Requested by Anonymous

--

BTS just debuted. The members had lived together already for a few years while they trained and prepared to release their first album, so their relationship with eachother was pretty solid. They'd quickly grown to love and adore eachother like brothers. Still being quite young, they did have their fair share of arguments but they were simply petty little fights that siblings encounter.

That's how it was at first anyway.

After debut, Namjoon was acting different. He had been appointed leader of the group when they first started training and he loved the role, but now that the band had actually released music and were in the public eye, something shifted in him.

Something that only seemed to be targeted at their youngest, Jungkook.

Namjoon wasn't being the loving hyung Jungkook had known him to be. He had gotten quite mean and demanding. Everyone noticed it was only towards the youngest and nobody could figure out why because Jungkook hadn't changed, he was still their loving and well mannered maknae.

--

The members were working on a video shoot when the maknae line were playing around behind the scenes. Taehyung, Jimin, and Jungkook had hairspray bottles and they were going around jokingly spraying their older members with it. Jungkook snuck up behind Namjoon and sprayed him with it, and the leader turned around and grabbed the youngest by the wrist angrily.

"Don't do that again," Namjoon said with a threatening tone in his voice. Jungkook gulped, "Sorry." He took the hairspray bottle and set it on the table as he watched Taehyung and Jimin continue to spray the other members and get away with it. He couldn't help but pout as he felt it wasn't fair.

Suddenly Jungkook watched as Taehyung and Jimin snuck up behind Namjoon and also sprayed him with the bottle.

"I told you not to-" Namjoon started angrily, but as he turned around and saw Taehyung and Jimin giggling his demeanor changed, "Oh, you two. Go finish getting ready." The two scurried away laughing. Jungkook stood there frustrated.

Well what the hell?

Jungkook noticed that his fellow maknae's got away with whatever while he was the one to get scolded for doing the exact same things they were doing. One night he actually did try talking to his hyung about it, but the conversation only made things worse.

He knocked on Namjoon's door, "Hyung? Can I come in?"

Namjoon nodded and the youngest took a seat on his leaders bed.

"Have I done something wrong? Are you mad at me about something?" Jungkook asked with downcast eyes.

"No, why?" Namjoon asked confused.

"You've been a bit strict lately but it's only with me."

"That's not true. I treat everyone equally."

Jungkook couldn't help but feel anger bubbling up deep inside him, "No you don't. I feel like you've been meaner to me than anyone else."

"How the hell have I been mean to you?!" Namjoon's tone was proving to show he was also getting frustrated.

"You get mad at me for everything I do, and when Taehyungie and Jiminie are doing the same thing you just look the other way!"

"That's not true. I scold them for things too!"

"Barely ever! It's always me! Why is it always me?!"

"Maybe it's because you don't listen! Ever think of that?!" Namjoon had started yelling.

"What the hell do you mean I don't listen?! I always listen to you! I always have listened to you!" Jungkook felt tears stinging his eyes. He absolutely adored Namjoon, he didn't know why his leader felt like he was a bad listener. Yet being accused of such things made him actually not want to listen. Why bother if he's going to scream at me either way?

Namjoon stood up and hovered above Jungkook. The youngest felt intimidated so he avoided making eye contact the best he could. He hated feeling this way. Namjoon had been his hyungs for years. It wasn't supposed to be like this.

Namjoon started screaming at Jungkook about how he's been a terrible maknae since debut. Always fooling around, not maturing fast enough now that they were gaining public attention. He claimed that Taehyung and Jimin were maturing more rapidly and were still better listeners which is why he didn't scold them as much.

Jungkook didn't know what to do so he sat there and cried while Namjoon screamed at him. Soon, Jin came running into the room.

"What the hell is all this screaming?" Jin looked between Namjoon and Jungkook and saw the youngest crying, "What's going on? Why is he crying?" He walked over and wrapped his arm around Jungkook, squeezing him gently.

