"So you want to learn how to speak, huh?"

Jungkook looked at the note that Seokjin was showing him; watching Seokjin vigorously nod his head up and down after. Aspen and Jimin had just left for their respective activities. They both opted to take public transport because they felt it was secretly faster. Jungkook took one more strip of bacon out of the pan that was left over, licking the thin strips of grease off his fingers as he walked past Seokjin and into the living room. Seokjin followed a few feet behind.

"You had vocal coaching, so surely you can teach Seokjin how to speak," said Jungkook in a high pitched voice, mimicking Aspen's words to him before she left. He gestured at the couch. "Sit."

Seokjin moved to obey as Jungkook stood in front of him, crossing his arms and trying to figure out the best way to go about it.

"Can you even produce a hum?"

- I don't know what that is.

"Of course you don't!" said Jungkook in exasperation to what Seokjin wrote. He began to cast his eyes about the place as he thought before moving to the kitchen to grab one of the chairs there. He grabbed it, dragging it back into the living room until it was right in front of Seokjin.

"Alright. Press your lips together like this," said Jungkook as he proceeded to press both his lips firmly together.

Seokjin put the notebook on his lap as he mimicked him.

"Stay like that," said Jungkook before tapping his own throat, "And try to force a sound from here."

Seokjin cocked a brow, but did as Jungkook said as Jungkook moved to press his lips together again to show him. Soon Jungkook was producing an 'mmm' sound. Seokjin tried to do the same, but couldn't. The more that Seokjin tried to focus and do so, the more he looked like his face was going to explode. It started to turn redder and redder.

"Don't hold your breath," said Jungkook in exasperation. "Let it out! Open your mouth."

Feeling light headed, Seokjin opened his mouth to release a silent burst of air.

"How can you even be silent with that?" asked Jungkook in exasperation as he got a face full of Seokjin's hot breath. "Maybe you just aren't able to speak."

- No. I can.
I just need to learn.
I will learn.

Jungkook shook his head after reading the notebook. Seokjin was stubborn and determined. It was a night and day difference from the man who ran off on him and the megaphone the other day. Jungkook just needed Seokjin to produce a sound. There would be hope if he could release any sort of sound.

Seokjin watched as Jungkook slipped a hand into his pocket to dig out his phone.

"I'm showing you a video," said Jungkook. "I want to see something."

Seokjin wasn't sure what Jungkook had planned, but watched as the other flipped through a couple of screens. He would have to figure out how to use whatever that was that Jungkook was holding. Seokjin liked this new place he found himself in. Yes it was overwhelming with all its new sights and sounds, but it was something that he found himself not wanting to stop exploring. He was jerked from his thoughts when Jungkook showed him his phone.

"Watch this, okay?"

Seokjin watched as the video was played. The cat was eating something that kind of looked like ice cream. He thought it was amusing when the cat began to shrink back in the seat as if it were about to die. He felt something seeming to bubble up in his chest, wanting to come out. Jungkook looked over at him as he clicked the replay button. It looked desperately like Seokjin was trying to swallow something.

"Are you alright?" asked Jungkook as he continually pressed replay on the video.

- I feel like there's something stuck in my chest.

Jungkook smirked then. He couldn't help it.

"Try opening your mouth and letting it out," said Jungkook.

Seokjin looked at Jungkook, finding himself trusting the other even if they weren't the most hospitable in the world. He parted his lips then and it felt like what he had been trying to swallow back came flying out of his mouth.

Seokjin's laugh filled the studio apartment then to Jungkook's pleasant relief and Seokjin's surprise. He hadn't ever made a sound in his life, and now he was making a sound. It echoed off the walls as he continued to watch the video one or two more times before settling back on the couch and falling silent again.

"Congratulations," said Jungkook. "There is hope for you yet."

- What was that noise I just made?

"It's called a laugh," said Jungkook. "We laugh when we find things funny."

Before Seokjin could write down another question to ask, Jungkook's phone started to ring. The caller ID filled his screen and he picked up instantly when he saw that it was Aspen.

"Hey Aspen, how did - "

Jungkook's words were cut off as his face grew serious. He immediately stood up from his seat.

"Where are you right now?" He asked. "Are you still there?"

Seokjin grew concerned too when he saw how serious Jungkook had gotten. He followed the other as they entered their bedroom to put socks on, grabbing a navy blue zip up hoodie out of the closet.

"No...no, I'm coming. Look, don't listen to them. You know the world is full of jerks."

He sandwiched the phone between his ear and right shoulder for a moment as he slipped the sleeve of the hoodie on one arm before switching to do it to the other until it was on.

"I'll be there soon. I'll drive the car to you. Just hang tight. Okay?"

He hung up after, quickly brushing past Seokjin who backed up out of his way at the last second, pressing his back into the doorframe of Jungkook's bedroom.

- What's going on?

He shoved the note in Jungkook's face who read it quickly before shooing it away like a fly.

"Aspen's audition went south," said Jungkook as he slipped into his shoes. "I need to go comfort her."

- I want to come too.

The note was shoved in front of Jungkook's line of vision so he couldn't tie his shoes. Jungkook shook his head.

"No. You need to stay here. You're doing okay today, but it doesn't mean you won't have an episode like yesterday. You've never been out and about yet."

- I made a sound today.
I am making slow but steady progress.
And this is Aspen.
I want to go.
Please.

Jungkook sighed. He wanted desperately to tell Seokjin to just stay, but for whatever reason he couldn't. He chided himself for possibly taking to the man after all. First last night with the sleeping arrangements and now this...

"Fine, but you stay out of the way," he said. "You'll also need to change. You can't go out in that gray sweatshirt and those gray sweatpants."

Jungkook hurried off to his room for a moment soon returning with a black v-neck t-shirt and some black jeans with holes in both knees.

"This is the most neutral thing I could find quickly," said Jungkook. "Now go to the bathroom and hurry. Give me your notebook. I'll hold it for you."

Jungkook took the notebook that Seokjin shoved at him, holding it as he watched the other run off to the bathroom. When he heard the door shut, he looked down at the notebook in his hands again. He hadn't gotten much chance to spy through it the other night, and found his fingers itching to crack it open, but he couldn't. His mind was focused on getting to Aspen and nothing else.

- - -

AN: I do not own the YouTube video used in this chapter.