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The beat thumped through Devi’s entire being as he sat by the practice room wall. He knew the words to the song by heart. The choreography was simple and, by this time, an extension of his being. He could dance it with his eyes closed, much like the guys could. Watching BTS work on their new summer single was exciting—even more so when Yoongi was no longer in pain. Devi could still remember the pain he felt when Yoongi returned home with his family during recovery.
Devi cried when Yoongi said he didn’t hurt, and he clung to him for days after that. With Yoongi back with them, their family felt whole again. Everything was like it should be, but it was better.
“Hey, Devi-bird,” Jungkook waved at him, “You want to come to take a picture with us?”
Devi perked up and stood from his spot on the floor, “What kind of picture?” He asked, making his way over to the group.
“We’ll make ‘ARMY’, and you’ll be upfront with Namjoon,” Jungkook instructed.
Namjoon held his arms out for their Envoy, and Devi took a running start to jump into his arms. This was normal for them—for all of them. After some years of being with them, Devi was their family. He became more like family when he and Taehyung married, their wedding recorded by the company but hidden away in the archives for the right time—if they’d ever share it.
With Devi in his arms, Namjoon spun around until they were both dizzy.
“How do you want to pose?” He asked him.
“Piggyback?” Devi suggested. “Wait! Let’s make a heart!”
Devi held his arms up, making half a heart for Namjoon to complete.
“I like that,” their leader smiled.
When everyone got into position, Namjoon and Devi took their places. Photos were taken, and afterwards, Jungkook challenged Devi to yet another thing.
“TikTik dance challenge,” Jungkook announced, pointing at Devi.
“Bet,” Devi replied, kneeling to tie his shoes better.
He brushed his messy violet curls from his face when he stood up, smirking at Jungkook.
“What are you looking all smug for? I haven’t even told you the challenge yet.”
“Freestyle, right? No choreo?” Devi guessed, leaving Jungkook silent for a moment.
“...Yeah, okay. I’ll go first,”
“By all means, BunBun, you go first.”
Devi stood to the side while Jungkook set his phone on the tripod and set it to record. The music he played was Butter. Devi could already feel the beat energising him, and he stood just outside the video frame, knowing full well how much space he had to work with after so long.
Jungkook made a few dance moves during the beginning of the song, but it was like he exploded with energy when the chorus started. Jungkook slid out of frame, and Devi entered it when the first chorus was over, making a few dance moves to Taehyung’s verse. When the second chorus started, he gave it everything he had. His hair was in his face by the time the chorus was over.
During the dance break part of the song, Jungkook joined him, and the two of them danced together as though it was practised. The third chorus was both doing the actual choreo together, smiles on their faces, and when the song ended, they stopped in different poses. Jungkook took his usual pose with the choreo while Devi chose one of the ending poses from Dynamite.
They fell into laughter as the rest of the group clapped.
“That was fantastic!” Hoseok cheered, rushing to Devi to pick him up. “You learn so well!”
Devi was all smiles and kissed Hobi on the forehead, “What can I say? I have a great teacher!”
“Having j-hope teach you seems like cheating,” Jungkook complained, “but I’ve learned from him too, so it’s fair.”
“You’re just mad I kicked your butt,” Devi said playfully when Hoseok set him on the floor.
“Did you? I’m pretty sure I won,” Jungkook replied.
Typically, decisions like this were up to the group, but Yoongi had Jungkook’s phone in hand and held it up triumphantly, “ARMY will decide,” He declared.
“You posted it?!” Devi and Jungkook yelled in unison.
“You said ‘TikTok dance challenge’,” Yoongi replied with a shrug.
“Then I guess ARMY will decide,” Devi smiled.
“Winner gets what?” Jungkook asked.
“Bragging rights,” Devi stated.
“That’s it?” Jungkook was unimpressed.
“You’re just mad because I won our hair challenge,” Devi said, flipping his hair from his face.
Jungkook frowned because he knew he had lost that challenge. While he cut his hair for the premiere, Devi refused and kept his hair long. They’d made the challenge to see who could keep their hair long the longest, and it turned out that it was Devi. Devi’s hair, however, was incredibly unmanageable when it was long, which showed by the way it curled awkwardly and was a pain to brush at any point and time. It was like all the perms the Envoy got, in the beginning, were coming back to haunt him, but it was worse.
“Okay, the winner gets bragging rights, and the loser has to make him dinner!” Jungkook crossed his arms.
“Deal,” Devi agreed.
The two clasped hands and did a special handshake they’d come up with together.
It was almost dinner time when they looked at their TikTok video. There were so many comments to look through, and they hadn’t precisely thought about how they would determine the winner.
“Jungkook! Devi! Kitchen!” Jin called, startling the two of them.
They shared a confused look and headed out of Jungkook’s room, where they had been playing games for a while and made their way to the kitchen.
“Yes, Jin?” Devi asked, immediately heading over to help the eldest with dinner, though it was strange… nothing had been set out to prepare.
“Since it seems like you have a tie, both of you will cook dinner for everyone,” Jin said pointedly, “no complaining, no mess, and clean up when you’re done.”
Jin placed a hand on Devi’s head and smiled, knowing full well this was no punishment for either of them.
“Got it,” Devi smiled, heading to the fridge to see what they had to make.
“How’s this fair?” Jungkook complained, but he immediately snapped his mouth shut when Jin eyed him. “Fine, no complaining.”
“Come on, Kookie, we can make something really delicious,” Devi said, pulling some meat and kimchi out.
The maknae nodded, and together they made dinner for the whole family.
The next day the rest of the group took on the challenge that Jungkook and Devi had started. Namjoon danced with Taehyung, Jin with Yoongi, and Hoseok with Jimin. Once their videos were posted, ARMY took off with it, joining the challenge by the hundreds. Summer was going to be a wild ride.