POV.

"It's called age-sliding. It can happen to any alter, even the host."

"When did it start happening?"

Taehyung shrugs, thinking about it for a moment. "It's happened a few times before but I never slipped too far. The past couple of days I've been sliding younger and younger for some reason."

Jungkook nods, directing his attention back to the cubbies that they still couldn't figure out. "Well, it's fine as long as I'm with you, right?"

"Yeah, I guess." The brunette smiles a little. "It's just strange that I'm the only slider in the system and I'm the host."

"Yeah. I get that." Jungkook says, trying to reread the instructions that came in the box. "I think it's time to admit defeat, Taehyung."

"What?" Taehyung chuckles, scooting closer to Jungkook and looking at the instructions.

"This is impossible." The younger says handing him the instructions. "Maybe we should get someone to put them together for us."

"Hm." The brunette hums, looking over the instructions. "Hajoon will be able to figure it out."

"You think?" Jungkook asks.

"Yeah." Taehyung says, sighing softly and checking the time on his phone.

"Hey, Tae?" The younger starts, making Taehyung look up at him. "Are you feeling alright today?"

"Yeah. Why?" The older asks tilting his head slightly.

"No reason really. I just thought I'd ask after last night." Jungkook says looking down. "It kinda felt like we were avoiding talking about it."

"Did you want to talk about it?" Taehyung asks. "We can if you want."

"No it's not that I just... I wanted to make sure we were okay still." The younger shrugs. "I'm being stupid."

"No you're not. It's fine. And we're fine. Okay?" The brunette asks, offering Jungkook a small smile.

He can't help but return the smile. "Alright then."

Taehyung chuckles softly before pushing himself up from the ground.

"What are we gonna do today, Jungkook?" He asks, holding his hands out to help the younger up.

"I don't know." Jungkook says taking his hands and standing as well. "We don't really have anything important to do."

"Did you do this week's homework already?" Taehyung asks crossing his arms.

Jungkook narrows his eyes. "Hajoon's close isn't he?"

"So what if he is." The older chuckles, Taehyung found it so endearing that Jungkook could just tell when one of the other alters were near. "Did you do it?"

"Yes." Jungkook says making Taehyung narrow his eyes. "Okay, I started it."

"Jeon Jungkook."

"Fine I didn't do it."

Taehyung raises his eyebrows. "What? Why not?"

"I just didn't feel like it." The younger pouts softly. "I'll do it tomorrow."

"No way. You're doing it now." The brunette says grabbing his arm and pulling him along.

"Homework's gonna kill the vibe." Jungkook complains, following him.

"What vibe?" Taehyung chuckles as they walk down the stairs.

"It's called a lazy Sunday, Taehyung." The younger says in an obvious tone. "It's where you wake up at 2pm on a Sunday afternoon and eat breakfast for dinner and then you go back to bed."

"We woke up late already. We're not wasting the rest of the day." Taehyung says letting Jungkook go. "Go get your homework."

"I swear I feel five years old." The younger huffs, going to the kitchen to get his untouched assignments.

When he gets to the living room he finds Taehyung waiting for him on the couch with a book in his hand.

"What's that?" He asks sitting down next to him.

"Hajoon's close so I'm gonna try to read this for him." The brunette says looking up.

"Do you need him for something?" Jungkook asks, Taehyung never usually forces a switch unless he needs something.

"No. I used to do this as a teenager whenever Hajoon was close. It's hard to explain but it kind of feels like we're bonding or something. Like we're reading together." Taehyung shrugs. "If he does front though, ask him to do the cubbies."

    "Okay." The younger says before focusing his attention on his homework.

It was a quite afternoon for the two, after the events of the past week it was nice to be able to just sit together quietly.

The doorbell rings as they're sitting, getting Jungkook's attention but not Taehyung's.

Jungkook looks over at the brunette and he sees him staring off into the distance blankly.

    "Tae? Are you dissociating?" He asks the older.

    "Hm?" Taehyung hums distantly, his gaze still far away. "Oh, no. I don't know."

"Okay." Jungkook says standing to go get the door.

When he opens it he finds Jimin standing there in his work uniform like he was either just getting off or going in.

"Where's Taehyung?" He asks walking into the house.

"He's dissociating." The younger says closing the door.

