Yoongi suggested Taehyung stay at his apartment for the night, along with Jimin, as the dancer still was not at full strength and he would probably enjoy his best friend's company. So arrangements were made - Jimin was given the bed to sleep in, Taehyung the couch, and Yoongi pulled out a futon for himself to lay on the floor by the couch.

Yes, despite Jimin's teasing comments for the blond to share the bed with him. Yoongi stayed strong and politely refused the offer.

He didn't mind sleeping on the futon, anyway. And having the kitchen right next to him was a plus, especially if he woke up in the middle of the night as he often did and wanted something to drink. Yoongi invited Taehyung to do the same, should the boy also wake up in need of a drink.

As for Jimin, Yoongi filled up a reusable water bottle with ice cold water and placed it on the night stand. He made sure to let the dancer know where the bathroom was and told him that should he need anything else to just wake Yoongi up. Of course, Yoongi hoped this wouldn't be necessary, but seeing as Jimin was recovering from being sick, he would tolerate it.

By quarter after midnight the three of them were in bed - not all sleeping, but all the lights in the apartment were off, so it was a start. Yoongi was pretty sure Jimin was asleep now. The last time he had checked on the dancer - roughly ten to fifteen minutes ago - Jimin was as still as a statue in bed and didn't react in the slightest as Yoongi tucked him in and whispered good night.

He had braced himself beforehand, however, in the chance Jimin was merely pretending again.

Yoongi lay awake in his futon now after having brushed his teeth and making sure the front door was locked. Taehyung was lying on his side on the couch, a blanket draped over him and his eyes closed. Sleeping peacefully, it appeared, or at least on the verge of drifting into a peaceful sleep.

Apparently, this wasn't the case.

Around two o'clock in the morning Yoongi awoke to muffled sounds of sobbing nearby. At first, in a half-conscious state, he presumed it to be a hazy figment of his imagination, a part of his dream. But then the sobbing shook him fully awake, and Yoongi registered that it was Taehyung.

It alarmed him to say the least. Even more so when he realized Taehyung wasn't on the couch beside him, but rather in the kitchen, crouched down on the floor.

Yoongi found him in that feeble position. Knees close to his chest. Head in his hands.

It sent off a shock of sorts in Yoongi's chest, the sort of feeling he imagined mothers felt when they saw their child crying without knowing why...

...which was a bizarre analogy for him to come up with, but giving the circumstances he shook off the feeling quickly grabbed his phone and hurried to Taehyung's side.

Yoongi made sure to be gentle as he touched the boy's shoulder. He lowered himself to sit beside him. Taehyung, in turn, momentarily stopped crying so that he could look over at the one who approached. His expression changed almost in an instant. Guilt. Like a pang to his chest, just as Yoongi had felt, only in a different way.

"Yoongi-" Taehyung's whisper came out harsh but he corrected himself straightaway. "Yoongi, I'm so...I'm so sorry, I-"

The older tried to calm him in as simple a manner as he could - outstretching his hand, giving a stern yet kind stare, and last of all turning on his phone to talk to him.

Hopefully some day, Yoongi thought to himself then, he could find the time and motivation to learn sign language - more than just "I'm sorry," anyway.

Though that was a good start.

-

What's wrong? Are you not feeling well, either? Or did you have a bad dream?

-

Upon reading the message, Taehyung visibly hesitated to respond, let alone look at Yoongi. But he did.

"Bad...dream..."

A soft whisper. It sounded scared, but also unsure, as though there was more to it than he wanted to let on. Yoongi sighed and pulled his phone up to his face again.

-

Would it help to talk about it?

-

A shrug. Yoongi felt his expression sink. Taehyung's was already sunken, and with no signs of rising any time soon.

-

Why don't you try? I'm a good listener.

-

"Mm." A nod this time. Squirmy movements and a nervous glance. "Bad dream," the boy said once more. "Well...kind of...a memory. With Jiminie..."

Now this took Yoongi aback. He scanned the other's face in puzzlement.

-

Did you guys get into a bad fight at some point?

-

"No," Taehyung replied, still sounding unsure of his words. "We...I mean...Jimin...I don't know if he'd want me telling you this, but his parents were very wealthy people, just...selfish, he always told me. I don't think he ever really loved them. He never wanted me to meet them..."

Yoongi needed a moment to process the small yet shocking bit of information Taehyung had just given him. Noticing the boy had paused in his story-telling, the older wrote out another message of his own.

-

Did he get kicked out? Is that why he's living where he's living?

-

"Not exactly." Taehyung shook his head sadly. "Jiminie got into a fight with them, because he...Jiminie asked them for help, for...me, for me, 'cause something happened in our senior year, and-..."

A noticeable change in the boy's breathing urged Yoongi to once again touch his shoulder as a method of comfort. To his relief, it worked after a few seconds. Taehyung's breathing steadied.

