying not to,” he admits, deciding the other part can wait until they’re actually in person. “Can you, can you just distract me until you get here?” He swipes over to share his location with Yoongi in the meantime.
“I really shouldn’t Kook-ah, I’m driving,” Yoongi reminds him, and Jungkook wants to smack himself for not feeling logically. “But I can bring someone along, and they can? Who do you want to talk to?”
“Jimin-hyung,” Jungkook decides. Yoongi must cover the speaker with his hand, and he can hear Yoongi calling for Jimin and some more muffled conversation. A particularly cold breeze comes through and Jungkook can’t help but shiver.
“Kookie?” Jimin’s voice says eventually. Jungkook can’t really hear the other noise anymore, so Jimin must have put in his wireless headphones. “It’s hyung. I’m sorry for reacting the way I did, you’re clearly under a lot of stress and –”
“No, hyungie, I’m sorry,” Jungkook cuts him off, “I know I shouldn’t have lied and I’m sorry for lying to you. I just didn’t want you to worry and I know it was stupid and I swear I’ll never lie to you ever again.” All of the words come out in a big rush, and Jungkook hopes to whatever deity exists that Jimin isn’t secretly really mad at him despite apologizing. He doesn’t expect Jimin to laugh on the other end, but the sound makes Jungkook feel comfortable and he feels the corners of his mouth turn up.
“I’ll remember that next time I ask who ate my honey butter chips and you tell me it was Taehyung.” Jungkook can hear the smile in Jimin’s voice, knowing Jimin has forgiven him. “Speaking of which, you’ll never guess which snacks Hobi-hyung has been hiding in his desk…”
When Yoongi’s car pulls up, Jungkook isn’t all that surprised to see everyone tumbling out of the car. Jimin hangs up the phone call and immediately crosses over to where Jungkook is probably frozen on the bench, plopping down next to him and wrapping his arms around him. Jin is the next one to reach them, draping a coat over his shoulders and sticking his hands in mittens. Jungkook can see him wince when he feels how cold his fingers are, and briefly wonders just how long he’s been out here. Everyone else comes over, Yoongi sitting on Jungkook’s other side and rubbing Jungkook’s now mitten-clad hands. Hoseok, Jin and Taehyung stand in front of the bench, and Namjoon stands somewhat behind them, his own hands shoved into his pockets and his eyes aimed downwards.
“I’m sorry hyungs, I know I fucked up,” Jungkook says, leaning into Jimin’s embrace and clutching at Yoongi’s hands. “I should have tried harder to quit, and I’m going to this time, I swear.” He looks up at Namjoon. “Namjoon-hyung, I’m so sorry.”
“No, Kook-ah, I’m sorry,” Namjoon replies gently, coming to stand closer to Jungkook. “We’re sorry. I know it’s no excuse for how I spoke to you, but I also let the stress get to me. You’re more important than any comeback, and I’m sorry I told you you were being immature. You can still dance circles around me.”
“You can say that again,” Hoseok scoffs, and Yoongi snickers next to him. Taehyung elbows Hoseok, causing him to yelp and jump in surprise. Jungkook laughs along with everyone else at Hoseok’s surprised face, complete with the wide eyes.
“Anyways,” Namjoon says loudly, “I’m also sorry you didn’t feel like you could come to us. We’re always here for you, Kook, no matter what time of day or what we’re doing.”
“I know, and I’m coming to you now,” Jungkook says, standing up and walking to stand in front of Namjoon. “I want to quit, and I need your help.” He looks at all of his hyungs, who are still wearing their pajamas and Taehyung only has one glove and Jin’s jacket is over his shoulders and he’s pretty sure Hoseok is wearing two different shoes, who drove fifteen minutes away way past the middle of the night to come pick him up in a park. “All of you guys. I’m feeling a lot of pressure with this upcoming comeback and I want to talk about it.” He reaches out for Namjoon, who wraps his arms around him without hesitation.
“Let’s at least go somewhere warm to talk about it,” Jin groans, but he presses a kiss to Jungkook’s head as they lead him back to the car to go home and Jungkook presses an intentionally sloppy kiss back on Jin’s cheek before jumping in the car to avoid retaliation. And he finds he’s not actively craving a cigarette anymore, because his hyungs make him feel relaxed enough.
(All of his problems aren’t solved that night, and there are sometimes where Jungkook gives in to his cravings and has a smoke. But his hyungs are right there to pick him back up when he relapses, reminding him that he doesn’t have to be the Golden Maknae, they just want him to be their maknae. Jungkook finds it’s a lot easier to work on quitting smoking with his hyungs’ love and support by his side than by his own.)