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Hoseok loved being the pack's omega, truly. It was something he'd forever take pride in, more than happy to step into a role he felt came naturally to him anyway. Yoongi was the second oldest, sure, but the beta had long preferred a more hands-off, subtle sort of approach to caretaker role, and as such, the majority of the weight was passed onto Seokjin as the head alpha, Hoseok as the head omega, and, in regards to work dynamics, Namjoon as the leader of BTS.
It was a good system; it worked well for them, always had, Hoseok was eternally grateful to be a part of the pack, but with all that being said. . .
Sometimes it felt like an itch he couldn't scratch, or maybe like a rock in his shoe when he was running. He was happy to be relied on as the mother hen of the group, but sometimes, just sometimes, he'd catch the way the alphas of the group doted on the other omegas, the younger members, in ways that they never really seemed to do with him, and envy would rear its ugly head.
He'd tamp it down, of course, what type of person would he be to get jealous of his other pack members? But for all his efforts to ignore the simmering sense of want pooling in his gut, he couldn't help but feel hurt.
Hoseok was feeling it again, now, watching Jimin and Taehyung tackle Jeongguk into the sofa, tickling and pressing kisses onto his face, holding him down to make him squeal and giggle at the inescapable assault, and Hoseok was in the room, sure, but he wasn't a part of it. Which was fine, he reminded himself, tearing his eyes from the scene and back to the laundry he was folding. He felt fond, mostly, seeing their maknaes play fight like this, though, he couldn't remember the last time he'd seen anything near this sort of treatment directed at himself.
The thoughts felt ugly to him, like he deserved a scolding for them. Jeongguk was an omega like him, yes, but he was also their youngest, he still held the same soft cheeks he'd had as an unpresented pup, no one could resist babying him, Hoseok did it all the time, too. It was nothing short of silly to feel left out of what was clearly, maknae exclusive treatment.
He was being self-centred again, his omega clearly just feeling a little needy, it wasn't the end of the world. Still, the feeling of guilt remained, only slightly heavier than the swirling uneasiness in his stomach. It had been building more than usual recently, for all Hoseok tried to ignore it.
"Hyung! Are these mine?"
Hoseok startled, not having seen Jimin come up in front of him with how engrossed he had been. He blinked, taking a second to register the pile of freshly folded clothes Jimin had just stolen a sweater from. "Oh! Yes, that one is yours, and the other is Taehyung's. Do you mind taking them up to your rooms?"
Jimin pouted, shuffling closer to Hoseok, hands clasped. He smelled more like Jeongguk and Taehyung than he did himself, thoroughly scented. "Can I do it laterrrr? We're just about to start a new game. . ."
He rolled his eyes, but nodded anyway. "Hyung will take them up. You guys have fun."
Jimin beamed brightly, and it was almost enough to make him feel better. Almost. "You're the best, hyung!"
"Yeah, yeah. . ." Jimin had thrown him a thumbs-up, right up to his face, then kissed his cheek too. Hoseok watched him run back to the sofa, wondering if the action had always felt so empty, or if it was a consequence of not being a part of the display of affection he'd witnessed earlier. He brushed it off.
Long days at the studio were an inevitable part of being an idol, particularly for the three producers of the group. The atmosphere inside the room had become stuffy even with the air conditioner on, and the lack of natural lighting was really starting to get to Hoseok's head. He felt all out of sorts, he missed his nest, their pack, he'd kill for some of Seokjin's cooking right about now, and a good snuggle too. He rubbed restlessly at his bleary eyes, and caught sight of the clock at the bottom of his computer screen for the millionth time today.
Lunch break aside, they'd been in here for 11 hours straight.
"Replay it."
Yoongi sighed, but did as Namjoon asked, letting their new track in progress play again. By this point, it had been on an endless repeat, all of them trying their hardest to figure out what it was that felt so off about the record. Hoseok only felt like they were getting further from an answer, the chords sounding jumbled in his head, the lyrics didn't even seem like words anymore.
"Something's missing." Namjoon said, and Hoseok was trying not to feel frustrated with his fellow omega. He was surely feeling no better than him, his mussed-up hair the most obvious sign, hands having run through the strands all day.
Hoseok was really trying to be patient, but he was tired, exhausted. The week had already stretched him thin, and he was starting to feel dizzy. When was the last time he drank? "You've said that, Joon-ah. It's not getting us any closer to a solution. We can't just stay here forever waiting for some magical melody to slap us in the face."
