Dip. stop- Step and turn. Heel-

*One count. Two count.*

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

- his passable(ish) attempt at fluidity and grace devolved into madly flailing hands and desperation to untangle his feet before he ended up on the floor.

Taehyung loved to dance. Maybe not with quite the same fervor and calling as Hobi, Kookie or Jiminie, but he loved to move. Loved the energy and the high of synergy between his body and the beat of the music as it resonated.

But right now, clothing damp with sweat, skin itching with the dry salt of sweat and his limbs achy with overuse; Taehyung just wanted to stop.

His balance somewhat corrected if still slightly precarious, he ducked his head, using his sleeve to wipe away the annoying trickle of sweat he could feel creeping out of his hairline before it could make a bee-line for his eye.

Using the cover of his arm, he glanced around subtly. Thankfully though, most of the others seemed to have been too busy staring at their own feet to see the clusterfuck that Taehyung's had become.

He wasn't the only one who had been steadily butchering various parts of their new choreography all week, but that last attempt had been- something else. Not dancing, anyway. By anyone's definition.

It wasn't so much that he was worried about being judged (they'd all well and truly massacred sections of various routines before, some even during live stages) but- there would be giggling and sniggering and Hobi calling out performance scores and Jin's windshield wiper laugh and-

And Tae had been up since 4 am (along with everyone else) practicing vocals until lunch and then a radio interview followed by choreo from 3 pm. He was exhausted and sweaty and frustrated and just wanted to go home and fall into bed because he had to get back up and do it all again tomorrow.

The thumping beat of the music faded, and Taehyung felt a sudden spark of hope(!) that Hobi-hyung might finally be about to call it for the night- which was promptly dashed when their dance guru immediately cued the track back to the beginning.

"Again! You've all got the core elements down, so really focus on that second transition-" Hobi coached as he fell gracefully back into their opening position, the melody of their new song starting to thump into the air around them.

Taehyung sucked in a long deep breath and dropped back into formation, filling his spot between Jin and Jimin on the left flank, tensing as he prepared for the beat that led their first move-

He was desperately ready to stop, but until everyone else did as well, he just had to suck it up and keep going.

He could tell though, that the others were starting to dig deeper for extra energy reserves as well; Namjoon was dripping with sweat, and Yoongi flopped to the floor every time the music stopped for more than five seconds. Jin still looked like he could step off a fashion magazine cover. (and how? Taehyung looked, smelled and felt like a damp load of washing someone had forgotten to put in the dryer two days ago) But the oldest had drained his (and the remainder of Jimin's) water bottle in the past 10 minutes.

There was a refill station down the corridor and around the corner, but this late at night it was touch and go if the machine had even been left on for them, and Jin didn't look inclined to go find out.

Hopefully, Hoseok-hyung (choreo-maniac that he was) was taking all of this into consideration while he assessed if they'd made enough improvement to prepare for tomorrows session with their instructors.

Tae thought they were doing okay as a whole.

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

-he promptly proceeded to completely botch the move for the second time in as minutes.

It didn't help that Kookie was directly in front of him during that part of the dance sequence, and the younger was nailing it four times out of every five.

Hoseok didn't bother stopping the music this run-through, and Tae quickly righted himself; the beat and a glance toward Jungkook letting him pick back up with the others just as they moved into the third sequence of steps.

And Tae understood; this seeming never-ending repetition of the routine. The push to perfect the steps to the point of instinct. They needed to be mesmerizing. Captivating. For ARMY and for each other, they needed to be fantastic.

But it didn't matter how many more times Hoseok pushed them to run through the routine tonight; Taehyung wasn't going to get any better. If he was honest, he didn't think anyone else would either; they were all beyond done for the evening. Unlike Taehyung though, everyone else at least seemed to be appropriately improved for their individual skill levels.

Jin, Yoongi, and Namjoon were progressing nicely through 'I can't do this' at varying rates. Their looks of resigned despair would have been enough to worry the uninitiated, but Taehyung was well familiar with his non-danceline hyungs, and how they always followed the same tried and true route when faced with new choreography.

They'd already survived the "What the hell, Hoseok!?" stage, and Tae could tell that at least Yoongi was only a few more repetitions away from his moment of "Oh!" for this particular dance. Business as usual for routines of this standard of difficulty.

