Random two part special anyone???

"You guys are way too excited about this,"

"How can we not be excited? It's Chaesal's birthday."

Vic rolls his eyes as he watches Jimin and Jungkook write down the plan for the party.

    "We need a cake," Jungkook says writing on the notepad that sat between him.

    "What about cupcakes?" Jimin asks. "Or both?"

    "Definitely both," Jungkook nods, writing it down before looking at Vic. "You, I need you to relay a message to the rest of the system without Chaesal finding out."

    "Ask Hajoon, he's the gatekeeper," Vic says, purposely being stubborn to annoy the two of them.

    "Vic, come on, this is important," Jungkook pouts. "Everyone needs to get Chaesal a gift before the party on Saturday. That means we're gonna be triggering switches all week. Okay?"

    "Wait, I think I'm dissociating," Vic says holding his hand up as he pretends to dissociate. "It's Chaesal, he says fuck off this party is a stupid idea and I won't front if you go through with it."

    "Vic," Jimin laughs. "What's up with you? Do you think the party's a bad idea?"

    "He's just being a dick," Jeongguk says standing with the notepad in his hand. "Here, Vic. It's a schedule for the switch triggering."

Vic takes the notepad and reads over it. "Okay, so are we doing it around the same time everyday or what?"

    "If we can, yeah," Jeongguk nods. "Are you grounded enough to get him something now?"

    "I don't know, I've been front-stuck since this morning, shopping might make us start switching like crazy." Vic says. "I can tell you what I want to get him."

    "Yeah, that works too," Jeongguk nods. "It'll still be from the heart."

Vic nods. "All jokes aside though, I know he's gonna love the whole party thing. He was really excited when he aged up."

    "Oh, Vic," Jimin smiles. "You can't help but be mushy, even when you're being an asshole."

    "Whatever," Vic says handing the notepad back to Jungkook. "I'm gonna try to get Taehyung out so he can finish some stuff up for his dad. I'll tell him the plan if I can reach him."

    "Okay, call me if you need me," Jungkook says before he leaves the kitchen. "Alright, Jimin, so far we have me, you, Yoongi, Namjoon, Hobi, and Seokjin if I can get him to come."

    "Okay, I'll start making arrangements for the cake," Jimin says looking down at his phone.

    "What kind of food should we do? All Chaesal eats is chips and candy, we can't serve that at the party." Jungkook says sitting down at the table.

    "Maybe he'll appreciate a more mature cuisine since he's older," Jimin chuckles. "We can even pop open some champagne if we really wanna get fancy."

    "He is 21 now," Jungkook laughs. "Man, I can't believe it. He used to be so down on himself about not knowing his birthday. Now he's getting older."

    "Who's getting older?"

Jimin's eyes widen as he rushes to cover his notepad, Jungkook doing the same before the two look around as if nothing happened.

Chaesal frowns at them as he walks into the kitchen. "What's with you two?"

    "Nothing," They say in unison.

    "Okay...?" Chaesal says. "Was Vic stuck in the front? My head's killing me."

    "Do you need some medicine? We have painkillers," Jungkook says standing. "I can get them for you."

    "No, it's fine, it'll go away." Chaesal shrugs, sitting on the counter to fill out the log.

Jimin looks at Jungkook as silence awkwardly fills the room.

    "What? Were you talking shit about me or something?" Chaesal asks as they continue to act suspicious. "If it's about me vacuuming the stairs I already said I would after I dust the end tables."

    "Don't worry about the stairs," Jungkook says. "It's a big week for you, your birthday week."

    "Birthday?" Chaesal laughs. "It's not that big a deal, I don't even know the exact day that it happened."

    "It's still important," Jungkook says. "I'll take over cleaning for the week as my gift to you."

    "If you really wanna get me a gift, get me my own phone so I don't have to share with these shitheads anymore," Chaesal says as he writes his portion of the log. "Or a puppy, either of which I'd be eternally grateful."

    "What kind of puppy?" Jimin asks, earning a not so discreet kick in the leg from Jungkook.

    "Something small that I can carry around everywhere and dress in cute sweaters," Chaesal says. "I'd make him an Instagram and everything."

"We'd have discuss it with the others first," Jeongguk says before falling silent again.

"You two are being weird," Chaesal says hopping off the counter. "Did Vic piss you off or something? Because I don't care if you take it out on me."

    "No, Chaesal," Jimin says. "And why would we take it out on you?"

    "I don't know," Chaesal shrugs, gesturing to his face. "Same face, same body?"

    "There's nothing wrong," Jeongguk says. "We were just talking, that's all."

"What are you writing?" Chaesal asks nodding at the notepad in front of them.

