Aspen couldn't help but to wonder what Seokjin would think of the apartment when they arrived. What must it have been like for Seokjin? She couldn't imagine a world without color, and didn't want to. When Jungkook parked the car in the parking lot, she got out with Seokjin close on her heels. She felt his fingers trace the side of her hand again, asking for permission to hold it. Was touch new to the man too? He seemed to crave it.

She moved to hold Seokjin's hand in hers before entering the cramped stairwell that led up to their studio apartment from the parking lot. The stairwell had no outside door, and the cold cement steps leading from the outside up to the white door at the top all looked like they were coming apart. As Aspen and Seokjin started their ascent, Jungkook and Jimin moved to follow behind them. However, they both tried to enter the stairwell at the same time and got temporarily stuck in the entryway since they both couldn't fit in side-by-side.

"Age before beauty," said Jimin as he backed up with a smirk.

Jungkook shot daggers out of his eyes Jimin's way. He didn't bother to argue since he was still frustrated from the conversation during the car ride. Jungkook half shoved Jimin into the wall as he grumbled his way up the stairs behind Seokjin and Aspen. The two of them had to walk staggered. Aspen walked in the lead with her arm behind her so that Seokjin could still hold her hand. When they reached the landing where the white door was, there was a bit more room, but not much. Aspen buzzed in a code before entering with Seokjin. They walked past a few doors in the hallway until they pulled up at a weathered blue one. Seokjin - who had the notebook and pen in his other hand still - dropped Aspen's hand to start writing. Aspen smiled softly seeing him do that, unlocking the door and showing him the way inside.

The inside of the studio apartment was exactly what you expected to see from three dramatic art students who had been best friends for a little over a decade. It was not in the least bit neat. Everything was pretty much one large room. The living room was off to the left near a set of three doors, each leading into a small bedroom of their own. Off to the right the kitchen was tucked into the wall; a messy table was nearby with remnants of last night's pizza dinner still all over it. The windows at the far end of the room were definitely drew all the attention in the apartment though. They were large and seemed to reach from the cement floor all the way up the brick wall towards the ceiling. Seokjin found himself wandering towards the window, looking at the view that stretched out in all directions before him as the afternoon started to turn into evening; lights twinkling into view like stars being born.

Jungkook rolled his eyes at Seokjin as he entered the apartment shortly after them. Jungkook immediately moved to enter his room, slamming the door shut behind him. Aspen watched him go with a sigh. She had no idea what was wrong with Jungkook. She was sure that whatever funk he was in he'd snap out of it soon enough. She then watched as Jimin entered the apartment and shut the door behind him.

"So, is anyone hungry?" Jimin asked.

Seokjin - who had to tear his mesmerized gaze away from the window - wrote something else in the notebook before handing it to Aspen. She saw what he had written earlier along with what he had written now.

- What color is your front door?
What colors are outside the window?

Aspen knew he would need a lesson in color, but decided that could wait until after food since her stomach was already growling. She took the pen from Seokjin to see if he was hungry too. Of course he was. His answer was an immediate 'yes'. She smiled softly, looking over at Jimin.

"He's hungry too. Do we have anything?"

Jimin hummed as he went over to the fridge, tugging it open. The dim light from inside the fridge shone across Jimin's face, shadowing it slightly as he reached in to toss freezer bag after freezer bag onto the counter.

"We have a lot of leftovers..." muttered Jimin.

Aspen sighed. Seokjin looked at her before reaching up a hand to remove the ear plugs. Seokjin knew it was time for him to stop being afraid. He had to say that he was thankful though that it was much quieter than earlier. He pocketed the ear plugs as he heard Aspen ask, "Do we not have anything fresh in there?"

"Not really...I don't think..."

Jimin dug out a container, cracking the lid to look at what was inside. Whatever odor came out of it though must have been unpleasant as Jimin's face crinkled up. The man looked like he was going to throw up, making half gagging noises as he raced it to the garbage can. Seokjin wrote something down, tapping Aspen's arm with the notebook. Aspen looked down to see what he wrote.

- I can cook.

She was going to write a response but he pulled the notebook back. He instead pointed a finger at his lips before moving them soundlessly. So he wanted her to speak. He wrote something else down before showing her the page.

- I want to hear your sound.
I took the ear plugs out.

Aspen decided that she would speak slowly - not because she thought he was dumb - but so that he could see how to mimic her lips.

"What can you cook?" she asked Seokjin.

Aspen tried to keep her composure as Seokjin stared closely at her lips. She saw him attempt to move his lips in the same manner, but still no sound came out. She couldn't help the small smile that came on her face at his effort. Where did this man come from? Eventually Seokjin admitted defeat for the time being, going back to writing in the notebook he was holding.

- Depends on what you have.

Aspen motioned for him to follow, leading him into the kitchen where Jimin stood among the graveyard of leftovers. It looked like a whole slew of evidence. Seokjin began to lift the bags one at a time. Aspen was impressed that the colors didn't seem to be bothering him as much. If anything - since he saw his own face hold color - it seemed to hold more fascination than anything else.

"Seokjin claims he can cook," said Aspen when she noticed Jimin studying him curiously.

"Is he a blessing in disguise then?" asked Jimin with hope as Aspen chuckled. They only tried cooking for themselves a handful of times and each time was a failure. They mainly stuck to salads, sandwiches, and take out.

"He can hear you now," said Aspen. "He took his ear plugs out."

Jimin's face flushed as Seokjin looked over at him with a small grin.

"Could have warned me sooner, Aspen," said Jimin as she chuckled.

Seokjin moved past the two of them to begin undoing some of the freezer bags. He had set his notebook aside to begin rummaging through the cupboard for pans to cook with. Aspen and Jimin stood off to the side dumbfounded as Seokjin started to cook. Aspen had no idea what kind of magic Seokjin possessed, but soon the whole studio apartment started to smell good. The food was sure to taste even better than it smelled, the two of them eagerly watching as Seokjin grabbed up plates and served it to them. When he was done, he stood back, proud of his work.

"How did you...you like completely reinvented these leftovers!" said Jimin in shock.

"I didn't know you were good at cooking, Seokjin," said Aspen. "I'm impressed."

She watched as the pink started to tint Seokjin's cheeks more including the tips of his ears. She doubted he even knew that was happening. He wrote something down and showed it to Aspen.

-I made a plate for everyone.
Including Jungkook.

"I'll go see if he'll join us," said Aspen as she moved towards Jungkook's still closed bedroom door.

As Aspen approached it, she reached out a hand to knock on it gently.

"What is it?" came Jungkook's grumbled reply.

"Seokjin made supper," said Aspen. "Can you please come join us?"

"I'm not hungry right now," came Jungkook's reply through the closed door.

Aspen didn't bother to argue with Jungkook then. She couldn't force him to come out and eat, but she did wish he'd stop being weird. Aspen moved to go back and join Jimin and Seokjin at the table they had just worked to clear off together. The three of them ate together.  At one point, Seokjin got up to lay the plate of food for Jungkook outside his door. Seokjin was putting in effort. Aspen wished Jungkook would do the same.