So, like all their choreography ever.

Of course, Jiminie, with his stupid flexibility and stupid gracefulness and stupid fluidity, had the entire routine down. He was just 'polishing' and adding his own 'flair.' Tae hated his stupid best friend sometimes.

Okay, so that was a complete lie. But sometimes he was so freaking envious-

Like right now, when it was heading for 10 pm, and they'd been dancing the new routine for their title song for the majority of the afternoon, and Tae just-

Couldn't get this One. Particular. Step.

In theory, it was- well, not simple exactly (or as Hoseok had explained: it was probably the most technically difficult transition in the whole routine), but Taehyung still felt he should have had at least some success after so many hours of uninterrupted practice, and he just-

Couldn't.

As the first instance of the chorus began to echo, their (attempt at somewhat clean) choreography began to devolve into a chaotic mess, and Taehyung felt himself relax slightly, giggling in time with Jin as the older gave up following the steps entirely to stare at Hoseok accusingly.

They'd spent the last two weeks learning the core segments and were now working on the transition moves that bound the routine together; the first 30 seconds was looking pretty good, but it went downhill rapidly from there; almost comically so.

Jin had moved on from glaring at Hoseok to rifle through his various dongsaengs belongings against the far wall, soon coming up victorious with a partially full water bottle. Likely Namjoon-hyung's, if their leaders sudden scramble to liberate it was any indication.

Tae heard the telling thump from behind, and glancing over his shoulder, confirmed: Yoongi-hyung sprawled on the floor, eyes closed as he panted softly. The older was fine; this was only the fifth time in the past 20 minutes.

Knowing a losing fight when he was in one, Taehyung abandoned his own spot, leaving just Jiminie and Kookie to haltingly follow Hobi- hyung through the second half of the song. Naturally, both members of the dance line were miles ahead of the rest of them.

A few more weeks of practice though, with small leaps of improvement every day, and they'd have another perfectly synchronized dance number for their fans.

"Hit the music, Joon-ah, let's take it back to the beginning- "

And there went the slight lift in his mood, plummeting back down to somewhere between fed-up and just plain gloomy.

The music restarted, the already bordering on too-familiar strains filled his senses, and unable to do anything else, he eased into his position-

Dip. stop- Step and turn. Heel-

*One count. Two count.*

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

His brain seemed to disconnect with his feet, his arms flailing awkwardly as he stumbled, the room erupting into braying laughter-

-at Jin, who had somehow managed to get his arm caught in the trailing sleeves of Yoongi's sweater (where it was tied around the rapper's waist) propelling the two of them to the floor in an ungainly tangle of limbs.

Taehyung didn't laugh. He just wanted to go home.

Jimin shifted away from his side, and the music cut off, leaving an almost hollow lack of sound in its wake, and Taehyung's chest suddenly felt heavier with every breath as an alarming tightness tried to crawl up his throat-

He swallowed hard, blinking desperately as he kept his head down; ostensibly busy with his shoelaces-

He wasn't going to cry over something so stupid.

"That was...inspired. I think I can use that. Can I use that?" Hoseok quipped from somewhere to the left; his laughter the loudest (his voice the kindest, so very reassuring and not at all disappointed or patronizing. Maybe Taehyung should just tell him?)

Blowing out a long smooth breath, and sucking in deeply, Taehyung felt the threat of emotion fade back to dull fretfulness, and he glanced up-

His lapse seemed to have gone wholly unnoticed, lost beneath the hilarity that was Yoongi sassing Jin, the older completely unapologetic.

The music began to play again; humor still audible in the lilt of his voice, Hoseok called them back to their feet, "From the top again, guys! Remember, it's a two count pause before the dip..."

Yoongi groaned out loud, and finally freeing himself from Jin's grasp, flopped over onto his back to stare morosely up at their dance leader-

Tae was only seconds away from joining him when Hoseok answered the unspoken protest with a chuckle, "Three more times guys, and then we'll call it a night, okay?"

Yoongi scrambled to his feet and back into position amongst the scrabbling of the rest of them- everyone tired and exhausted, realizing that this was the best offer they were going to get.

Three times. Taehyung could get through just three more times. Three. Two. One. Done. Home. Sleep. Bed.

Wait-

Actually, he'd probably fall asleep in the car- it wouldn't be the first time one of the hyungs had had to carry him to bed.