Jungkook didn't want to be in Namjoon's presence anymore so he stood up, pulling his way out of Jin's hug. "Joonie hates me," he whispered as he turned and ran out of his leaders room.

Jin turned to Namjoon. "Namjoon? Why does he think that?"

"Hell if I know. I never said that. It's not my damn fault he doesn't want to listen and then gets all upset when he doesn't want to be disciplined for it."

"Did he do something wrong?" Jin asked confused. Before Namjoon could answer, Hobi strolled into the room, "Anyone know why our maknae is crying? I asked but he told me he wanted to be left alone so I didn't pry."

"He's just being a baby," Namjoon scoffed. Jin and Hobi looked at Namjoon with a curious expression. It wasn't like him to speak like that about any of the members.

"He wasn't being a baby. I think Namjoon was just being an asshole," Jin stated.

"Hey!" Namjoon yelled frustrated at Jin's disrespect.

"Hey! Yourself, Joon! I don't know what your problem is but don't make that boy cry, ever again!" Jin scolded as he grabbed Hobi and gestured for them to leave.

Namjoon didn't take Jin's words into consideration at all. In fact, his relationship with Jungkook only got worse and was quickly deteriorating.

Namjoon was yelling and scolding Jungkook a lot more, and instead of listening to his hyungs demands like he used to, the maknae started acting out. The other members were constantly telling Namjoon to lighten up and back off but he felt like because he was Jungkook's hyung, he could treat him however he wanted.  What really started to make Namjoon angry was the fact that Jungkook still listened and behaved extremely well for all of the other members, just not him anymore.

Whenever he'd scold Jungkook, the maknae stopped listening. He'd roll his eyes and continue to do what he was doing. Yet when someone else tried to control him, it was always "Yes, hyung," and "Sorry, hyung."

--

One night the members were eating dinner together when Namjoon started discussing work and schedules. He noticed Jungkook was the only one not bothering to listen to him speak.

Namjoon couldn't control his anger anymore at that point. He punched the table, making dishes and silverware clink. Everyone flinched. "Maknae!" Namjoon screamed. Jungkook shot his head up and looked at Namjoon in a panic. "What the hell does it take to get you to listen? For the love of God, is it really so hard?"

Jungkook shot up to his feet and decided he didn't want to hear it. "You know what? Yeah, maybe it is too hard." The members watched as Jungkook went to leave the kitchen but Namjoon stood up and grabbed his arm, stopping him.

"Don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you," Namjoon demanded.

"Back off Namjoon. Calm down," Yoongi scolded. He was well aware that Namjoon was constantly being way too harsh on the youngest lately for no good reason.

Namjoon looked to Yoongi, "Don't tell me how to handle our maknae."

"Joonie really, you should just-" Jimin started, but was cut off by Namjoon screaming in Jungkook's face while he held a firm grip of his arm. Namjoon started screaming at him about his disobedience lately and tears spilled down Jungkooks cheeks. The others started yelling at Namjoon to leave Jungkook alone.

Jungkook looked desperately to the others. He didn't know what to do. He was caught off guard when he felt his body get pushed up against the kitchen wall.

"Hey!" Jin screamed and stood up from the table, "I don't know who you think you are Namjoon, but I'm the hyung here and I'm telling you to leave him alone!"

Namjoon turned to Jin and screamed, "I don't know what else to do with him! Huh?! The damn kid has been nothing but a brat lately. What do I have to do?! Feel free to throw out ideas, because I'm running out. I don't want to have to beat or spank him," Namjoon turned back to Jungkook and got right in his face, "But it's getting to that point," he threatened in a low voice.

Jungkook's eyes went wide with fear. His mouth opened but no words came out. He felt like his heart was going to beat out of his chest with how scared he felt. He freed himself from Namjoon's grip and ran away, slamming his door closed. Everyone could hear him start screaming and sobbing into his pillow from down the hall. Namjoon turned to the others and they all had a blank expression of shock on their faces. Taehyung and Jimin were crying. Jin's face was red with anger. Hobi sat there staring at the table unsure of what to do.

