Hoseok jolted to awareness, the unmistakable sound of shattering glass echoing in his ears. Quiet and tinkling, like something small breaking in the room below him.
He flailed blindly until his hand curled around the hard case of his phone, fumbling the buttons to display the time-
1:07am.
Hoseok sighed, his aching eyes and sluggish muscles telling him that it definitely wasn't time to be awake-
He rolled over, stifling a yawn as he waited for the sound of footsteps to hurry past his door; Jin-hyung was used to being woken by errant dongsaengs at all hours of the night by varying methods.
It was more than likely (based on both precedence and statistics) that Namjoon had just dropped yet another glass of water all over the kitchen floor-
Jin-hyung was welcome to the clean up on that one.
As the oldest, it was practically his responsibility, right?
Only, there had been no footsteps from the hallway, and Hobi whined quietly under his breath.
He was going to have to get up.
Not that he minded, really - he loved all of his members and would usually jump at the chance to help any of them…but-
It was 1am, and he was still royally exhausted, and they had to be up in three-ish hours, and Hobi really didn't want to spend the next 20 minutes cleaning up a smashed glass and listening to Namjoon apologize.
Only-
Hoseok couldn't leave him to do it alone, either.
Sliding sideways and tugging himself upright, running a hand through what he was sure was incredible bed hair, Hobi felt around aimlessly in the dark for his slippers, finally nudging one out from beneath the bed and finding the other wedged in beside his side table with the light from his phone screen.
Slippers on feet, he stood slowly, shaking out the rolled-up leg of his sleep shorts; he glanced around briefly for a singlet or shirt, but gave up with a shrug, turning towards the door-
The still softly-lit screen of his phone ghosted across the bottom bed of the bunk-set on the far side of the room, revealing a mess of blankets, sheets, and pillows, and most notably - no Kim Taehyung.
That changed things slightly.
Tae wasn't one to leave his bed in the middle of the night; unlikely to wake for basic needs such as thirst or a bathroom run. And he wasn't their resident sleepwalker (half the reason Kookie shared with Namjoon; the leader a surprisingly light sleeper).
But Tae and Jimin out of bed (and up to shenanigans) wasn't as unheard of as Hobi might sometimes hope-
He stepped up onto the edge of Tae's bed to crane over the top bunk rail-
Jimin ducked his head against the sudden soft glow of Hoseok's phone, curling further into his blankets, and Hobi dropped back to the floor with a relieved sigh.
Taehyung's very occasional solo latenight frolicking was usually just that...frolicking. (Yoongi had reported finding the younger watering their plastic fern at 3am, and there was that one memorable occasion with the ice cubes and lemon juice).
Padding out of his room, Hoseok went to find out what mixing bowl Taehyung had broken in his attempts to bake 1am cupcakes or rescue Yoongi's goldfish from suffocating amidst the smashed remains of his home.
The entire lower floor was still dark, only the soft glow of the streetlamp outside filtering muted through their curtains.
What on earth was Taehyung up to?
Hobi stepped from the staircase into the lounge room and turned towards the kitchen; and a flicker, glimpsed from between the angled couches, drew his attention.
Light? Dim, but-
What-
His gentle exasperation washed away beneath the sudden wave of panic-
Every jagged sliver, every razor-sharp shard, like a brilliant diamond kaleidoscope of danger and fear, illuminated-
Their glass coffee table was smashed into fragments, the floor lamp piercing through the mess- still aglow despite the severely mangled stand; and Taehyung was sprawled alongside, unmoving-
Only that wasn't true; his chest was rising and falling rapidly, the shallow panting breaths of overworked lungs-
Hoseok's phone hit the carpet by his feet with a thud, and his brain scrambled for a response- Hurt? How? Blood? Ambulance? Jin-hyung? Namjoon-ah?
Taehyung must have registered the dull sound of the phone landing because he pulled himself up slowly with shaky arms to squint into the darkness of the room.
"Hyung- help me, please?" his voice was desperate, and cracked on the last syllable-
Hobi moved.
"Shit- yes. Yes, of course, baby-" he babbled, feet taking him across the room without thought, until he dropped to a crouch beside the younger. His eyes raked Taehyung's face and arms, searching- even as he asked, "What- Tell hyung what-"
"It's this stupid second transition! I can't do it!" Taehyung wailed, hands coming up to clutch at Hoseok's shoulder's, his eyes slightly manic.
Hoseok stared down at him, utterly lost. Where they talking dancing right now? Had Taehyung hit his head? "What? Tae, I don't-"
"But hyung- you don't understand!" Taehyung interrupted, his voice beseeching Hoseok to listen, "I should be able to do it, and I cant. Namjoon-hyung can do it! Namjoon-hyung! And I can't. At all. Not even close! "
This was about their new dance routine? Now? Really? "Tae, It's one in the morning-"
"I won't be able to do the dance for our comeback, and I'll mess it up, and the fans will hate me, and you guys will hate me, and I'll have to leave BTS because I'm useless!" Taehyung was completely serious, completely overwhelmed and completely distraught.