"...sorry..." He sniffled, head hung low. "It's a long story. I used to have a friend in high school, named Woo, I really liked him, he was super nice and fun and he didn't get annoyed...with me...or anything even though I had trouble keeping up in conversations and...ya know, I didn't always hear him well. It helped that he talked pretty loud, though."

Yoongi permitted himself a soft smile as he listened to the boy intently.

"Even Jimin liked him," Taehyung continued, "and that...that made me happy. 'Cause Jimin didn't get along well with many people...hardly anyone, actually...but he was okay with my friend and it was...relieving to me, in a way. Even then I knew how protective Jiminie was with me so I was glad..."

He paused again, taking a moment to purse his lips which had started to quiver.

"Woo was clumsy...beyond clumsy...and careless, but it was never intentional." Taehyung's voice trailed away into an emotional whisper. "We were just hanging out, having fun, Jiminie couldn't come 'cause he was sick...but Woo had brought some sparklers and personal fireworks from his brother, accidentally set them off right next to my ear when he was trying to show me how they worked...and the protective ear gear I had was around my neck at the time..."

He blinked once, slow and heavy, and a tear fell from both eyes.

"It badly damaged my eardrum, which was already pretty bad as it is." The boy gently touched his right ear before letting his arm fall to his side. "I knew it was an accident, I knew Woo didn't mean it...but I also knew...if Jiminie found out, he would blame Woo, so I told him I was the one who lit them. Jiminie still got really upset...really upset. My parents weren't well off at all financially so they could never afford for me to get treatment for my ears, so Jiminie begged his parents to help me. But...I guess they had their reasons for not wanting to..."

A twinge in Yoongi's chest. He was torn between sitting still to listen more or interrupting as politely as he could with his pressing opinions and questions. He gave in and opted for the latter.

-

So nothing was done about it then? His parents just ignored their son's friend in need? Is that why your hearing's gotten worse?

-

He regretted it almost immediately. The look that coated Taehyung's misty eyes after reading the message. Yoongi bit his tongue and prepared to apologize, but the younger opened his mouth first.

"I can't blame them," he said, gaze narrowing. "I can't blame Jimin's parents, or mine...or Woo...I didn't want the treatment, anyway...the only reason it was ever even on my mind was because of how much...Jiminie wanted me to get better."

-

How did you and Jimin become friends in the first place? Why he likes you so much but no one else...?

-

"I guess it started when I told him his voice was pretty."

A sad smile followed the prompt reply. Taehyung went on.

"I don't think he likes the idea of me never hearing his voice again. Of course...I don't like the idea, either, but I love everything about Jimin, not just his voice, so it doesn't bother me as much as him getting sad over me losing something...that I don't need. Yet he takes responsibility for me now. But one of these days, I'm gonna make it up to him. I just haven't learned how."

It was a lot for Yoongi to take in on an emotional level. He had a feeling Taehyung had left a lot out, abbreviated the story, and yet even still the overview the boy had given him established an ever deeper sympathy in Yoongi.

As he was contemplating what next to say to Taehyung, the door to Yoongi's room opened slowly, alerting the blond to face the one now slugging out into view. Judging by the dancer's appearance, it was safe to say he had likely just woken up.

"Go back to bed, Jimin," Yoongi said boldly. Without hesitation the dancer scowled at him.

"I heard Tae's voice, what's wrong?"

"Jiminie!" The one in question turned towards his friend as soon as he registered his presence. "Did I wake you? I'm sorry-"

Jimin moved one hand away from his face, then waved it in front of him whilst shaking his head. His eyes flicked to Yoongi. "Why are you two huddled on the kitchen floor?"

"Huddled?" The blond stifled a laugh. "I'm just sitting next to him."

"Close." Skeptical, Jimin narrowed his gaze. "Doesn't seem like you."

"We're bonding."

"Are you now?"

Ignoring the little smirk on Yoongi's lips, Jimin made his way carefully over to Taehyung and knelt down in front of him on the floor. Eye contact was made for about three seconds, then a hug was initiated. All the while as the hug lasted, Yoongi watched both boys with concern.

And fondness.

He was awfully fond of them.

"Are you feeling better?" Yoongi asked the dancer.

"Well enough." Jimin brushed Taehyung's bangs out of the boy's face and kissed his forehead. His thumbs glided across his friend's salty cheeks, catching the moisture from tears which had not yet dried. He breathed out. "I got some sleep, it's enough."

"It's two in the morning."

"I'll stay up till he's asleep again."

"I can do that," Yoongi argued. He was met with Jimin's stern, disapproving gaze - a familiar sight at this point.

"No need. I've got it under control."

"I can stay up if I want to. I don't need your approval."

"Fine. Stay up if you will."

With that stubborn exchange, Jimin made himself comfortable on Taehyung's other side and pressed against the boy's head to lean on his shoulder. Yoongi stayed right where he was.

He forgot quickly about a question he wanted to ask Taehyung. About his friend.

The three of them fell asleep next to each other in the kitchen.

—

sorry if the quality of the story declines lol i've been having writer's block ✌️