"Namjoon?" Yoongi started, "Come here." He waved his finger in the air gesturing for the leader to come to him. Namjoon walked over and Yoongi instantly grabbed the front of Namjoon's shirt and balled up his fist, he pulled Namjoon in close to his face and whispered. "If you ever put your hands on him again, for anything, over any reason, I can promise that as your hyung, I will make sure it is the last thing that you ever do." Yoongi angrily pushed Namjoon away from him. "Go to your room."

"But hyung I-" Namjoon started.

"I said go to your room! I don't care if you're the leader of the band, you will learn your place in this house!" Yoongi scolded. Namjoon stormed off and slammed his door closed. The others went to Jungkook to check on him and just as they expected, they found him curled up under his blankets with his face buried in his pillow.

Taehyung and Jimin jumped onto his bed and wrapped him in a hug. The others gathered around him and started rubbing his back.

"Oh, Kook-ah, please don't cry," Hobi frowned as he rubbed the maknae's back. "He didn't mean what he said. You know he'd never hit you."

Jungkook turned to Hobi as he wiped his tears. His heart was beating fast with anxiety, "You don't k-know that," he sniffled.

"We do know that, because I think I've made myself pretty clear to him that he's not allowed to," Yoongi said sternly, "Or else."

Jungkook sighed as he rested his head back down on his pillow. He started telling them how he didn't understand what had happened between him and their leader. They used to be inseparable, they all were. He didn't know why Namjoon's attitude towards him had changed. Why he's turned so mean and hostile and aggressive towards him. "I know I haven't been the best listener lately but he makes it hard to respect him when he's so mean." Jungkook just wanted his loving, caring hyung back. "I don't know what I did to ruin things." Jungkook buried his face and started sobbing again. The others reassured him that he wasn't doing anything wrong, that Namjoon clearly had some underlying issues he was dealing with that he was taking out on the youngest.

"We will get to the bottom of what's going on so this can all be fixed, okay?" Hobi said gently, "I promise we won't let him continue like this." Everyone leaned down and hugged Jungkook, telling him they all loved him. They departed, but Jimin and Taehyung stayed and slept with him that night.

Hobi had tried talking to Namjoon later about what happened in the kitchen but Namjoon refused to talk to him about it. Hobi wasn't too sure what else to do.

--

The next day Namjoon and the maknae line didn't have to be at work, only the three oldest did, so they were stuck in the house together. Yoongi warned Namjoon to not start trouble with the youngest while they were gone.

But Namjoon didn't listen. He found himself scolding Jungkook again in the kitchen, before Taehyung or Jimin had even woken up. Jungkook had spilled something and forgot to clean it up right away and Namjoon had slipped and fell.

"I'm so sorry hyungie," Jungkook said offering his hand down to Namjoon to help him up, but his hyung smacked his hand away harshly. Jungkook pulled it back, the smack stung. So he would hit me.

"So what, we just don't clean up our messes now either?" Namjoon said angrily as he stood up.

"I was getting to it I just had to-" Jungkook started but Namjoon grabbed him and started pushing him towards the door. Namjoon couldn't deal with anything right now. He opened the door and pushed Jungkook outside, "If you're going to make messes, like a damn animal, then you can sit outside like one." Namjoon slammed the door closed and locked Jungkook outside.

Jungkook didn't bother knocking or hitting the door or yelling to try and get back in. It was at this point he gave up. He sat down and curled his knees to his face. Thankfully it wasn't terribly freezing out, but it was chilly, and all he had on was a T-shirt and his pajama shorts.

Namjoon felt relief as hours went by and Jungkook hadn't bothered him. He actually forgot about him completely. He was laying in his bed with his headphones in when he looked to see his door flying open.

There stood Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook. Jungkook was shivering uncontrollably and soaking wet, with a towel wrapped around him. His teeth were chattering and his lips were blue. He was so cold he couldn't speak even if he wanted to. Taehyung and Jimin both had their arms around him.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Jimin started screaming, "You locked him outside in a freezing storm?! Freezing rain, Namjoon! And look what's he wearing!"