Taehyung smiled as the music started.

Feeling slightly re-energized by the knowledge that they'd finally be stopping, that he could soon go home to bed, Taehyung relaxed into the lilting beat, smoothly flowing through the first series of moves. He tensed as they approached the first transition, but then-

It didn't matter. Three more times. Only three more failed attempts. Just three.

Dip. stop- Step and turn. Heel-

*One count. Two count.*

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

"Oh my -wow, Joon, wow! That was- wow, that was basically perfect- That's like the hardest transition, and you just nailed it!" Hoseok's impressed voice echoed in his ears, and Taehyung turned from his kneeling stumble to stare at their leader -

At Namjoon, who was smiling like a lunatic and literally fist bumping 'proud papa' Hobi, because he'd apparently just nailed Tae's stupid move.

Namjoon-hyung. Kim Namjoon. (R.A.P Monster, not D.A.N.C.E Monster. That Namjoon). Their Namjoon.

A wave of invigorating energy burnt through him, leaving a strange tingling jitter in his limbs, and Taehyung pulled himself back into position.

He could get this. (Namjoon had done it).

"Ah- actually, let's leave it on that note, you know- in case Joon-ah is a one-hit wonder. That way he can bask in the glory for the evening before flubbing it again tomorrow!"

Taehyung blinked. What-

He saw Namjoon stick his tongue out at Hoseok in retaliation, but they both seemed to be shuffling towards the wall, where Jin and Yoongi were already shoving varying items into who-so-evers bag they had put hands on first.

What!? No - he could do this now. Taehyung knew he could. (Namjoon-hyung could-)

Kookie whined pitifully, and Hobi grinned, looping an arm around the younger's shoulders, "Aigoo, our golden maknae! No need to push yourself tonight, Jungkookie- we'll be back at it tomorrow. Come on- your hyungs are getting old... it's well passed Jin-hyung's bedtime!" Hoseok stage-whispered, pulling Kookie along to help gather their bags, water bottles, and abandoned sweaters and shoes.

And yes-

Hoseok was teasing Jin-hyung, but there was truth to the matter too- Everyone was exhausted. He could no more ask anyone to stay later than it would have been appropriate to ask to leave earlier than the others.

And while many afternoons and evenings would see one or another of the group lingering for an extra hour in the dance room, or at the microphone (Jin and Joon-hyung more comfortable with the maknae line staying later now that they were older), but now, when it was nearing 11pm?

Nope, it was finally, finally, finally home time.

And Taehyung wanted to dance.


Dip. stop- Step and turn. Heel-

*One count. Two count.*

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

"Ow, Tae!" Jimin whined pitifully, nudging Tae's wandering foot back pointedly, before turning to more fully smoosh his tired eyes against Jungkook's chest.

Taehyung winced apologetically, pulling his feet up onto the seat to curb his attempts at adapting the step into something possible while in a moving vehicle packed with several other tired and cranky team members.

That being said, tapping his feet against the back of Yoongi's seat and twitching rhythmically in various directions wasn't exactly leading to vast improvement. Or any improvement.

But still, he couldn't help himself- Namjoon hyung had managed to complete that stupid move, and Tae just - if Namjoon could do it, he damn well knew he could as well.

He glanced to where the man in question was curled up against the window, the dopey smile of accomplishment still softening his face, and Taehyung felt slight guilt bite at him.

It wasn't that he was belittling Namjoon's achievement, not even just to himself; It was awesome that their leader had nailed such a complicated sequence.

It was just, that as a rule Taehyung got their choreography down faster than Namjoon. Always.

It wouldn't be perfect and would need a lot of polishing and refinement, but the mechanics of a move- that came a lot more naturally to Taehyung.

It wasn't jealousy or envy- it was disbelief. And a little embarrassment tinged with shame. Namjoon could do it. Tae should be able to do it too.

Tae knew he could do this.

Dip. stop- Step and turn. Heel-

Yoongi-hyung twitched in his peripheral vision, and Tae stilled.

But maybe not in the car.


The house was dark and cold when they arrive home, and Tae didn't need to glance at the time on his phone to know it was already tomorrow.

"Okay- hands up for food?" Jin called as they shuffled through the door one at a time (or two, with Kookie, draped over Hobi's back, gentle snores ruffling the older boys hair).

