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Context: Yoongi is lost backstage after a BTS MAMA performance. He finds Kim Jennie crying. sitting on some prop stairs.
He knew he wasn't supposed to talk to her, he had been warned about talking to female idols (especially in public) for his entire career. And Jennie was one of the more popular ones, maybe even the most popular one. So this was even riskier.
But Yoongi had always been soft for tears. Always has to go an check on someone crying alone, especially now that her felt he had some power and responsibility. And maybe because he often wished that someone would come over and comfort him in those moments, he couldn’t just ignore the poor girl and leave.
She had been all over the news recently, dating a txt member or something. They were ripping her apart in the media and Yoongi had noticed the black ocean during her solo performance tonight. She must be going through it. He had to at least say something, even if it was brief. And so, Yoongi decided to make his way to yet another idol crying their eyes out backstage. This time, hunched over the steps of a few prop stairs from someone's performance.
As if sensing company, Jennie glanced up through her sobs as he got closer and when she saw him coming, she got up, quickly wiping her tears away and bowing respectfully.
"I'm sorry.", she said quickly as Yoongi bowed back awkwardly. He didn't know what she was apologizing for. Crying? That made him feel guilty for some reason, maybe he shouldn't have come over.
"Oh, no worries, please sit. I came to see if you were okay.", Saying it out loud he felt stupid, he didn't know this girl and she didn't know him, why on earth was he checking on her? She probably thought he was weird now. Great.
Jennie smiled softly, and despite her redden face and awkward position, it seemed genuine. Then her eyes started pooling with tears again. "Thank you, sunbaenim. I'm alright." She looked at her hand, stained black with mascara and giggled. She could only imagine her face right now.
"A mess right now but alright."
Yoongi smiled he was finding Jennie to be amusing company.
"I'm sure... I just wanted to tell you to stay strong. I'm sure it's really hard right now but don't let the media run you down. They'll find a new story soon enough.", Jennie nodded.
"It helps to talk about what you're going through, try and do that. If you ever need an extra pair of ears, I'll be happy to help."
"Thank you for the advice, sunbaenim. I'll take it to heart."
Yoongi tilted his head, he had given this speech a few times and all the idols had nodded, thanked him and scurried off to talk to someone by this point.
Maybe she just needed an extra push.
"Would you want to talk about it?", he offered, already anticipating her 'No' and the quick goodbyes that would follow.
"Yes."
Her expression told him that she was as surprised by her own answer as he was. But she seemed sure, taking a seat again on the prop stairs.
Yoongi took a few more steps towards her and sat next to Jennie on the stairs as she scooched over to give him space to sit.
"Why would you…", Yoonig stopped to think of how to word his sentence. He didn't want to be rude.
"Why would I want to talk to you when I have three members and a whole lot of staff to complain to? Probably other friends too?"
Yoongi nodded. She was quick, he liked not having so ask the awkward questions.
"After the txt article broke, we lost a big brand deal and the company has been getting a lot of bad press. So almost everyone in the YG building is mad at me, I'm pretty sure. Well except for Rosie, Lisa and Sooya but I can't talk to them either because I would feel so guilty complaining to them after everything. I mean Lisa cancelled this show she was so excited about to comfort me when the news broke."
"Oh," he paused, thinking. "When did the article come out?"
"Almost three weeks ago."
"Why am I still hearing so much about it then, they ought to have moved on by now."
"Right?!", Jennie exclaimed in frustration, "I swear it's like the universe hates me."
She buried her face in her hands. Yoongi, ever the introvert, didn’t know what to do to help. So he did what he would do if she was one of his maknaes. He pat her back softly as he thought of how to keep her talking.
"How did they find out about you two?"
"They didn't.", she said face still hidden. " We never dated."
"What?"
"I didn't date him. Its all lies."
"But the pictures…", Yoongi trailed off. He didn't want to sound like a stalker but the pictures were everywhere, clear as day.
Jennie sighed like she was tired of saying whatever she was going to day. She looked up.
"So, ummm... I went out with some friends a few weeks ago and I got a bit drunk, all I can remember is someone helping me get a cab home. That was it I swear. I didn't even see him. But then the pictures.", she groaned.
"Is that why you were so close in the photos?", Yoongi realized, " He was carrying you." Jennie nodded.
"I didn't even know that it was him. Like I remember almost puking on him at some point and I think I sang an unreleased track in the cab. And just watch, with my luck it's gonna show up on YouTube, just wai-"
Yoongi let out a chuckle. The absurdity of the situation dawning on him.
"I know, it's ridiculous! I haven't gone out in forever and the first time I do, of course this happens." Yoongi grinned and Jennie gave home a playful glare.
"Bad timing but care for a drink?", Yoongi nodded at the alcohol vending machine across from them.
It was almost every idol's ritual to down a can before a performance. And Yoongi was thirsty. ."I need to drink something, after my day."
Jennie stared at him for a moment, "I liked your perfomance.", she said suddenly.
"Thank you. No, I didn't mean it like that. I'm just tired after all the training and people."
"Oh, then me too." She told him.
They grabbed a can of soju before returning to their stairs.
"Why didn't you issue a statement?", Yoongi asked as he popped his can open, noticing Jennie struggling to open hers.
"You could make all of this go away." He set his down and held his hand out for her can.
"YG," She said distastefully as she gave it to home.
"He said 'All press is good press' and I'm pretty sure that he cut a deal with Big Hit, it's good publicity for them." Yoongi frowned, handing her an opened bottle.
"Don't they have a comeback next week."
"Bingo!", she exclaimed then took a sip of her drink. "I don't know what's in it for YG though."
"Txt's already has a huge fanbase, why would Bang need to that?" Jennie shrugged and Yoongi took a swig.
"So you're just going to let this keep going?"
Jennie took a gulp of her drink, "I have to."
Yoongi tilted his head and Jennie noticed that he seemed a lot more relaxed now after a few shots.
"You have to do something."
"Like what?"
"Post online or go to the morning news, hell, go to Dispatch. Just defend yourself.", he leaned back, gesturing at her, "I mean look at what its doing to you."
Jennie laughed, "Yeah a breakdown here is a new low.
"But there's something in my contract about my public image. I have no control over what I post or say to the public. I have so send it to this team first."
Yoongi took another sip, and sighed. He couldn't think of any way around it so he just pat her back again. She smiled, relaxing a bit.
"It don't affect me much outside of here." she reassured him, gesturing around the room. "And look, it just made me a new friend!"
Yoongi smiled, heart warmed.
"What happened today specifically though?", he asked, still concerned.
Jennie drank some more of her soju, fighting a sniffle, her emotions running high after the alcohol.
"Nothing new, its just the first time I''ve had to be in public since the article. The way the crowd was looking at me and then there was the black ocean. I expected it but still... I'm just so tired of all of it sunbaenim! The public hates me and I swear everyone was acting weird backstage, like all the other artists and stuff.."
Yoongi looked like he didn't know what to do again. Then he confidently gave her another pat, this time on the head, like one would a puppy prompting Jennie yo burst into fits of laughter. A confused Yoongi joined in, finding her laughter to be infectious.
"You're so drunk!,", she exclaimed.
"I'm not", Yoongi's words came out a bit slurred and he started laughing at himself with Jennie.
Their laughter echoed the walls and they stayed there. They talked and talked until they were kicked out by the clean up team and had to go home