Namjoon actually felt dread course through his chest, "The weather was fine earlier I didn't know it was raining!" he said defensively. He internally yelled at himself for completely forgetting he had kicked Jungkook outside.

"Raining or not why the hell would you lock him outside?! You're really resorting to abuse now?!" Taehyung screamed as he held Jungkook tightly. "He's our 15 year old maknae! We're supposed to take care of him! What the hell were you thinking?!"

Namjoon frowned. Abuse? Surely he wasn't being abusive, was he?

Namjoon stood up and walked towards them, but Jungkook backed away.

"Kook I'm sorry I didn't know it was supposed to-"

Jungkook turned and ran away. Jimin and Taehyung stood there and both crossed their arms at their hyung. "Does it feel good? Knowing he's scared of you?" Taehyung asked.

"He's not scared of me," Namjoon defended.

"You're right. He's not scared of you. He's terrified of you," Jimin stated, "As if it wasn't bad enough that you started yelling at him for existing, then you go and threaten to beat him, and now you're locking him out so he can freeze to death?! He's hypothermic! Because of you!" Jimin had tears rolling down his cheek, "Jungkook might be too afraid to admit it but I'm not, I hate you!" Jimin stomped his foot and ran away after Jungkook. Taehyung stood there, he hadn't let his tears fall but they were caught in his eyes. "You used to care about him the most. What happened?"

Namjoon sunk his shoulders in defeat. "I don't know," he sighed, "I'm sorry." For the first time in a while he actually felt terrible for how he'd treated his maknae. Locking him outside because of a small spill? That he even already apologized for making? What the hell is wrong with me?

"Just stay away from him. You can deal with hyungs when they get home!" Taehyung said with anger.

And Namjoon had to deal with his own hyungs sooner rather than later because Jimin had called them in a frantic mess saying that "Namjoon hurt Jungkookie." The older members sped home to find the youngest a mess. They tended to him and made sure he was warm and comfortable before scolding Namjoon. The three maknae's were curled up in Jungkook's bed together again keeping warm as they heard the others screaming at Namjoon for what he'd done.

What it came down to was that Namjoon wasn't allowed to discipline Jungkook at all anymore for anything, per command of Jin. He was also grounded and although he had authority at work, all that authority went out the window as soon as they stepped foot back inside their house.

Thankfully, Jungkook was okay after that incident with being thrown outside the previous day. He wanted to be alone for a while on their day off and his hyungs respected that.

Namjoon had to stay in his own room, per his grounding.

Taehyung was confused when he was checking up on Jungkook to see if he wanted some lunch, and found him packing his things into a suitcase.

"What are you doing?" Taehyung asked while he raised an eyebrow.

"I'm going home," Jungkook replied softly. Taehyung could tell the youngest was trying not to cry. Taehyung ran over and grabbed Jungkook to stop him from packing, "What the hell do you mean you're going home?" Taehyung asked with huge, nervous eyes.

"I called my parents, I'm going home. I'm sorry. I can't do this anymore. I don't think I belong here. Namjoonie doesn't want me here," Jungkook wiped a tear that escaped as he got back to packing.

Taehyung felt his heart sink and started to tear up. He started desperately pleading for Jungkook to stay. " No no no. You can't leave. We need you. Namjoon needs you. You're part of this band, bunny. And-and-" Taehyung was completely choked up, "And you're my only dongsaeng and I love being your big brother. I want to be your big brother."

"I'm sorry," Jungkook whispered, "This is for the best."

Taehyung shot to his feet. "No! No no no!" Taehyung ran out and started yelling for help. "Hyungs Hyungs! Jungkookie is trying to leave!" he screamed.

"Hyung stop!" Jungkook cried. The other members ran in and asked what all the noise was about when they all saw Jungkook's suitcases. "What the hell is this?" Hobi asked concerned. Taehyung frantically told them that Jungkook called his parents and was leaving the band, all because of Namjoon. They all started desperately begging Jungkook not to go.