"Go easy on him," Yoongi spoke, and his voice stayed soft, but the words alone, coming from him, felt like a reprimand. "Namjoon's been working really hard recently."
So have I! Hoseok wanted to scream, biting his tongue, looking down at the pen in his hands numbly. He was trying to work hard, at least. He didn't think he'd ever quite be able to keep up with the rest of the members, though, no matter how much effort he put in, particularly compared to the two workaholics right next to him.
Movement caught in the corner of his eye even as he hit replay again. They should take a break, really, come back with clearer heads, refreshed, but the deadline was creeping up on them, pressure heavy on their backs, so they pushed on. A quick glance to the side showed Yoongi lifting his wrist to Namjoon's neck, a whispered reassurance passing between them, almost too quiet for Hoseok to pick up on over the music, and he wanted to cry.
It was wrong of him, no doubt. Namjoon and Yoongi had been best friends since the dawn of time, two peas in a pod, Hoseok had only joined later, it only made sense that they'd find more comfort in each other. He dug his nails tight into his skin, this time welcoming the light-headed feeling that came along. It was fine. There was no rule saying he'd have to be included in everything; that'd be ridiculous.
Once they got back to the dorms, late, at the end of the day, Hoseok ignored his rumbling stomach, ignored the members of the pack still cosying up on the sofa, and went straight to his nest, hiding away, feeling much to sorry for himself, and much too ashamed of his neediness. The pack already had two omegas to take care of, two who contributed much more to the group than Hoseok did. Who was he to be so demanding?
The TV playing in the living room made him feel a new sort of emptiness inside, knowing they were all probably cuddled up in front of it without him. Hell, they probably didn't even remember he was there, and Hoseok couldn't blame them. He heard laughter, bright and airy, followed by hushing that was just as loud, and he let himself cry then, face shoved deep into his pillow. It had been a while since he had felt this worthless.
Hoseok's scent was wilting. He smelt it on himself, bergamot and citrus rotting in the sun, which meant that it would only take a few hours for the members to pick up on it, suspicious if it stuck around for too long, so he put on scent blockers, the same ones they used at certain work events, the patch itchy on his underarm, a necessary evil.
It wasn't just his scent, Hoseok had been feeling wrong for weeks now, in a way he really couldn't afford with a comeback on the way. So he swallowed more painkillers, refilled his coffee for the fourth time, spent hours in the dance studio even after practice had ended, and now, put on scent blockers.
Some part of him desperately wanted comeback season to go by fast just so he could get a break. Another part of him hated his own laziness, knowing all it did was put the group at risk. None of them could afford to take a break right now, how dare he even think of considering himself eligible for one?
It was a Sunday, and for once, they were given a rare day off, told to recuperate before schedules really start beating their asses, giving them all some blissful time to sleep in. Hoseok had hoped it'd make him feel a little better, maybe all he really needed was a good night's sleep.
Wishful thinking.
His body ached as he walked through their apartment, consequence of a few too many hours spent overanalysing his angles in the mirror yesterday, and he firmly ignored it. Some stretching and an ibuprofen would get him through, surely. For now he just wanted a coffee, and a calm morning, maybe.
Seokjin had Taehyung up on the counter.
Seokjin had Taehyung up on the counter, lips locked, the younger's arms and legs tied fully around him, and Hoseok felt his heart plummet like a stone. By now, he should be used to the feeling. The jealousy and the guilt accompanied him like a ball and chain.
He walked passed them, grateful to see the coffee maker still full for once, and took out one of the to-go cups.
The two broke apart, Taehyung still flushed and bashful from the heavy make-out session. It didn't take long for Seokjin to frown, sniffing the air, not that Hoseok was looking. "Are you wearing blockers?"
Hoseok should have brainstormed excuses. "Mhmm." He hummed, non-committedly, leaving the kitchen as soon as he'd filled up his coffee, headed to the hall, shoving his shoes on. Seokjin followed him.
"Where are you going?"
"The studio."
Seokjin looked affronted. "Yah-- it's our one day off and you're going to work?"
"I got a big new idea." Hoseok tried not to mumble, but it was difficult speaking to their pack alpha when he got like this. Really, stepping foot outside the door was the preferred action.
"I-- Jung Hoseok! We're supposed to be having a pack day! We need you here."
No, I don't think you do. Hoseok thought bitterly, not that he'd ever say it, he wouldn't call Seokjin out like that. He was already walking down the stairs in any case, heard the alpha huff loudly and walk off. Hoseok wasn't sure whether he was happy or sad that the other had given up so easily.
