Twenty-Fourth
:Chapter Twenty-Four:

"Thank you, hyung, for driving me home." Jeongguk said once he entered Hoseok's car, the aforementioned getting in on the driver's side.

"You don't have to thank me, I drive you every other day." Hoseok claimed, shrugging lamely. He started up his vehicle after pulling the seatbelt over his body. "When do you get to come back to school?"

Jeongguk hummed, opening the windows for a nice cool breeze to pass through. "Technically, anytime I want but the doctor said that if I'm still having bad sensitivity to just stay home and rest more."

"Well, are you?" Hoseok wondered.

"Yeah, I had to put my AirPods in my ears halfway through the game because you guys just scream." Jeongguk claimed. "I didn't think it would be that bad but damn."

The two shared a small chuckle together, little smiles on their faces.

Hoseok hummed, thinking it was time to change the subject to something he's been wondering. "How did Taehyung do?"

"What does it matter how I think he did?" Jeongguk questioned with a cocked brow, head resting back on the headrest.

"You're not going to insult him? Inform me on how life isn't fair and had to sit you out and put him in?" Hoseok questioned, surprised Jeongguk didn't want to bash Taehyung for his pitching skills, even if he believed Taehyung did good.

"Don't get me wrong, he's definitely not a pitcher and life does suck for giving me a severe concussion out of everyone," Jeongguk said bluntly. "But what do I get out of talking about him to you? I'll just wait to tell it all to his face." Grinned the younger of the two.

"Ah, yes, because that always ends well." Hoseok shook his head, a small smile lingering on his lips. "That team was so dirty." Hoseok uttered to fill in the silence.

"We use to play against them at my old school," Jeongguk stated. "They've always played like that. If we began to beat them and they knew they were going to lose, they didn't focus on winning anymore," he shrugged. "They focused on hurting the other team's players."

"I can tell."

"The way they were hitting Kim and tripping him, they were doing that because they know he's not only the captain but he's the only backup pitcher." Jeongguk said, feeling a tug at his heart with remembering he wasn't going to be able to play anymore.

His doctor confirmed it with a phone call saying it would be best to sit out the rest of the season so it wouldn't become any worse. It really hurt Jeongguk but he decided not to bring it up to anyone, figuring everyone would have the idea Jeongguk wasn't going to pitch anymore.

"I knew they were. He landed hard on his knee that one inning." Hoseok informed, driving down the road to get to Jeongguk's house. "But we can't just sit him out because they were targeting him. They would've targeted someone else."

Jeongguk didn't say anything now, deciding it was enough of that conversation. It did suck but he didn't want to keep going on and on about it.

"How's Jaeyong?" Hoseok questioned, sparing a small glance over at Jeongguk who was just looking straight ahead, arms loosely crossed over his chest.

"He's good," he said vaguely. "He's starting to understand that he can't run through the house screaming which is nice." And there it was, a small smile over Jeongguk's thin lips.

"Oh really?" Hoseok took notice, adoring how Jeongguk could talk on for ages about his little brother.

"Yeah, he just doesn't know why light or sound would bother my headache." Jeongguk commented. He looked at Hoseok who looked back at the road the moment their eyes met.

The elder didn't have a younger sibling, only an older sister who was moved out already and figuring out her own life. He looked at Jeongguk sometimes as a little brother because of how much he babied him and teased him.

Not all the time though, just rarely.

It was nice to hear how loving of an older brother Jeongguk was to Jaeyong.

"Does he take more after your dad?" Hoseok wondered, knowing this was a good way to have Jeongguk not focus on his injuries. He made a smooth right turn, hating how he was getting closer to his destination.

"No, he takes a lot from my mom. He has her entire personality." Jeongguk said, something in his eyes sparkling. "He looks just like her, too. For only being four-years-old, he sees the good in everyone, thinking everyone deserves a friend."

"Even Taehyung?"

"He hasn't met him yet, I like to think they'll never have to meet." Jeongguk rolled his eyes, hearing the tease in his hyung's voice.

Hoseok chuckled. "What? Can't bear your brother seeing more good in Taehyung than you?"

"There's nothing good about Kim, don't want him to ruin my brother's cute ability." And then the two laughed together, pulling up in front of Jeongguk's house.

The younger of the two unbuckled and slipped out of the vehicle, turning back to look at Hoseok. He still had his sunglasses and his bucket hat on for protective reasons.