Hobi hugged him and refused to let go, crying for him to stay. "I'm only still in this band because of you!" Hobi cried, remembering the time he too tried leaving but Jungkook refused to let that happen.

Jimin and Yoongi marched to Namjoon's room and barged in, telling him what was going on.

"Go in there and fix this, now!" Yoongi demanded. "We can't lost him, Joonie!"

Namjoon shot to his feet and ran in the room. Jungkook was caught off guard and stumbled backwards. "Get away from me," he said nervously.

"It's okay, I'm not here to hurt you," Namjoon said. He felt his bottom lip quiver and bit it. He realized Jimin was right. Jungkook was terrified of him.

"Let me talk to him alone," Namjoon demanded. Jungkook said no, he didn't want to talk to Namjoon alone but the others insisted that they needed to work things out, and promised to be right outside. Hobi gave Namjoon a small threat about making sure he didn't do anything hurtful to the maknae before departing.

Now it was just Jungkook and Namjoon. And much to the youngests surprise, Namjoon grabbed him and pulled him into a tight hug. Namjoon started crying uncontrollably. "I'm so sorry. Please don't go. I love you a lot and I don't want you to leave."

The maknae didn't know how to respond, but a hug from Namjoon felt so nice after what they've been going through so he embraced it in silence for a while.

Jungkook finally spoke up, "Joonie hyung you don't want me here. Whether you say it or not, you've proved that by now."

"That's not true. Of course I want you here," Namjoon said. He gestured for them to sit on the bed and he continued to hold Jungkook.

"You've done nothing but hate me ever since we debuted," Jungkook frowned. He started crying. He absolutely loved and looked up to Namjoon since the day they'd met, it hurt feeling hated by him.

"That was never the problem. You were never the problem," Namjoon admitted. He had a lot of time to think while he was trapped in his room and realized why he'd turned so cold to the youngest.

"Then what is the problem?"

"Me. I've been the problem."

Jungkook looked at him confused. "Huh?"

"What I mean is it was easy to be the leader before debut but it was different afterwards. People are watching now. I felt like I had to prove myself not only to others but to me. I thought 'How do I be a leader?' and I started to get strict. It was bad with you because I told myself if I could control the youngest, I could control the whole group. But things got worse. Way worse than I thought and I lost sight of what I was trying to do or who I was trying to be. I never meant to be so bad to you. I never meant to hurt you like I did." Namjoon remembered smacking Jungkook's hand, so he took his hand and kissed it.

Jungkook rested his head on Namjoon's shoulder, "Leader of the group or not, I just want you to be my hyung again. I only started being bad because it was hard to respect you."

"You were never bad. I was the bad one," Namjoon admitted. "It's easy to forget we're all just kids. Especially you. And I shouldn't expect you to mature and grow up so quickly. None of us will ever be perfect. I can't promise to ever be a perfect hyung and I'm sorry."

"I don't need you to be perfect, I just want you to care the way you used to," Jungkook sulked. Namjoon went on to explain that he never stopped caring. He explained how he truly did feel terrible always being so mean but he didn't know how to stop himself before he felt like it got to the pont of no return.

"I love you, and hyung is sorry. For everything." Namjoon squeezed Jungkook tightly and kissed his forehead, "Please stay. You know we all love you and want you here."

Jungkook smiled and said he'd call his parents back.

The other members ran in the door cheering and crying.

They'd been eavesdropping.

"Now was that so hard?!" Jin said happily as he shook Namjoon playfully. The members were ecstatic to see their maknae and leader reconciled. They forgave Namjoon and reassured Jungkook that everything was going to be better now.

And it was.

Namjoon felt like he had a lot of making up to do, so he started spoiling the maknae. He started spoiling everyone.

Years went by and Jungkook and Namjoon had become inseperable just like they were before all the mess. They grew up to form a bond that absolutely nobody and nothing could ever break.

[The End]