Namjoon

When he entered the lab, he found both the scientist Seokjin, and the owner of the factory Hoseok in deep conversation. A part of him felt slightly curious as to what they were saying, but he ignored it and walked into the room with some items which Jin had asked him to collect.

"Jin-hyung, where should I put this?"

Both the pink haired scientist and the manager looked up at him, and Jin just smiled. It was a pretty sight that Namjoon often found himself thinking about, and he would wonder why. He had a growing interest in the tall scientist, and again, he wondered why. "In storage inside the fume cupboard with the rest of the chemicals," the scientist informed," and make sure to separate the organic substances from the rest."

Namjoon walked towards the fume cupboard after slipping on antimicrobial gloves with the tray of chemicals, and placed them on the side to begin categorising them; he did so into caustics, organic solvents and other acids and alcohols that were in front of him. Namjoon was wondering why Jin even had toxic substances in the first place, but of course it wasn't his place to ask, especially with the manager present.

"-as only been a week, how has he been doing?"

Jin's voice replied back, steady and level. "For the first time testing it out, it works almost perfectly. The effects were immediate."

"Like, immediate?!"

"Mhm, you gotta give credit to mother Jin."

"Wow. I'm really impressed hyung."

Were they talking about a new bionic maybe? Namjoon finished stacking the bottles in the cupboard, and walked towards the door to leave, but he was stopped when he heard something.

"It would've been a shame if something bad had happened. Jungkook's so new, I'm glad this didn't turn out to be wasteful."

Jungkook?

He heard Jin sigh. "Me too. He was always one of the quieter ones. And on occasion when I saw him I couldn't help but feel a bit sorry."

Hoseok laughed. "Don't worry hyung! It worked out fine. This sounds cold-hearted of me but as a bionic, they don't really need the affection. It's just what they are."

"Yes well, for now the situation is different."

"Hyung, I also feel bad that he and the rest of them were chosen for this, but nothing bad should come out of it. You know it would have happened at some point."

Jin sucked in harshly. "Yes I know. I'm just glad that he was lucky and found a place to stay so soon."

"He was very lucky. So far, most of the others haven't been so lucky at all."

"Is that to do with...?"

"Yeah, my little theory was bang on." He heard a pause. "I'll check in on you later to see the progress so far, but I've got a meeting in 10. I'll see you later hyung!"

"Bye bye!"

Footsteps gradually faded from the laboratory.

"Namjoon, it's rude to eavesdrop."

"Sorry hyung." He stepped out of the storage room, and flung his gloves into the waste disposal. "Am I allowed to know what this is?"

Jin sighed again, and motioned for him to come closer. "I know you heard everything. And I can't explain anything to you since what we're doing is really confidential at the moment. But just trust me when I say if anything serious happens to your friend, I'll be quick to tell you." Jin walked up to him and gently placed his warm palm against his cool cheek.

"Okay hyung. I trust you."

"Good." There it was, that smile again. "You're lucky Hoseok can be a bit aloof. Even if he was a bionic, he'd probably be as oblivious as he is now." His face suddenly darkened. "You cannot tell anyone anything you heard. It's essential that no one knows, especially other bionics."

Namjoon nodded. "Can I at least tell Jungkook's other friend that he is okay? That's what he said, that it worked out fine?"

"Yes yes of course. If he's your...friend, then I can only trust in you like you do with me." Jin leaned towards him, slightly closing his eyes and Namjoon froze.

"Hyung, I'm going to leave now, I still have a couple other assignments to do today." He stepped away from the scientist, softly placing his hand on top of Jin's and removing it from his face. "If you have any favours, then you know where I am."

Jin smiled and nodded, his expression somewhat bittersweet. "Yes of course. I'll see you later then Namjoonie."

When Namjoon arrived at his room, he unbuttoned the top of his shirt and took a seat at the end of his bed. He always felt confused around Jin; like he wanted to be around him all the time but whenever Jin would be intimate with him, or call him nicknames like 'namjoonie', something weird and grounding flooded his mind and paralyzed him. He didn't understand the strange painful sensations in his chest either, and although he started taking painkillers, the effects were sometimes still not strong enough.

Then he remembered Jungkook.

He pulled his phone out his pocket and dialed his other friend's number. When it picked up, the usual cheery voice he would normally hear was instead tired and drony.

"Yes?"

"Tae? What's wrong?"

"Oh nothing. I just pissed off my client and now I've been temporarily kicked out."

"Temporarily?"

"Yeah, I know he'll probably forgive me since he's more human than he likes to admit, but I'm still pretty cold out here. Anyway, what's up hyung?"

"Um, about Jungkook's meeting with the manager-"

"Oh! I just assumed he was given some long-ass shit physical assignment since it's been a week since he left for it-"

"Tae! Can you mind your language?"

"Oops, sorry hyung! You know how influential I am? It's not uncommon for the reverse to happen. I've probably picked it up from my client...haha."

"Well anyway, I can't say anything about it. But he's doing well."

"That's good!"

"But..."

"But?"

