PITYING THE PRISONER | p.jm

f i f t e e n - c o r a

I actually earn a couple nods in response, and Jimin gives me an impressed look from the back of the line. First in line, unsurprisingly, is Suga. He takes a step closer to me, seemingly still fuming, and looks me up and down. I know that his action will not be a positive one, but I have no problem with it. I understand why he'd be upset with me.

Suga looks me dead in the eyes and raises his hand. He strikes me with an open palm and the room goes dead silent. Immediately, he looks at his hand, and I see the anger in him melt away. "Sorry," he says, taking another step in my direction. He gives me an awkward hug, and I do my best to return it. "Apology accepted," I reply, and he goes to stand to the side of the line.

Next up is V, whose expression has been totally unreadable this whole time. I study him, trying to figure out what he might choose to do, but my efforts are futile. After what seems like forever, a wacky smile appears on his face and his sticks out his hand to shake mine. "Call me Taehyung, or Tae is fine." I shake his hand with a smile. "Nice to meet you, Taehyung." He goes to stand with Suga, who is intently studying the floor.

"And call him Yoongi," Taehyung adds. I nod.

Rap Monster is next in line. He seemed angry at first, but his expression has now softened. I don't really know what to expect from him.

"Do you speak any English?" He asks, perplexed.

"Yeah," I respond. "My mom taught me."

"Cool, I taught myself." He smiles smugly as he speaks, bragging.

"Then you must be pretty smart," I say. "English is a tough language to learn."

"I certainly am," he says. Then, in English, as if to prove a point, he says, "Call me Namjoon."

"Can do, Namjoon," I reply, chuckling and shaking his hand. He goes and stands with the others.

Now in the front of the line is J-Hope. "What happened to your leg?" He asks, concerned.

"Oh, I, uh— got shot. It's fine, though."

"Do you need those crutches? They look a little uncomfortable."

"I don't think I need them, actually. Walking kinda sucks, but I can manage."

"Then let me take them," he offers, and carefully takes my crutches from me. He sets them gently on the couch before returning. "I'm J-Hope, or Hoseok, whatever you prefer." Without another word, he joins those who already went.

Jungkook is now first in line. He seems to have no idea what to do, and looks overall really uncomfortable. "Are you okay?" I can't help but ask.

"I have no idea what to say," he responds honestly.

"An introduction's a good start."

"Um, okay. I'm Jeon Jeongguk, and I'm seventeen."

"Seventeen? No way. You look older than Jimin!" I exclaim.

"Rude!" Jimin chimes in from the back of the line. Jungkook just smiles.

"Yeah, I'm seventeen," he repeats, seeming a bit more comfortable now.

"You're, like, an infant," I joke. "It's nice to meet you anyway, Jungkook." He chuckles and joins his other four bandmates.

Now it's Jin's turn. He's got a smile on his face, and it's an infectious one. He sticks out a hand to shake mine as he speaks. "Kim Seokjin, dorm mother. Go ahead and call me Jin. Welcome to the dorm." When he's done speaking, he gives me a welcoming hug, and I return it graciously. Now, only Jimin is left.

"I don't get why you're making me do this, too," he says. "We've been through enough already."

"Whatever, just do something and get it over with," I say.

He looks me up and down, and I find myself curious as to what he'll do. After about fifteen seconds of nothing, Jimin attacks me in a fast hug, the kind that take you by surprise.

"Thank you so much," he whispers. "I never thought I'd see them again."

I only have one response. "Anything for you."

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howdy y'all!

i hope everyone's doing well, and i hope you like this chapter! it's a bit longer than the others normally are. if you liked this, i'd really appreciate votes and / or comments, they both mean the world to me! i'm always down for constructive criticism, so please let me know if you think i could improve some areas! and, as always, typos! please let me know if i make them! thank you!!

happy holidays!

sam

p.s. i'm thinking about a jungkook fic for when i'm finished with this one (ptp's only having 20 chapters i'm three-fourths of the way there woah). are you interested? let me know!

p.p.s that jungkook fic exists now and it's called incandescence! it's up on my profile, please love and enjoy it lmao

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