When Taehyung's asleep, Seokjin extracts himself from the younger's iron grip without waking him up and heads into the hall, needing to sort his own emotions out. His chest feels heavy under its weight. He sits on the couch, the darkness in the hall rather welcoming to him.

He isn't sure how long he just sits there but the bulb is switched on, lighting up the room and Yoongi comes into view.

"Jesus, Yoongi. You scared me."

"You've been neglecting yourself, haven't you?" Yoongi asks instead, choosing to ignore the previous statement.

"What makes you think that? I just needed to getaway from Taehyung's choke hold on me," Seokjin laughs but Yoongi doesn't buy it as he takes a seat beside him.

"You forget, you know? We've grown up together and while I know you take your hyung role seriously, you often forget that you yourself are young and that you yourself need a shoulder to lean on sometimes."

Seokjin swallows, "I'm the oldest, Yoongi. It's my responsibility to look after you all."

"And you do it really well," says the second oldest.

"I know. I mean, I do try to. Being the oldest, I feel the need to be strong. Strong enough such that if you lean on me, the foundation shouldn't crumble along."

"I understand that. But how is neglecting yourself to tend to others help? You do a wonderful job at taking care of all of us, hyung. I really admire that about you. But just because you are the oldest, doesn't mean you have to stand strong. Just as you stand as a pillar for us, we stand as pillars for you. Just because you're the oldest, doesn't mean you should suppress your own emotions. It doesn't mean you shouldn't rely on us when you need it."

Seokjin is quiet.

"You're a wonderful older brother but you forget you are human too. It's alright to feel low and it's alright to seek comfort. Age doesn't matter here."

"When did you become so mature?" Seokjin tries to joke, not knowing how to respond now that he was on the receiving end of comfort, hence opting for humor instead.

"When I observed you," Yoongi replies honestly, "I've always admired the way you've always put us first and never hesitated to be the hyung we needed you to be in times of need. I've always admired the way you never held back from using the hyung card to scold us when we required it or how you switched to protective when we needed comfort. How much we've matured is all thanks to you. You set an example for us. Hyung, all I ask is for you to be vulnerable to us just as we are to you. If anything, it shows how human you are. Breaking down is okay. Relying on others is okay. I think it's about time you took your words for yourself."

Seokjin is too stunned to reply.

And Yoongi smiles, wrapping an arm around Seokjin.

He rubs the older's back and Seokjin feels himself relax in Yoongi's grip.

"Do you want to talk about it or would you rather prefer some comfort?"

Seokjin swallows hard, "I don't think I could word anything. I just...I guess I just want some comfort right now."

Yoongi nods.

"Let me get the boys. You arrange the mattresses on the floor."

"Huh?"

"Cuddle pile. It's been a while since we cuddled up together but it really looks like you could use it."

Yoongi makes a move to leave but Seokjin stops him.

"They're asleep, Yoongi. The last thing they'd want is to be disturbed just for a cuddle pile."

"How many times have we come knocking at your door at odd hours? Trust me, disturbed sleep doesn't matter when it comes to comforting those you love. You've done it for us. I think it's time we returned the favour."

With that, Yoongi was gone.

That night, Seokjin found himself squished on either side by three members on his left and three on his right. Taehyung had his face buried in Seokjin's chest and Hoseok's forehead rested against Jin's temple. Their soft snores fill the room and Seokjin finds himself smiling before he too drifts off, comforted by the presence of his six younger brothers.

The end!