"Nothing," Jeongguk says turning the page as Jimin takes the notepad from him, somehow managing to nick his finger on the paper. "Ow, Jimin, damnit."

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry~" Jimin says standing to grab a paper towel. "You should've let it go."

"Are you seriously blaming me?" Jeongguk asks standing to run water over the cut. "I'm the one bleeding here, Jimin."

    "I'm not blaming you," Jimin starts, meeting Jeongguk by the sink with a paper towel. "It's just a little cut, don't be so dramatic~"

    "What did you do?"

Jimin and Jeongguk turn their head in time to see Hajoon putting his glasses on, his expression a mixture of concern and worry.

    "It's just a little cut, Joon, don't worry," Jimin says to the worried brunette. "I'm sure it doesn't even hurt."

    "Let me see," Hajoon says taking Jimin's spot next to Jeongguk.

    "It really doesn't hurt, hyung," Jeongguk says as Hajoon takes his hand and examines the cut. They always tried their best not to negatively trigger anyone in the system. It was harder not to negatively trigger Hajoon when everyday incidents like getting a paper cut or breaking a glass happened regularly around the house.

    "Soap and water," Hajoon says. "I'll grab some bandaids from upstairs. Apply pressure if it keeps bleeding~"

    "Don't worry, hyung, I got it," Jeongguk says smiling reassuringly at the older. "I'll be right back. I'll be fine, it's just a paper cut."

"You okay, Joon?" Jimin asks after Jeongguk leaves the kitchen. "Do you need to sit down?"

"I'm fine," Hajoon says offering him a small smile. "Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"

"No," Jimin says. "Sit down, I'll make you some tea while I tell you about Chaesal's party."

"Party?" Hajoon asks as he sits down at the kitchen table, taking his glasses off and covering his eyes.

"Yeah, Jeongguk wants to do something for him since he aged up," Jimin says putting a mug of water in the microwave. "Do you think it's a good idea?"

"I think I'm going to switch," Hajoon says without uncovering his face.

"Vic was front stuck all morning, you guys might start rapid-cycling," Jimin explains as he continues preparing the tea.

Jeongguk comes back into the kitchen a few moments later. "You okay, hyung?"

    "Jeongguk?" He asks when he hears his voice.

    "Yeah?" Jeongguk asks, looking at Jimin. "What's wrong?"

    "I don't feel good," Vic sighs as he fronts, frowning as he looks up at Jeongguk. "What happened? Why's Hajoon all worked up?"

    "I cut myself," Jeongguk says holding up his thumb. "It wasn't a huge deal, I told him that."

    "Do you need some water?" Jimin asks. "I was making tea for Hajoon but I can make you some coffee if you want."

Vic closes his eyes at the mention of tea, slipping away from the front and leaving the body in a odd transitional state.

    "Vic?" Jimin wonders aloud.

    "It's not good to call their names, Jimin, it'll make the switches harder," Jeongguk says sitting down at the table. "Someone will hold front eventually. In the meantime, we should avoid talking about the party."

    "Should we make Taehyung front?" Jimin asks. "That's the only thing that stopped them last time."

    "Yeah, but he was out of commission for the rest of the day after that," Jeongguk says. "They'll stop,"

    "Stop, Vic," The brunette says pressing the heels of his hands into his eyes.

    "I think we should try, they can do this for hours," Jimin says sitting beside Jeongguk.

    "I know, but I don't want to hurt them," Jeongguk says looking down at their notes about the party. "They'll be fine."

    "Fuck me," Jongun groans, holding his head as he continues to dissociate. "This sucks so fucking bad, oh my god."

    "Do you need me to get you something?" Jeongguk asks looking up at him.

    "Yeah, got any vodka?" He says rubbing his temple.

    "Maybe if it wasn't two in the afternoon?" Jeongguk says standing to get him some water. "What'd they say in your AA meeting last week? No drinking before seven or after nine. And if you're gonna drink you have to write it down on the log so Vic knows."

    "Spare me, Jeongguk, jesus," Jongun groans. "I don't know how many times I have to tell you, I'm not a drunk. I barely front."

    "Vic says otherwise," Jeongguk says sitting the glass of water beside him. "Are you grounded enough to talk birthday gifts for Chaesal's party?"

    "A party?" Jongun asks drinking some water. "Since when do we celebrate birthdays in the system? We don't even celebrate Taehyung's birthday anymore."

    "Well, this is a huge deal for Chaesal," Jeongguk says. "Some of his depression stemmed from not having a birthday or an origin story. This could be the start of a great change in his life."

    "What if he just lied about aging up so he could drink without you bugging him about?" 

    "Only you would do that, Jongun,"

Jimin laughs, earning a glare from Jongun. "Sorry, sorry~ I didn't mean...never mind."

