Mari took the food from the courier and set it up on Suga's bedside table. "Are you going to be able to sit up?"

[Yeah,] he said as he adjusted himself into a sitting position. Mari thought it looked like he was going to have breakfast in bed. She moved the table closer to him, so that he could stay seated in bed and still lean over and have soup. The take out bowl was sealed tight, and steam wafted up when she opened it. In addition, she had picked a mild 7-Up soda to go with the soup.

Suga eyed the cola. [What is that?]

"Your soda on the side. Do you need me to open it for you?"

[Yes?] It made sense that he would just take advantage of the fact that she was here to help him. He needed to conserve his energy if he was going to make it out of the room in one piece.

Mari nodded, then cracked the soda open, closing the cap again before it could explode everywhere. After the fizz settled, she reopened it and put it on the table. "Do you need me to feed you as well?" It was a legitimate question, concerning Suga's lack of energy, but once the words left Mari's mouth she found herself eating them. Why did you say that? He's gonna think you're flirting with him!

Suga paused, realizing that Mari did just mean what she had said she meant. [I can do it!] he insisted, grabbing the 7-Up soda so quickly that it spilled onto the floor. He blushed, then drank from the soda, more slow with his movements. Thank God. Not bad. It was milder than any other soda he had tasted in America.

"Oh, I'll get that," Mari said, grabbing a couple of napkins. She cleaned up the table and the floor, then handed a napkin to Suga. "Here. You're going to need this, or else your hand's gonna get sticky."

Suga missed half of what Mari said, but took the napkin and cleaned off his hand anyway. [And the soup?]

"Right here." Mari handed him a spoon. "You're an adult. Unless you need my help, I'm sure you've got this. Take your time. We're in no rush."

Suga nodded, then took the spoon and ate some of the soup. They were both quiet while he ate. The soup was good, although the chicken flavor was not something that he was used to. Mari wasn't wrong, though. As he took his time, he felt a little bit of his strength slowly return. Maybe it was the soup, or maybe it was Mari's presence, but he felt like he could breathe again. Like he might even be able to get out of bed.

...which was great, because he realized he needed the bathroom.

[Take this,] he said, handing the soup back to Mari. He then steadied himself with the table and put his feet on the floor. He took a deep breath, then walked, ever so slowly, across the room.

"There you go!" Mari said with a smile. "You okay?"

[Yeah, I need —] Suga gestured toward the bathroom, and Mari understood, turning her attention to her phone. She kept an ear open, but didn't hear anything, and he came out a few minutes later with a smile.

[I made it.]

"You did. I'm proud of you."

He smiled that cute gummy smile of his and looked away. [Can I finish the soup?]

"Sure." Mari made room, and Suga sat back down, carefully, then took the bowl back. They were both silent as he finished, then drank more of the 7-Up. "How do you feel?"

[Okay? I have more energy now. I don't...know if I can go to work, but I can think and I don't have to sleep. So thank you.]

"Do you want to work here? Maybe you have some work that you can do here."

[No, I have to do vocals. It will have to wait. But...I kind of want coffee.]

"Suga!" Mari laughed. "You just told me you threw up all of your coffee!"

[Well, maybe we could...share?] Suga looked up at Mari, through sideswept bangs. She blushed. Too cute.

"Suga, I don't drink coffee. You know this. When you guys get your coffee order, I end up with one of those frappucino drinks."

[Then let's go get one of your...frappo drinks.] Suga gave up trying to pronounce it. [Sweet fluffy thing.]

"You're not leaving this room."

[But I want to.] Suga got up from the bed. [I think I can, with you. Maybe I cannot work today. But you still wanted to see me. So we should do something only we can do. Can we go get coffee? I don't...want to be here anymore, in this room.]

Mari almost objected again, and then she closed her mouth. "You want to — go get coffee with me?"

[Yes?] And then Suga realized that he was asking Mari out on a date. [I mean — yes, I — God damnit.]

Mari giggled. "I will go with you to coffee, if you want to. But wait. How are we going to avoid all of the fans and press?"

Suga groaned. [I hate the press!] He sat down. This was getting to be too stressful again. If he wasn't careful, he would lose all the energy he had gained back. That wouldn't be fair to Mari.

