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Jungkook could see from Namjoon's gaze that they were in serious trouble. It took all of his willpower to disguise the sheer panic he felt at the light touch of the leader on his back, signaling that he would give no more warnings. He had to admit that maybe, just maybe, they had stepped out of line a bit. The rapper had not stopped sending glances at them throughout Hoseok's speech, while the three youngest of the group were joking around right there, paying no attention to the dancer's words.
They weren't doing it to disrespect their hyung, they were just having fun for a bit! Jimin had said something really funny right before going on stage, and it was practically impossible for the three of them to stop playing around a bit. He blamed, in part, on the nervous energy that washed over him every time they stood in front of so many people to receive one more award. Taehyung had tried to stay serious, but soon after he had joined the conversation, not caring much when Seokjin had given them that "don't ask me for help when Namjoon has enough of you" look.
Jimin wasn't feeling much better either. He clearly knew that his leader hated it when they didn't behave perfectly in public. But it wasn't that bad, was it? They were just giggling a little, and surely Hobi wouldn't mind at all if they weren't paying as much attention to him as he spoke. However, when Namjoon passed behind the three of them, he clearly heard an "I warned you", which managed to freeze him on his site. He knew there was a long scolding coming once the awards ceremony was over.
After receiving the trophy, the seven of them filed back to their seats. The maknaes managed to remain silent after that, but they couldn't help but be disturbed by the looks their leader was throwing. Jungkook could hear Seokjin whisper something to Namjoon, which sounded a lot like "do it when we get home," but the leader didn't seem very convinced.
There was a halftime for the group several minutes later. They were to march to his dressing room to prepare for his presentation, which would close the evening's ceremony. The organizers had decided to do something simple, just a performance without choreography, for which Jungkook was grateful. It had been a long and exhausting week.
Right when they entered the dressing room, Namjoon decided to act. He had made up his mind, despite Seokjin's brief opposition. However, his hyung respected him enough as a leader and let him deal with the situation as he saw fit.
It was not the first time that he had to scold them for breaking protocol at such events. Jungkook constantly disappeared when they were receiving an award and he openly refused to say a few words of thanks. Taehyung didn't bother trying to hide his discomfort and disinterest when an event seemed boring to him. Jimin generally didn't give them trouble, but sometimes he decided to bring out the playful side of him just when the situation warranted otherwise.
Most of the time, the hyungs could find the behavior of the youngest in the group funny, or at least tolerable, but they had an image to portray! Right in front of them were the biggest predators in their industry, ready to point out any mistakes. They couldn't afford to act like rookies.
Yes, the boys had definitely just earned the whipping he was willing to give them, and he would not wait for this punishment. He needed them, once and for all, to learn to behave in public. When he made sure that the seven were inside, he approached his makeup coordinator Noona and asked her to leave them alone for 10 minutes. He wouldn't need more than that, and luckily they would have another 15 minutes to prepare for their last performance.
Taehyung could notice the sudden activity of the staff, who without saying more began to leave the room, until only the seven of them were there. He didn't like where this was going. His hyungs had no qualms about scolding them right in front of all of his staff. The Noonas were already more than used to hiding a couple of tears from their face with makeup when their arguments got very heated.
"Moonie-hyung, I want to apologize to you," it was Jimin who took the initiative. He felt really embarrassed that he had to be the target of a scolding. He knew that he should act more maturely; instead, he had been the one who had started the jokes up on stage.
“It is not with me that you should apologize,” Namjoon cut in with a stern expression, then turned to the three youngest, “you owe everyone an apology, especially Hobi-ah. What the hell were you doing? Are we newbies? Haven't we been at this long enough? You guys behaved like children, where do you think you are, boys? This is not our apartment or a concert! There are hundreds of eyes in front of us waiting for us to ruin it, and you put us on a silver platter with such ridiculous behavior!"
The faces of the three turned red. Jungkook stared at the ground. He felt like an idiot for being scolded like a damn child, and by one of the people he most admired in the world. Beside him, Taehyung couldn't help but snort.
"Do you have something to say, Taehyung-ah?" scolded Namjoon. The boy fidgeted at his position and pressed his lips together, not daring to say anything.
"Don't be rude, Taehyung-ah," Seokjin chimed in. He had decided that the leader would take care of the situation, but he couldn't help but defend Namjoon at the boy's attitude. "Come on, answer your hyung."
"You don't have to scold us like kids," he muttered with a pout, which made it very difficult for him to look as mature as he intended.
"Then stop acting like kids," Namjoon said.
Taehyung decided to remain silent. He certainly was embarrassed at his hyungs, but they were seriously taking it to heart! And he really hated when people pointed out him as immature. Jungkook could see and understand the anger of the youngest of his hyungs; he hated being treated like a child as much as Taehyung did, but he decided to keep quiet. Jimin, on the other hand, already felt like crying. He hated to disappoint his hyungs!