He couldn't imagine why they'd need him there at all. To wash the floor, maybe, Hoseok had been too tired to do it earlier this week like he usually would, or maybe just to look after the maknaes and make sure they don't get up to any of their usual shenanigans, spare them the troubles so they could have an uneventful day off.
Hoseok wasn't sure where he was walking, it certainly wasn't to work, as much as it'd be productive. "Big new idea." He hadn't had any ideas recently, least of all big and new ones, the profound disappointment he was. The pack didn't need him, the nagging, attention-seeking omega, but maybe the group as a whole didn't need him either, his contributions not worth a spoon of salt. Namjoon and Yoongi would always produce better, rap better. Jimin and Taehyung could easily take over as main dancers, they practically already had. Hoseok would never be able to sing like Seokjin or Jeongguk. Hell, he could barely sing at all. They were all the perfect visuals to boot.
He wasn't some special and unique addition to BTS, no. He was just an addition.
His mind flitted back to the scene he'd walked in on earlier. Even Taehyung, a beta, got more attention from their alpha than Hoseok had ever. When was the last time Seokjin had carried Hoseok up on some furniture? His last heat, maybe? Even the memories of his heats felt tarnished now, surely all the pack was doing during his heats was fulfilling their duty, if all their affections seemed limited to the specific time frame.
He walked and he walked, sipping his coffee slowly, straw under his mask, grateful for the item he'd found stuffed in the pocket of his hoodie, grateful for the anonymity it gave him. The last thing he needed now was headlines full of J-Hope caught wandering aimlessly around Seoul -- is he depressed or is he having a secret rendezvous?
It was only once his cup was empty, heavy in his hand with no bag, that he realised he'd forgotten to bring his phone with him.
Shit.
Well, that had been his first reaction. The second one? Serendipity, almost. No phone, no plans, no one to play pretend for. Maybe a day like this would be the real break, relief, a distraction, where he could pretend he was anyone but himself.
He wasn't sure he liked being himself, anyway.
His wallet was still pressed against his hip, and he knew he had keys in there, so what was there to worry about, really? Stopping in the middle of the pavement, he looked up at the sky, a glaring mix of blue and grey, not sunny, but not unbearable. Hoseok felt a sort of kinship with it. He could spend the day out like this. Maybe there were markets around, or new cafes to review. Maybe he could still have a peaceful day, one where he didn't truly have to exist.
The door was yanked open before Hoseok had so much as time to pull out his keys.
"Where the fuck have you been?!"
Hoseok couldn't process the words, tongue heavy as lead in his mouth from pure shock. Seokjin had never spoken to him like that before. Cold and panicked and harsh and hurt. All at once, his omega was screaming at him to fix it, whatever 'it' was. "I--"
He didn't get another word in before he was bodily pulled into a hug, tight enough to restrict his breathing, and Hoseok swore he could hear Seokjin sniffling.
"Hyung, is he here?"
Jimin's voice sounded so uncharacteristically quiet, even from afar, and Hoseok couldn't imagine why he was asking, until he remembered the blockers he was wearing, masking his presence. Though it wouldn't take much to hide it, now that Hoseok was inside, their apartment didn't smell like home the way it usually did, like pack. It smelt burnt, acrid, strong enough to make his eyes water the longer he breathed it in. "Hyung, what happened?"
The others had met behind them now, and Hoseok had never seen his pack look so distraught, alarm bells ringing in every direction, needing to pump out soothing pheromones, the blockers he was still wearing impeding him.
Yoongi was the one to speak up, in the end. "You wanna tell us the answer to that?"
"I-- what?" His brows knit, it was late, sure, but they weren't exactly known for being home by dinner.
Seokjin was the one to pull away, and Hoseok was right to have heard sniffling earlier, Seokjin's eyes were red-rimmed. I did that? "Are you fucking serious?"
"Hyung. . ." Namjoon interrupted, and Seokjin took a deep breath, visibly steeling himself, where all Hoseok could do was gulp.
"First of all, you lie and say you're going to the studio, when the receptionist says she hasn't seen you once since yesterday. Then, you disappear for the whole fucking day, without your phone or any way to contact you, and you do this all whilst wearing blockers in front of us, your pack, after you've been avoiding us for weeks on end! Do you have any idea how worried we were?"
"I haven't been avoiding you." Hoseok countered, deflecting. "I just wanted some fresh air, damn. I don't see why you care so much."