Hoseok blinked.
There was no blood. No cuts or three-inch glass shards protruding from skin-
But Taehyung was still hurting-
Hoseok threw his arms around Taehyung's middle, squeezing tightly as he reassured, "Tae- no, you're not useless- never! You're wonderful! You're just- you're exhausted and-"
Taehyung shook his head vigorously, his eyes shining with desperate moisture, near fraught as he clutched at Hobi's biceps- "You have to help me- You have to!"
It wasn't the first time Hoseok had seen one of them in such a state; their lives were all about pressure and expectations and the overwhelming push for perfection. Every second scrutinized and dictated and often criticised, constructively or not.
It was- a lot.
Bouts of insecurity, moments of doubt and anxiety pressure points weren't uncommon-
It was just that Hoseok hadn't had a clue that Taehyung was even struggling. No warning that he should interfere. Offer a shoulder or involve the hyungs-
He'd thought they were all doing fine. Enjoying things, as it were- excited and looking forward to their next comeback; not yet close enough to feel unprepared or nervous about.
He'd been wrong. How had he missed this?
'This' that had resulted in destroyed furniture at 1am, and Taehyung in near hysterics?
Hoseok had no idea, and would likely dwell on that with self-recrimination for the near future, but for now-
Taehyung didn't appear to be physically hurt, and Hoseok decided he would very much like to keep it that way.
The first step was getting Tae - and his bare feet, Hoseok noticed with a shake of his head- away from the broken glass.
"Okay, Okay- I'll help. Of course, I'll help you, TaeTae. Where are your slippers, honey?"
Taehyung's manic energy seemed to settle a little at Hoseok's capitulation-, and Hoseok's chest squeezed at the easy comfort Taehyung seemed to find in his hyung's simple offer to help; as if he completely believed that Hoseok would make everything better.
Why hadn't he noticed earlier? Offered earlier, and avoided this whole situation?
Taehyung dropped his eyes to his bare feet, then cocked his head, voice non-plussed as he replied "Hyung? Where are my slippers?"
Hoseok snorted- he might not have helped Taehyung early enough, but he could definitely help now. "Don't worry about it Tae-babe, all aboard the hyung express!"
A tug on his wrist and Taehyung obediently curled himself over Hoseok's back. Hobi wrinkled his nose as the warm dampth of the shirt that squelched against his bare skin disgustingly, breathing under his breath "Aigoo- You're so lucky I love you-"
Taehyung humming his agreement against Hoseok's bare shoulder only cemented that ridiculous love, and Hoseok chuckled, hitching Tae higher as he carefully made his way into the kitchen, stopping only to switch on the light-
"No- hyung! What- Jin-hyung will- " Tae worried, shrinking down against Hoseok's back, and -
So Tae was at least instinctively aware of the fact that he definitely shouldn't be up dancing at such an ungodly hour - not that it seemed he was overly concerned about Hoseok discovering him.
He was the sunshine-hyung he supposed. Not exactly scary.
He was protective though. And all too whipped by their daft maknae line, "You just let me deal with Jin-hyung, okay-"
Taehyung uncurled slowly, and nodded, his head thumping in the center of Hoseok's shoulders none too gently-
Hoseok dumped him (Carefully. Gently) on the edge of the kitchen bench and turned to bracket the younger with hands braced to either side of him.
"Right-" Hoseok started-
Stopped.
In the sudden stark lighting, Taehyung looked dreadful.
Skin pale and blotchy in patches, with chapped lips bitten red. His hair was sticky with sweat, plastered askew across his forehead and a tangled snarled mess everywhere else (like fingers had repeatedly been dragged through it). The bruised circles under his eyes could have given any decent shiner a run for its money.
Hoseok had already felt that the youngers clothes were sweat-drenched in places, but could now see that Taehyung's limbs were faintly trembling-
Like someone had overworked himself furiously for hours with no mercy.
"Tae- "
Something in his voice, or his eyes, or the way his hands found Taehyung's waist must have given him away, because Taehyung tensed again, voice edging the line between petulant, defiant and desperate, "Hoseok-hyung, you promised."
Hoseok didn't remember using the 'p' word, but Taehyung apparently did, and so Hoseok must have.
"I did. " Hobi agreed, and stepped back, despite wanting to do the exact opposite.
Taehyung's smile was blindingly sweet, and Hoseok forgave himself a little; he couldn't be too terrible a hyung if he could get his dongsaeng to smile like that.
"Okay, impromptu kitchen dance party! - Let's fix this 'stupid move' of yours- " Hoseok announced, stepping away to give Taehyung the few feet of space the small kitchen (with its large table) allowed.
Taehyung moved into their opening position and-
"I- I can't. I- " he stuttered fretfully, tugging on the hem of his shirt, "That is- What if I really can't. What if I am usele-"
Hoseok surged forward, "Hey, no- none of that. You can do this. I know you can. I would never ask you to do something I didn't think you could do? Would I? Besides-" Hoseok winked, "Joon-ah can already do this one, remember?"