Hoseok watched silently from across the room. He was certainly irritated a bit by the lack of seriousness of the boys in situations like this, and he couldn't help but be offended because, as always, it was his fair. Sometimes the maknaes didn't seem to have the slightest respect for him. He was sure that if any of the other hyungs had been giving their speech, the boys would have remained completely silent.
Yoongi didn't want to get involved either. Frankly, he couldn't help but side with Namjoon. Even after such a long time, it never ceased to amaze him that the three maknaes were professional enough to handle all the responsibilities of their busy lives, but that at times they couldn't behave like the young adults they were supposed to be. Yoongi could easily see how far the leader would go to put an end to the attitude of his youngest members, and while part of him wanted to feel sorry for the boys, the other just wanted this to end so he could go to sleep at home.
Namjoon knew that he couldn't waste any more time, so he sent his hands to his belt as he spoke again:
"Okay, enough talk," he said, pulling the belt out of his loops. "Taehyung, you go first."
"W-what?"
Three pairs of eyes widened in disbelief. Would they seriously be punished for something so ridiculous? And why did Taehyung have to be the first? He hadn't even started this! It had been Jungkook and Jimin who started their jokes.
“Put down your pants and bend over the dresser. Now."
Taehyung continued to freeze in his position. Jungkook frantically glared at the two youngest hyungs. Was this really going to happen!?
"Hyung ... please, you don't have to do this," Jimin spoke. His cheeks turned a deep crimson. He hadn't been spanked for centuries, much less in front of everyone. And definitely not in a dressing room, minutes from going on stage! "We're so sorry, aren't we guys? You-you don't need to do this!"
"It's already decided, Jimin-ah," Namjoon had no interest in budging. As he saw that Taehyung was still frozen in his place, he took his arm and turned him himself.
"H-hyung, not here!" Taehyung complained, trying with little success to get away from his leader. Actually, he offered little resistance. He was extremely embarrassed to make a big enough scandal for the entire staff outside the dressing room to hear. "We have a presentation in minutes!"
“And that's why we don't have time to waste. Consider yourselves lucky that we won't have to dance” Namjoon said, pushing Taehyung's body on the surface and reaching for the button on his pants. He pulled them down along with his underwear, with the skill that years of caring for the group's maknaes had given him.
The leader had decided to dish out a short punishment, just harsh enough for the boys to understand that if they were willing to act immature in public, they would also be willing to receive punishment in return. He started with Taehyung because, in the first place, he would take only ten hits with the belt; after all, he knew perfectly well that the boy had hardly participated in this. And secondly, Taehyung was always the most troublesome of the three when it came to being punished, so he decided to put an end to it quickly.
He raised the belt in the air and lowered it with a loud SMACK. He knew well that his Noonas would hear everything from the outside, but they were aware of the discipline within the group. Plus, a little public embarrassment was just what the boys needed.
Taehyung managed to stifle a growl. He felt livid for being treated like a little boy. It had been almost a year since he was whipped, and he really felt that his leader was being unfair to him. However, the feeling of shame that washed over him for putting himself in this situation was even greater. Three more blows fell and he couldn't help but gasp out loud. With the fifth blow he let out a cry and tried to cover his backside.
"AHHH, H-Hyung, that's enough!" he groaned when the hand on his back prevented him from turning. The next five blows fell in quick succession and were strong enough to bring tears to his eyes. He felt that the hand holding him was withdrawn, so he interpreted it as a sign that the punishment was over. Quickly, he replaced the clothes in their place, but didn't bother to wipe his eyes. The makeup Noonas would take care of that.
"Something to say, Taehyung-ah?" Namjoon asked, seemingly unmoved.
The boy briefly looked up at his members. Jungkook and Jimin wore real scared looks. Yoongi seemed to ignore the situation as he scrolled on his phone screen. Hoseok and Seokjin looked uncomfortably from across the room, as if holding back their urge to stop the leader.
Taehyung definitely had several things to say, but he knew his hyungs wouldn't like to hear his discontent, and frankly he just wanted to get this over with, so he just mumbled "I'm sorry."
Namjoon nodded satisfied. He knew it was the kind of punishment that no member would contritely accept. This was a quick reminder of their places and how immature their attitude was.
"Your turn, Jungkook-ah," the leader pointed out.
The maknae raised his agitated gaze. He still couldn't believe this was happening. He had always hated every one of his punishments, but he definitely hated them even more when some other member had to witness it, and now all six of them would be there to watch him take a whipping on his bare ass. He resorted to his usual strategy: stare at Seokjin with doe eyes. However, the oldest of his hyungs only responded with a sad look that clearly said "I told you so." With a defeated sigh, he undressed his butt and took the same position that Taehyung had occupied.
Namjoon did not delay the punishment. He had decided that both he and Jimin would take 15 hits, since they were the ones who started the mess. Furthermore, just a few days ago he had scolded Jungkook for his behavior at the awards. He decided that the maknae deserved to listen to this point.
"We had already discussed this, Jungkook-ah," Namjoon scolded as he dropped his belt, "I hope this is the last time I repeat to you what the proper behavior is in public, do you understand?"