Tae wasn't hungry. His stomach was twisting with anticipation and energy-

Only Namjoon and Hoseok's hands appeared, (Jungkook balanced precariously) and Tae listened half-focused as Jin continued "Okay - Joon, Hobi you guys take the showers first- I'll leave snacks on the table. Yoongi, can you take Jungkookie through after Hobi? Make sure he actually showers? And then Jimin and Tae, you guys shower after Joon-ah. Make it quick, everyone- it's late."

Tae nodded as he trailed off after Jimin. Jin wasn't usually quite so 'den-mother' about it all, but at this late hour, with seven boys to shower (and eat, if hungry) to make it to bed as quickly as possible, some directional organization was probably called for. (Tae remembered the night four of them had lined up outside the occupied upstairs bathroom, and the ground floor one had been empty).

He shuffled along the hallway, his feet-

Dip. stop- Step and turn. Heel-

*One count. Two count.*

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

Jimin snorted at him in amusement and disappeared into their room.

Tae hurried to follow, knowing he only had a few minutes to gather his pajamas and get back downstairs before it was his turn in the bathroom.

Fourteen minutes later and Taehyung was curled into the welcoming softness of his blankets, staring upward into the darkness of the room. He was comfortable, clean, warm and dry, but no more successful with his dancing efforts; Jin enforced the 'no dancing in the shower' rule very strictly. (Thanks to Jimin, and a hotel in Australia. The damage had been limited to a few bruises and a shower curtain torn from its rings, but at home, that shower curtain was a glass door)

From above he could just hear Jimin' soft snuffling breaths, muffled beneath Hoseok's louder open-mouthed breathing; both dancers obviously having been quickly drawn into sleep.

Not exactly surprising given the day they'd had. Tae should have been dead on his feet. Had been- an hour ago. Jin-hyung should have had to carry him in alongside Hobi and Kookie.

He couldn't get it to stop running through his head.

Dip. stop- Step and turn. Heel-

*One count. Two count.*

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

Left foot, right foot- swivel of the hips. Step to the left, heel-

He could picture it, each and every step in the Technicolor slow-motion perfection of his minds theatre. Could see himself, two steps to the left of Jin, Kookie right in front of him- each and every step reflexive and straightforward in his mind's eye-

He knew if he could just have another go, one more try-

He knew he could get it.

He knew it.

Dip. stop- Step and turn. Heel-

*One count. Two count.*

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

His foot caught on an abandoned pillow and propelled it half-way across the room. It landed with a soft thud against the dresser, and Tae froze; he'd be in trouble if he woke anyone up by throwing his bed linen around the room.

He was being ridiculous.

He couldn't do this in here.

Sliding out from beneath the covers, Taehyung pushed his toes into his slippers and reached for his cellphone on the bedside table, before he tiptoed from the room.

Hopefully, Jimin or Hobi would think he'd just gone to the bathroom if they woke to find him gone.

Besides, he knew he could get this; he wouldn't be gone long.

The hallway, with its polished wooden floors and narrow width, wasn't at all suitable. Not to mention how close it was to the hyungs bedrooms; if he got caught dancing at the top of the staircase, Jin-hyung would probably have an aneurysm.

Tae crept down the stairs.

The lounge room, with its plush carpeting and large open space at the centre (once he shoved the small glass coffee table to the side), was perfect, and he was even game enough to turn on the lamp nestled in the corner of the room, bathing the shadows with soft golden light.

Hopefully, it couldn't be seen from the top of the stairs.

Unwinding the headphone cord from his phone, Taehyung tucked the buds into his ears and pulled up the title track approaching comeback.

He hit play.

The opening sequence came naturally; arms, kick, cock of the hips, sway-

Tae closed his eyes and followed along with the steps as they appeared in his mind's eye, and then-

Dip. stop- Step and turn. Heel-

*One count. Two count.*

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

Hs left foot found his right ankle, and he barely caught himself before he face-planted into the carpet.

He rolled back to his feet, rubbing the stinging palms of his hands together, he glanced down his uncooperative feet and sighed.

His slippers.

It had to have been his slippers. Who danced in slippers anyway? Everyone knew that Taehyung danced best barefoot.

He kicked them off, watching as one disappeared under the couch. Good riddance.