Taehyung frowned, shuffling his feet- "That's what I thought too, hyung. I mean- It's Joonie-hyung. I was so sure. Just a few more tries- but...it just- I can't. I see how it should and I just - it doesn't work!"
Hoseok could see that Taehyung was getting worked up and frustrated again; never a good combination when trying to learn anything, and so he stepped forward, falling into 'instructor Hoseok' mode, "You can do it. You'll see. Just the transition- half speed and count your walkthrough- 1-2-3, 2-2-3-, 3-2-3- and-"
"Dip. stop- Step and turn. Heel-" Taehyung breathed the steps as he walked the transition through slowly, perfectly.
Hoseok injected the pause, "And a one. And a two-"
Taehyung stepped into the second dip, whispering, almost hopeful as he moved, "Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and tur-ah!"
Taehyung suddenly overbalanced, feet tangling him into a messy stumble, and Hoseok lunged to catch him, the fall so unexpected; he'd been doing so well-
Taehyung pushed him away- "See! I told you! I told you! You said I could, but I can't, and I-"
"Stop." Hoseok ordered, voice hard and serious and so unlike his usual cheery exuberance that Taehyung's mouth shut with an audible 'click'. Hoseok continued, voice softer but just as firm, "I know you're frustrated and tired and worried-but it's nearly 2am Taehyung, and I'm trying to help you. "
Taehyung looked ashamed, which wasn't Hoseoks' intention at all, and so he gentled his voice entirely and smiled as he finished, "So let me help you, TaeTae."
Taehyung smiled apologetically and nodded, stepping back into position, and this time Hoseok called out the steps slowly, one at a time, paralleling Taehyung as they danced.
"Dip" "stop"- "Step and turn" "Heel-"
"and a one. And a two."
"Dip""Stop" "Sliiiide and tur-"
Taehyung stifled his uncontrolled teetering on the nearest chairback and turned to Hoseok, disappointment and upset warring-
Hoseok burst into laughter.
Taehyung's eyes widened with betrayal and angry embarrassment, and Hoseok couldn't have that at all; he stumbled forwards, dragging Taehyung to his chest. Stammering through his poorly stifled giggles, Hoseok tried to explain, "Sorry- Sorry, Tae-bear. I just, I can't help it. It's not- It wasn't- Just-"
Taehyung huffed with disgruntlement but settled into the hug acceptingly as Hoseok finally managed to calm himself enough to pull back and say, "Okay. Okay- Just- Do it again...only- left foot first for the slide and turn."
Taehyung stared at him.
Hoseok stared back. He could practically see the screamed 'It can't possibly be that easy' loud and clear in Taehyung's eyes.
Only.
Dip. stop- Step and turn. Heel-
*One count. Two count.*
Dip. Stop. Sliiiide and turn and thrust.
Turned out it was.
Taehyung completed the move a second time. Perfectly. Flawlessly.
And then burst into tears; little uncontrollable sobs of happiness and relief, strewn with wet bubbling laughter. Hoseok couldn't stop himself from hugging the brat.
Ten minutes, three glasses of water and at least twice that many hugs later, Hoseok guided a rapidly fading Taehyung out of the kitchen toward the upstairs bathroom-
This kid was going to crash, and soon.
But first Hoseok had to get him through the shower and into some clean clothes. A snack would probably be a good idea and another glass of water. Hoseok would have liked to insist on a massage, but it was already ridiculously late- early? - and he had to be up in maybe two hours.
Taehyung wouldn't be at their 4am studio session. Hoseok would tell Namjoon, and Namjoon would see to it. Tae needed at least six or seven hours sleep, minimum, and Hobi was going to ensure he got it.
Taehyung suddenly stiffened, drawing himself out from under Hoseok's arm to stare as he whimpered, "Oh my god! Did I do that? I did that. Oh my god. I am dead. Jin-hyung is going to kill me. This is the end. Dead. Just- dead. So dead-" Taehyung appeared to be about to hyperventilate as he stared at the mess of broken glass and twisted metal still glinting in the corner of the loungeroom.
And because Hoseok was an absolute sucker when it came to his dongsaeng, he pulled Taehyung up into a piggyback (because of the bare feet. Honest.) and repeated soothingly, "You just let me deal with Jin-hyung, okay- "
"Deal with me how, exactly, Jung Hoseok..." Jin' silky voice echoed through the room around them, and Hoseok felt Taehyung smirk.
Little shit.
Hobi looked up, eyes traveling over each step until they reached the top landing, and the inky silhouette, unmistakable as anyone other than their Kim Seokjin- just as the oldest stepped down onto the first stair-tread.
Hopefully, by the time he reached the bottom and noticed the utterly destroyed table, he'd have been sufficiently distracted by the sleepy-eyed, tearstained dongsaeng that obviously needed immediate coddling.
Much too distracted for Hoseok to have to 'deal with' any time soon.