"Thanks again." Jeongguk said, about to shut the door but Hoseok stopped him, thinking of what he could say next.

He held a sweet smile. "Just try to be a bit like your brother, don't be afraid to see the good in people. Taehyung didn't have to check on you, didn't have to stop here to see if you were okay."

The younger didn't say anything and shut the door behind him, walking up to his door where he disappeared into.

Hoseok started his car back up and began to drive away.

     Taehyung, on the other hand, was sitting in his living room, Jihyun rubbing his shoulders beyond his protest.

She told him that it was her job to take care of him when he needed it and that she wasn't taking no as an answer.

Taehyung's adoptive parents were in the kitchen making dinner together. They wanted Jihyun to stay over since it's been quite a bit since she stayed to have a meal with the Kim's.

     "How's your knee?" Jihyun asked, running her fingers through his overgrown blond locks, making him shut his eyes and rest his head back.

While he did complain at first about her babying him, he soon caved in for obvious reasons and let himself feel nice while she ran her fingers all through his hair and shoulders.

"Sore." He murmured, hearing her soft giggle erupt after seeing his reaction.

Jihyun retracted her hands and heard her boyfriend groan, snickering under her breath. She walked over and plopped beside Taehyung, seeing his dazed look with a hint of annoyance.

"Why'd you stop?" He nudged her arm gently, eyes focused on her and her only.

"Wanted to sit with you." She shrugged. "Let's just relax and wait for dinner to be done." Jihyun said and laid her head on his shoulder. "Has that boy been bothering you recently?" She inquired.

Taehyung knew exactly what boy his girlfriend was talking about but he decided to play dumb. "Who?"

"I don't remember his name but the mean one, the one you fought." Jihyun specified.

"Oh, him."  Taehyung sighed. "Um, well, he actually has a concussion right now." It so happened that the game Jeongguk got hurt in, Jihyun wasn't there.

Taehyung also may have forgot to inform her on what's been going on because he didn't want to talk about the boy.

"Ouch, really? How?" She picked her head up and looked at her boyfriend. "Is he okay at least?"

"He got hit in the head during one of the games." Taehyung told. "And yeah, he's fine for the most part. Still a jerk but that's whatever." He added on, pecking her nose. "We shouldn't worry about him, he's not important."

"That's not very nice, Tae, but I get it." Jihyun said, smiling warmly when he kissed the tip of her nose. "You did really good today. I know I told you that already but I mean it, you did so good and I'm so proud of you." She praised the slightly younger. "You put your all in."

"Thank you, baby." Taehyung sat up, turning a bit to face her. "I'm glad I have a supporter like you with me." He moved and took her tiny hands in his own.

He leaned in to kiss her pretty plump lips but his adoptive mother clearing her throat interrupted the two, causing them to lightly jump at the sudden noise.

"Dinner's just about ready, lovebirds." She smiled. Her Korean was a work in progress but she was getting better and better. It was really just remembering certain words and pronunciation.

Taehyung's mom and dad weren't his real parents but they adopted him at a young age and cared for him ever since. They treated him like he was their real son.

Taehyung's father was a Korean man who helped his wife who at the time he met her, only spoke Japanese. Luckily for them, he also knew a bit of Japanese which started their beautiful relationship.

They decided they wanted to have kids but unfortunately (or fortunately), Taehyung's mom couldn't conceive and they went the route of adopting. Though it was a long process, they were blessed with a beautiful Korean son who was fluent in both languages.

That was just some background information of Taehyung's family that no one asked for.

     "Okay, we're coming." Taehyung said, watching his mom nodded and turn to walk away. He looked back at Jihyun who looked a bit flustered but so cute at the same time. "C'mon, let's go eat and we can chill in my room and watch a movie."

"With the door open, right?"

"My parents wouldn't allow it closed." Taehyung chuckled and carefully pushed up to his feet, wincing at the pressure he applied to his knee. It was just a bit sore from falling but nothing major.

Jihyun stood with and helped her boyfriend to the kitchen.

They all took their seats as Taehyung's father began to place food on this plates, thanking him as he did so.

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A/N:

Sorry, this is a filler more or less but there's more info! There is progress, small but it's getting there! The next chapter is something you'll all enjoy I feel. And then I have an idea to really help Taehyung and Jeongguk, don't give up yet. Please.