He had to think about this. It would make more sense for him to call in a coffee order and have someone deliver it, stay in the room with Mari where it was safe. But he really wanted to be strong for Mari. He had this fantasy of walking out the door, going to a shop, ordering coffee and then going to Midnight Lady to hang out with RM and J-Hope.

And...if he left the hotel with her, everything would fall apart. His fantasy came crashing down. [Aaaaaaaagh.]

"Well," Mari thought out loud, "do we need to disguise you? That's what superstars usually do, right?"

[Wait, wait, I have an idea,] Suga said, and he whipped out his phone.

y00ng!: Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey Namjoonie

It took a moment, but RM responded to Suga's DM.

converselover1: hey look whos up!!!
y00ng!: Yeah, yeah, I know.
converselover1: mari was so concerned about you man. you coming in?
y00ng!: ...actually
y00ng!: That's what I wanted to message you about. How do I go out for coffee without being recognized?
converselover1: what
y00ng!: I...might have kind of I'm not sure asked Mari on a date.
converselover1: suga
converselover1: you cant take mari on a date
converselover1: r u crazy?
y00ng!: Apparently so.
converselover1: aargh man. youre killing me over here.
converselover1: well
converselover1: looks like all the press is on the other side of hollywood because demi lovato is out of rehab again
converselover1: if you mask up then you should be fine
converselover1: nobody even knows were here. just dont be an idiot.
converselover1: and come straight here when ur done
converselover1: not sure how long you will be but keep us posted. just glad ur doing ok.
y00ng!: Thanks, Joon.

Suga couldn't help but grin. This was exactly the shot of energy he needed. Now he was actually looking forward to something!

"What's your idea?" Mari asked.

[We go get coffee,] Suga said. [Do you know a coffee place? A quiet one, not Starbucks?]

Mari paused, and then she remembered. "I do, actually! And I have a favorite spot that we can sit in. Nobody will see you."

[Then let us go there. I will need to...put on clothes, and put on a mask. And glasses?]

"Oh, so you have a disguise already picked out?"

[Yes. Can you get into my...suitcase? There are jeans and a shirt in there. So I can look normal. Or is that...too much?]

"If you don't have the energy to right now, I can look." Mari got up and went over to Suga's suitcases, unzipping the first one. There were rows of shirts and pants, impeccably packed. Thankfully all the questionables had to be in the other suitcase. "Any in particular?"

[Black? Is it okay for you to look through a man's clothes?]

"Oh, I once shared a room with my half brother. I'm used to it." She held up a pair of black skinny jeans. "These ones?"

[Yes. I thought you were...] Suga paused. [An adult. Living on your own.]

"Oh, yeah I live on my own!" Mari tosses the pants at Suga, and they landed on the bed. "Typically when you're from El Barrio you live with your parents until you find a nice man and get married, and then you live with him. But since Mama's a pain in my ass, I live with my friend and her daughter nearby. Doesn't stop Mama from trying to get me to move home, though. What shirt do you want?"

[There is a black one. I will wear my sweater over it.] Suga grabbed the pants. [It makes sense to me. Live at home until you're married. Do you have someone you will be married to? Sometimes they...arrange those things in Korea.]

"Oh, no. Mama doesn't want me married. She wants me home forever as free labor." Mari had to dig all the way to the bottom, but she finally found the shirt Suga was talking about. All he seemed to wear was plain shirts of one color. "But I...have my own ideas about life. It's gonna take the right kind of guy to make me fall in love with him. And so far, I haven't met him yet. But who knows? I'm open to anything." She winked and tossed him the shirt. "I'm going in the bathroom now, so you can change. Get these on."

Suga watched Mari disappear into the bathroom so he could change. Was she...flirting with me? Nah, it couldn't be. But that wink... wow. I finally have enough energy to lose it all over something she does. He sat on the bed and grinned. Maybe I should try to flirt back. You know. With what energy I have. Okay, I'm going to try!

He threw on his clothes and threw his camo hoodie over top, then added a mask and a pair of fake glasses. If his hair was any color other than black, this would not work. But as it stood, he just looked like any other Korean man traveling across Los Angeles. He could make it to coffee with Mari, maybe sip on something, and then go to Midnight Lady and see if he could do anything worthwhile with the rest of his day.

Mari knocked on the bathroom door. "Ready, Suga?"

Oh, was he ever. [Ready.}