He restarted the track and fell back into position.

Dip. stop- Step and turn. Heel-

*One count. Two count.*

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

So, it hadn't been the slippers.

But he could get this. He knew it.

Letting the music play on ignored, Taehyung pulled himself together. Maybe if he just practiced the problematic section by itself?

Dip. stop- Step and turn. Heel-

*One count. Two count.*

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

Maybe slightly less turn on that turn-

Dip. stop- Step and turn. Heel-

*One count. Two count.*

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide -

He overextended the slide, pulling out of the move prematurely.

Dip. stop- Step and turn. Heel-

*One count. Two count.*

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

What? How did his foot end up there?

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

He muffled a yelp as he stumbled, toes of his right foot squished beneath the heel of his left.

He hopped silently on the spot for a moment, before collapsing onto the couch, staring down at his poor toes.

Maybe if he just, really slowly-

Ignoring the rest of his body, Taehyung walked his feet through each position, independent of the ones before and after.

Dip. stop- Step and turn. Heel-

*One count. Two count.*

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

..."My feet literally can't go that way Hobi-hyung!" he muttered protestingly, getting back to his feet.

But they must; because Hobi, and Jimin and Kookie could do it.

Namjoon could do it.

Dip. stop- Step and turn. Heel-

*One count. Two count.*

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

A light on the porch of the house next door turned on, and Taehyung stilled for an instant, startled slightly by the sudden brightness- it turned off again almost immediately.

Dip. stop- Step and turn. Heel-

*One count. Two count.*

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

What The. Hell. Was. Wrong. With. His. Feet.

Taking a deep calming breath, Taehyung slumped slightly. Maybe he was overthinking it? Hoseok always said that dancing was instinctual, to just 'feel it'...maybe if he just closed his eyes and relaxed-

Dip. stop- Step and turn. Heel-

*One count. Two count.*

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

He wasn't Hoseok-hyung.

He didn't 'feel' anything except his feet becoming a tangled mess.

*One count. Two count.*

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

No.

*One count. Two count.*

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

Again.

*One count. Two count.*

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

Wrong.

*One count. Two count.*

Sweat dripped into his eyes, and he blinked against the sting, drawing soft panting little breaths between clenched teeth.

He could do this.

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

No. Again.

Sliiiide and turn and -

Stop. Go.

Sliiiide and turn and -

Sliiiide and turn and -

Was it his balance?

Sliiiide and turn and -

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

Wrong.

It couldn't be that hard. (Namjoon could do it).

He just had to try harder.

Oblivious to the aching cramp that bit into his calf and the way his lungs caught on every second soft breath, Taehyung-

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and –

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and –

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

Taehyung rubbed gritty tired eyes with trembling fingers, staring helplessly at the ceiling. Maybe Hobi-hyung could channel some of his natural ability straight through the floor or something?

It was just five basic elements, all that he'd managed before-

What was wrong with him!?

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and -

He crashed to his knees, carpet harsh against his bare skin.

There was absolutely no reason why he shouldn't be able to do this move. Even when he did have trouble with steps, it was almost always a balance and coordination issue. He could see 'how' this was supposed to go in his head... his body just-

Why couldn't he just-

He could.

He would.

Hollow and shaky breaths ghosted from his lips as he pushed himself to try again.

Again.

And again.

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and his feet tried to swap ankles beneath him.

Again.

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and his right leg pretzelled in an ungodly direction, completely out of control.

Again.

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn, and he tried to cut himself off at the knee.

Again.

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and stumble.

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and stumble.

His legs burned and ached, muscles screaming from overuse and strain; Taehyung closed his eyelids over unfocused eyes- tuning out such trivial complaints.

Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again.

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and stumble.

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and stumble.

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and stumble.

A car backfired a few houses away, but Taehyung didn't register the noise.

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and stumble.

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and stumble.

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and stumble.

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and stumble.

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and stumble.

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and stumble.

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and stumble.

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and . Stop. Sliiiide and turn and . Stop. Sliiiide, stumble and turn and . Stop. Sliiiide and turn and . Stop. Sliiiide and turn and . Stop. Stumble. Sliiiide and turn and . Stop. Sliiiide and turn and stumble-

Again.

Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn-

Thud.

The sound of glass shattering echoed hollowly through the house.