    "Are you grounded?" Jeongguk asks handing him a pen. "Because I need you to tell me what you want to get him."

    "I don't know, get him a gift card or some shit," Jongun frowns. "I don't know him well enough to know what to get him."

    "That's not true," Jeongguk says. "You guys are co-con more than anyone these days."

    "Yeah, because he's always invading my time in the front," Jongun says. "I don't care if he aged up, he's still a brat."

    "What's with you and Vic today? Are you in a fight? Because both of you are being major dicks." Jeongguk says taking the pen from him.

Jongun looks away, not hiding his expression well. "I don't want to talk about it."

    "What happened?" Jeongguk asks. "You can talk to us about it."

    "Besides him forcing me to go to AA meetings and calling me a drunk when I front twice a week, at most?" Jongun asks. "Everything's peachy."

    "He just wants the best for you," Jeongguk says. "Because he loves you, we all do."

    "I don't care," Jongun says standing. "Get Chaesal those shoes he wanted by Gabin Yang, that's my gift to him."

    "Where are you going?" Jimin asks.

    "To lie down, I feel like shit." Jongun says leaving the kitchen.

Jeongguk writes down the gift, putting Jongun's name beside it. "One down,"

    "Maybe you guys should ease up with the whole AA thing," Jimin says. "It clearly makes him upset."

    "That has nothing to do with me," Jeongguk says looking up from his list. "Taehyung and Vic made the decision to start AA."

    "Well tell them that it's not working for him," Jimin says. "Jongun doesn't get upset, ever. So this has to really be getting to him."

    "He drinks himself sick every time he fronts," Jeongguk says. "I got rid of all the alcohol in the house and he went out and still got shit-faced. It's not good for him or the system."

    "That's because he rarely fronts, and when he does he feels like he has to drink while he can," Jimin says. "If you guys made more of an effort to make him comfortable enough to front more often that wouldn't be a problem."

"What do you mean make him comfortable?" Jeongguk asks. "I make sure everyone's comfortable when they front."

"Really?" Jimin asks raising an eyebrow. "The littles have a play room, Vic has the home gym in the basement, Hajoon has an entire cupboard reserved for his teas, Chaesal has a game room at the end of the hall, Taehyung has you~"

"They all have me~"

"My point is, Jongun has nothing that is solely his," Jimin says. "Tell me I'm wrong."

Jeongguk thinks for a moment before realizing that Jimin is right.

"That's what I thought," Jimin says. "It's not right, Jeongguk."

"All he does is drink when he fronts," Jeongguk says. "What do you want me to do? Get a mini bar built into his room?"

"Ask Vic," Jimin says standing and grabbing his phone and keys. "If I were him, I wouldn't want to spend all my time at AA meetings."

Jeongguk sighs, feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt as he thought about Jongun's situation.

"Text me if the date changes for the party," Jimin says before leaving.

Jeongguk sighs in thought as he sits alone in the kitchen. He needed to make a special place in the house for Jongun.

He just didn't know where to start.

~

"Don't beat yourself up, Gguk, it's my fault too."

"I don't know how I could not notice this."

Taehyung nods, rubbing Jeongguk's back as he sits beside him on the couch—looking at the list of ideas Jeongguk was accumulating for Jongun's room.

"His room in the inner world can't be made in reality," Jeongguk says looking at the list. "Do you think we could get a glass wall installed?"

"Without ruining the rest of the house? No." Taehyung chuckles. "Maybe we can repaint?"

"That's not enough," Jeongguk says before standing. "I think I have an idea, but I need to go shopping."

"Do you want me to go with you?" Taehyung asks standing as well.

"No, you guys just stopped switching, I don't want to trigger it again at the store," Jeongguk says grabbing his keys from the coffee table. "If you're still out when I get back I'll fill you in on what's happening with Chaesal's party."

"What party?" Taehyung asks. "For what?"

"He aged up, we have to do something special for him," Jeongguk says. "I'll tell you more when I get back."

"We don't usually celebrate birthday's in the system~" Taehyung starts as Jeongguk's phone starts ringing.

"Oh that's Seokjin, I gotta take this," Jeongguk says looking down at the phone. "We'll talk more later, okay? I'll be right back. Love you."

"Love you too," Taehyung says watching him leave the house.

He knew that Jimin and Jeongguk were both very excited to here the news about Chaesal's aging up. But he didn't think they'd go as far as planning a party.

It wasn't something he discussed with either of them before, he just thought it was known that they didn't celebrate birthdays.

He wanted to celebrate Chaesal, of course he did. It just wasn't something he was comfortable with, and he was almost certain that the rest of the system would agree.