Pin-drop silence.
"You don't see why we care so much?" Seokjin enunciated, voice low as he stared him down.
Hoseok shrugged, looking away as his heart hammered in his chest.
"You don't see why we care so much?" Seokjin repeated, volume rising with every new word. "You don't see why we care so much?! You go missing, no contact past fucking midnight after walking around us like a zombie for WEEKS and you don't see why we fucking care so much?!"
"Why are you yelling at me?" Hoseok shouted back. "Am I supposed to be under supervision or something? Poor fucking omega can't take care of himself?"
It was Jeongguk who interrupted whatever Seokjin was going to say next, voice wobbly. "Hyung, we were scared you were gonna kill yourself."
Hoseok didn't think about his next words. "Yeah, well. Maybe I should have."
As soon as he said it he felt ill, the sort of deep-seated vulnerability that made you want to throw up, and if he couldn't meet anyone's gaze earlier, he certainly couldn't now. Faintly, he registered Taehyung crying in the background. He did that. He made his pack members cry. He made them worry. He couldn't provide and all he did was distress them further. The drop between the stairwell was calling to him now, he could still picture it behind their closed front door. He had to fix this.
"I didn't -- I didn't mean that." He started, but the words felt like lies, even to him. He couldn't distinguish his own sincerity anymore. The air was so thick with emotion he was confident he could choke on it if he tried hard enough.
"Hoseok-ah." He could tell Seokjin was trying to keep it together, for him, for the pack. "To my room. I'll be there in a moment."
Hoseok nodded mutely, but he'd only taken a few steps before Seokjin spoke again, his back to him.
"Yoongi, go with him."
Hoseok didn't argue, knew it was a safety measure of some sorts, knew that Seokjin's alpha wouldn't settle if he was left alone right now, and made towards the bedroom, Yoongi trailing quietly behind. The door shut to another oppressive silence; any noise in the hallway muffled. He didn't bother trying to eavesdrop, sitting down heavily on the floor in front of Seokjin's bed. He didn't feel like he deserved to enter it anymore, for all the comfort it might provide.
"Hope-ah."
Hoseok barely shifted in acknowledgment. Yoongi would know he was listening anyway.
"You don't know how worried we were. Our managers had to stop us from calling the police every other hour. The kids must have cried themselves dry."
Hoseok's heart clenched painfully. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?"
"It's supposed to get you to wake the fuck up and realise just how loved you are in this pack."
Hoseok scoffed, but it felt weak, even to him. He ignored Yoongi for as long as he could, until the other had gotten on his knees in front of him, and tilted his face towards him. It had been a while since he'd seen Yoongi up close like this, inches away, expression so open and honest. He was reminded of just how beautiful the beta was. The eye contact burned in a way it never had.
"Hoseok-ah, my hope. Don't look away from me." Yoongi said softly. "Won't you tell Hyung how we ever let you think otherwise?"
"Stop."
"Hmm?"
"You don't have to pretend just because I'm a mess. I'm not gonna kill myself, not now at least. I wouldn't do that to the group."
Yoongi swallowed roughly. "Hope-ah. None of us are pretending," Seokjin walked in then, leaning against the door after he shut it, tense. "We love you now the same way we always have and -- and you shouldn't live just for the group's sake, but for yourself too."
"Yeah, not for the group's sake, because none of you want me." He was too far gone now anyway; might as well spit out every ugly thought he had, when everything was ruined.
"Yoongi." Seokjin called, though Yoongi hesitated getting up, leaving Hoseok's side. He kept playing with a loose string on his sock, even as he heard the door open and close again, bracing for another fake deep conversation on love and life.
His pack alpha didn't bother with any of that, though. "Strip."
Hoseok paused, thoroughly surprised, head whipping up of its own volition to meet Seokjin's impassive face. "What?"
"You heard me. You either safe word now, or you get up and strip."
Hoseok waited for him to laugh, as inappropriate as it would be, to crack a smile and tell him he was joking, but he did none of that, the alpha tall and imposing at the entrance of the room, observing.
This was insane. It was not the time at all. Surely he didn't want to have sex? Hoseok was quite certain he'd be drier than deserts right now, the thought bringing nothing but humiliation to him. A faulty omega. He wouldn't deny a command though, it's not as if it made him explicitly uncomfortable. Seokjin had seen him naked plenty of times before, just. . . wasn't it a bit awkward?
He stood up, trembling a little, and piece by piece, he removed his clothing, until he stood fully bare in the room, shuffling from foot to foot. Only then, did Seokjin approach.