"Oh, is he switchy this afternoon?" Jimin asks, walking towards the living room.

"No. Taehyung's been fronting more often than not the past couple days." Jungkook says following him.

"Really? That's new." The older says as they get to the living room.

"Hey, Jimin's here." Jungkook announces as they get there, not really expecting a response. "Can I get you anything, Jimin?"

"Well aren't you being sweet." Jimin chuckles taking a seat on one of the couches.

"I'll take that as a no." The younger says sitting down beside Taehyung.

The brunette sighs, pressing the back of his hand to the center of his forehead.

"How long has been at this?" Jimin asks looking at him.

"I'm not sure. I just noticed when the doorbell rang." Jungkook says, preoccupied with the paper he was trying to write. "He hasn't switched all day so everyone's probably close to the front by now."

Jimin nods, looking at the brunette with a bit of concern in his features.

"Jungkook, sweetheart?" The brunette says suddenly, Hajoon's gentle voice getting Jungkook's attention.

"Yes, hyung?" Jungkook asks, closing his notebook.

"Can you grab my glasses from the kitchen please, love?" Hajoon asks, his eyes squinted.

"Yeah. I'll get them." The younger says rushing to the kitchen.

"Hey, Joon." Jimin says to Hajoon.

"Jimin, hi. It's been a few days hasn't it?" The older smiles at him. "Have you been taking care of yourself?"

"Yeah. I guess I have." The younger shrugs. "Have you?"

"I've been doing my best." Hajoon says as Jungkook returns with his glasses. "Thank you, sweetheart."

"No problem, hyung." Jungkook says sitting down. "Taehyung made me do my homework earlier."

Hajoon chuckles. "I know. It had to be done though. Did you finish?"

"Not even close." The younger sighs. "Jimin just got here a minute ago."

"Okay." Hajoon smiles. "Should I make you two a snack?"

"Don't worry about it." Jimin says. "Jungkook told me that Taehyung hasn't switched all day. Is everything okay, Hajoon?"

Hajoon's expression changes but it's hardly noticeable. "There's some tension inside between Minseok and V so they've stayed away from the front today but I've been here watching over everything. Minseok and V never really get along so there's nothing new there."

"Okay. Are you sure there's nothing to worry about?" Jimin asks.

"I'm positive." The older says. "Just them being their usual selves today."

"Okay. Well, I just wanted to stop by on my way to work to make sure everything was good." The younger says standing up. "I'll leave you two to it."

"Okay, honey. I'll walk you out." Hajoon says standing with him.

"Okay." Jimin says. "Later, Jungkook."

"Later." Jungkook says without looking up from his paper.

Hajoon walks Jimin to the front door of the house.

"Take care, Jimin." He says hugging him. "Thank you for visiting."

Jimin hugs him back. "You're welcome."

Hajoon pulls away from the hug, smiling softly at him.

"Hyung, I'm really sorry that I hurt your feelings the other day." Jimin says. "I didn't mean to, I was just so worried~"

    "You don't have to be sorry, Jimin. I know you were worried. And I'm not upset in the slightest." Hajoon says quickly. "We're lucky to have you and Jungkook to worry about us."

Jimin sighs. "I'm still sorry. I hate that I made you upset. I was such a jerk."

    "It's okay. It's in the past now." The older smiles. "Now go before you're late for work."

Jimin chuckles softly. "I'll come by again to check on you guys."

    "Okay. Take care, sweetheart." Hajoon says, closing the door behind Jimin as he leaves.

He returns to the living room where Jungkook is still trying to make his paper make just a little bit of sense.

    "Need some help?" The older asks sitting beside him.

    "I just..." Jungkook sighs in frustration. "I know what I want to say, I just don't know how to say it."

    "Here, maybe I can help." Hajoon says taking the rough draft and reading over it.

Jungkook smiles softly, releasing a tense breath as Hajoon reads over the draft.

The rest of the afternoon mostly consists of Hajoon helping Jungkook perfect his paper before Taehyung fronts again around dinner time.

Taehyung is a bit dissociated and all over the place as they prepare dinner but there are still some laughs and smiles exchanged between the two before they decide to get some sleep.

They end up together again that night even though it's not previously discussed, it just sort of happens.

But they both feel at peace together so there's nothing worth complaining about.

🔒🔒🔒