Namjoon sighed and scratched the back of his head. "He's doing an assignment which has never been done before. It looks pretty serious, and although I can't give you what little details I have, I can say that it seems bigger than what we thought."

"So instead of lifting a boulder he's actually lifting a mountain?"

"I can't tell if that was a smartly laid out anagram or if that's literally what you imagined."

"Uh, smartly laid out anagram. Definitely!" He heard his friend pause. "It makes sense as to why we can't reach him."

"Yeah, it does. I'm hanging up now Tae, I've got another assignment soon."

"Aw hyung!"

"Be careful out there. Make sure you're at least wearing a winter coat. Or even a scarf. We're not human, but we're not completely invincible to everything yet."

"Don't worry, my client let me grab my coat before throwing me out his house! I'll leave you to it hyung. Ring me again if you hear any updates on Kook!"

"I will do. Be safe."

"Byeeee!~"

Namjoon ended the call and threw his phone onto his bed. He sighed, and rubbed his face with his palms before standing back up for his next assignment.

***
Jimin

"Taemin-hyung, what are you doing here?!" He welcomed his old friend inside his apartment and hugged him. "How did you even know where I was?"

Taemin shrugged whilst they rocked back and fourth throughout the embrace. "Oh you know, I have my ways."

"Hey c'mon tell me!"

"Okay okay!" He laughed and patted him gently on the head. "I was in town and I dropped in to see your eomma, for old time's sake. She told me where to find you."

"You sneaky snake," Jimin chuckled. He started to make some tea for his guest, who promptly sat down at his table with a kind smile on his face. "So hyung! It's been so long! What's happened since we last spoke?"

"Minnie, a lot of things have happened in 2 years," Taemin laughed.

"Summarise it quickly then!"

"Well, remember that band I was in when I was in highschool? We came back together after I graduated and we've since then been contracted."

"Wow hyung! That's amazing! You always said that you wanted to be a singer." Jimin handed him his tea.

Taemin grinned. "Yes, but I never expected it to turn out the way it did. It was only a childhood dream, you know? I was going to become a performing arts teacher like you did, but it just kind of happened."

They both turned when they heard the door creak open. Jungkook walked in and eyed Jimin's guest. Jimin stuttered and walked over to the bionic. "A-ah, hyung this is Jungkook. He's a friend who's staying at mine for a little bit."

Taemin stood and also walked over to Jungkook and slightly bowed. "Aha I see, I'm Taemin, Jimin's senior from university."

Jungkook bowed deeper. "I'm Jungkook." When he lifted his head, Jimin took notice of his blank expression, and a glint in his eyes. "Don't mind me hyungnim, I'm just getting a drink," the younger replied.

"No no that's fine, we were only catching up on old times."

Jungkook walked past them towards the cupboards, and Jimin started to feel on edge all over again as he turned back to his friend. "Hyung, shall we?"

He gestured to Taemin to take a seat at the dining table, and his friend sat down with his mug. "So Minnie, what's happened in your life since I left?"

"Um-" Jimin couldn't help but watch Jungkook from the corner of his eye. His moves were exceptionally slow, and it tensed his own muscles. "-well, I graduated last year and since then I've mainly been looking after my eomma and Jihyun. I start my full time job as a dance teacher after Christmas, but nothing really happened since you graduated."

"Really? No dating either?"

"Haha no hyung, I didn't have time for it."

"Do you still like Yoongi?"

"What?! No no, definitely not. But, well-" again he glanced at the bionic, "-I still did like him when I graduated but I've put it behind me now."

"Did you at least tell him how you felt?"

"No, it wasn't that big of a deal."

Taemin gasped. "Are you kidding?! You were head over heels for him, that's all you used to talk about when you had the chance!"

"Yes, hyung, I used to be. Not anymore." Jimin sighed.

"Did something happen Minnie?"

"Not particularly. I just realized that it would be better off if we were just friends."

"Ah I see. As long as he didn't reject you. No one is allowed to reject my Minnie."

"Hyung!" Jimin laughed and slapped his arm.

"So Minnie, putting away past crushes and old loves, is there anyone you're interested in now?"

"I...well-"

"Jimin-hyung, I'll be in the living room if you need me." Jimin jumped at Jungkook's sudden sharp voice, and he nodded before the bionic walked out of the room.

Taemin leaned forward, whispering. "Jungkook, what's your story with him? He looks like someone you'd steer away from."

"Hyung!"

"What? It's true! You were always too shy to go up to handsome strangers and make conversation!"

"What...it's not like that! He needed a place to stay for a few months so I let him stay at casa de Jimin."

"Uh huh, sure. I saw the way you looked at him."

"W-what do you mean?"

"Minnie," Taemin tutted, as he rolled his eyes, "at every chance you had, you glanced his way, and to be honest I understand. He is a fine specimen of a-"

"Taemin-hyung! It's not like that!" Jimin felt the blush spread across his cheeks like wildfire at Taemins so obvious commentary.

"Really?"

Jimin looked down, then in the direction of the living room. He knew Jungkook could hear every word they were saying if he wanted to. So he lied to his old friend to spare himself of the complications, and the embarrassment later on.

"Yes."

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thank you for reading! :)