Jungkook had been biting his fist to drown out any sound coming out of his mouth. Why did he have to be the one to be scolded in the middle of punishment?! That made him feel even more childish. He just nodded frantically.
"I want a verbal response, Jungkook-ah," asked the leader, dropping the belt for the fifth time with greater force.
"AHH, y-yeah, I understand, hyung!" the younger one blushed furiously at having to scream.
He always tried to stay stoic during his punishments. He didn't need to reinforce the idea that he was a little boy. He mentally counted the blows he had received, feeling tears of frustration and pain begin to leak out when he saw that the leader did not stop after ten blows. He couldn't help but growl out loud with the next blows, and the last of them drew one more scream out of him.
"AHHH! Please!"
His leader finally let him stand up. He quickly dressed and wiped his tears as much as he could. He knew the Noonas would realize what had just happened, but he couldn't help trying to save himself as much embarrassment as possible. Before Namjoon requested it, he bowed briefly and offered his apology.
Jimin knew it was his turn. He was already crying at the absurdity of the situation. He felt too ashamed to be punished in front of his maknae line mates, for whom he always tried to show himself as mature and responsible. His hyungs, on the other hand, knew the most pampered and playful side of him, but he definitely didn't want to show it right now.
"Come on hyung," he tried to keep begging as he took a step back, "please do it in the apartment, at least!"
The dancer never welcomed punishment from him. He usually tried to appeal to the sensitivity of his hyungs for the more tender side of him. That had saved him from several spankings on previous occasions, especially when he used his charm on Yoongi, who, no matter how tough he was, had a soft spot for the boy. However, Jimin also didn't really want to be embarrassed by begging, especially in front of Jungkook. He was supposed to set a better example!
"Do you think that would be fair to Taehyung and Jungkook?" reasoned their leader.
"You can give me a bigger punishment at home!" he tried to negotiate.
"That's not up to you, Jimin-ah," Namjoon sighed. "Come on, you don't want to make a scandal righ now, do you?"
Jimin was certainly capable of making big scandals during his punishments, but definitely not here, where all of his staff could listen! He fully trusted his hyungs to show his plaintive side, but he didn't want to cause even more trouble for the group's image, so he had no choice but to give in. He uncovered his behind and bent over the dresser, still crying.
The first blow was enough to get a cry out of him and make him rise from his position.
"AHH, hyungie!"
"Don't start, Jimin-ah," the leader asked without anger, just with obvious weariness. Namjoon certainly didn't take pleasure in punishing his three dongsaengs, but he mainly hated having to do it with Jimin. The boy didn't take pain well and always threatened to make him give in with that sweet look. It was with great effort that he forced him to double over again.
"Ahhh, AHH, sorry!" the dancer couldn't help but squirm and scream. He had never been good at taking punishments stoically, unlike the maknae. But in that moment of pain, there wasn't much room to feel embarrassed.
"Stop moving," Namjoon scolded. He didn't want to end up accidentally beating a delicate part, but Jimin made it very difficult. Somehow, he managed to complete the planned fifteen strokes. The dancer's bottom was as red as the other maknaes’ had been, but his crying made it seem as if the punishment had been much more severe. Namjoon knew that the boy was extremely susceptible to the hyungs disapproval, so it was clear to him that the crying was more out of regret than pain or resentment. He checked it when the boy got dressed and launched into a hug, while he sobbed several apologies into his chest. "Okay Jiminie, you are forgiven."
Jimin tried to calm himself before exiting from Namjoon's chest and bowing in front of the other members.
"Sorry hyungs, I didn't mean to embarrass the group," he said breathlessly. Hoseok wasted no time reaching his side to hug him.
Jimin's crying and words seemed to have been enough for Jungkook and Taehyung to rid themselves of the residue of his anger. They could understand now that they must feel as embarrassed as Jimin. They were a team, their individual actions affected all of them. Taehyung couldn't help but shed a few tears and seek comfort from his hyungs. As was customary, he hid himself on Namjoon's chest. It was almost impossible for him to get angry with his leader.
"It's okay, Taehyungie," Namjoon whispered as he patted the boy's head.
Jin, for his part, smashed Jungkook into a hug. Although the maknae hadn't asked for it openly, the older hyung knew him well enough to know that the boy needed some comfort.
"Ahh, brat, stay out of trouble, will you?" he scolded him lightly as he ruffled his hair.
Once the hugs were over, the three maknaes turned to the last person who seemed reluctant to get involved. Yoongi was still pretending to be bored on his phone, but others could tell the tension on his face.
"We want a hug from you too, Yoongi-hyung!" said Taehyung as he lunged next to him on the couch. The other two followed quickly.
"Hey, get out of here!" the rapper complained as Jimin sat on his lap and Jungkook leaned on one of his shoulders. Yoongi rolled his eyes before releasing. It was useless trying to deny these three guys.
And he didn't want to do it either.