Close, centimetres away, Hoseok could feel Seokjin's breath, and his hands ran over cold skin, raising goosebumps. "You've lost weight, my love, why haven't you been eating alpha's food hmm? Do I not cook well for you anymore?"
The question was easier to answer than any of the others that had crossed Hoseok's mind, almost light in its nature, and the pet name felt so familiar, if far away. "Your food is amazing. You know that." He responded quietly. "I just haven't been hungry recently."
Seokjin hummed, fingertips getting caught on Hoseok's fraying scent patch, and he wrinkled his nose, gently peeling the product off, throwing it somewhere on the floor as if it had personally offended him. Hoseok ducked his head in mortification the second his own scent started oozing out, pungent and unpleasant, but Seokjin barely winced. "My poor omega. I've been neglecting you so much."
Hoseok shook his head instinctively, not wanting the alpha to feel the burden of his feelings for even a second. "It's okay."
The words got him a sad smile in return, and Hoseok's omega was fussing again. "No. It isn't."
Seokjin pulled away, and Hoseok was reminded of how it felt mourning the loss of touch. How long had it been since he'd let one of the members touch him like this? Seokjin guided him to the side of the bed, hand warm in his, then lifted the duvet. Hoseok shyly took the cue to slide under, and watched as the alpha undressed too, before joining him, arms wrapping around his torso.
Hoseok was purring in an instant, the skin to skin absolutely delicious on his frazzled nerves, enveloped and protected by warm covers that smelt so strongly of pine and walnut, so strongly of home. Hoseok felt high off of it almost immediately.
"It's been so long, hasn't it, my love? Why didn't you tell alpha you needed this?"
And Hoseok felt so unguarded, he could probably answer any question thrown at him without thinking about it at all, too busy relishing in the comfort encasing him, relaxing for the first time in months. "Mmm, don't really need it. 'M not desperate. Alpha was busy with the others."
"Darling, Seok-ah, look at me." Hoseok whined, but did as he said. "Baby, it's not desperate, it's your nature." He affirmed gently, tucking some of his hair behind his ear, just to watch it bounce back. "It's our nature. We're not solitary creatures. Of course you're gonna feel bad when you distance yourself from us like this."
Hoseok paused where he was nuzzling into Seokjin's neck. "Didn't distance myself, though." He pouted, filter off. "You guys just like the other omegas and maknaes more. Everyone, they only come to me when they need help with something, or for chores, you guys don't. . . I'm not good enough for just this."
"What? Of course you are, you're worth so much more than the work you do, we only let you do it because you say you enjoy it, my love. It took us years to believe you anyway."
"I- I know that." Hoseok sulked, getting up on his elbows to face the other, frustrated. "Just, I don't mind helping you guys with chores and stuff, I do enjoy it but- but --"
Seokjin waited patiently as he tried to put it into words, hand running down Hoseok's back, gently tracing patterns. "But?"
"But. . ." Hoseok's fight left him, falling back onto Seokjin's chest. "Sometimes, sometimes I wanna be babied too."
His cheeks burned as he said it, embarrassed beyond description. It's something he'd felt since debut, maybe even before that, but how could he ever express it. He wasn't one of the maknaes, not even in between age wise like Namjoon. His role was supposed to be a cemented one, and he was supposed to enjoy it. Admitting to wanting anything else, as an every now and then or otherwise, felt shameful, even as an omega.
"Oh angel. . ." Seokjin whispered, pulling him closer. "You can be babied, of course you can. You've always been my baby. My lovely, pretty omega."
Hoseok couldn't help but tear up at that. "Then why don't you treat me like it? Even-- even Taehyungie and Jiminie get- get --"
Seokjin hushed him softly, and Hoseok didn't want to cry, it felt so stereotypical, and not in a sweet or endearing way, but Seokjin hummed like he understood, then kissed his forehead and delicately scented him, not letting go for a second. "Alpha's sorry, my love. Alpha is so sorry. If I could go back and do better I would. I'll never let it get this bad again baby, I promise. I won't ever let you doubt your place in the pack again."
Hoseok felt bad, still. "It's not. . . it's not your fault." He snuffled. "You have so much on your plate, too. I'm supposed to be helping you, not making things more difficult."
"Hope-ah, you do help me, every day you help me, help all of us. I love taking care of you the same way I love taking care of the rest of the pack. This isn't some pesky errand I have to pick up at the end of the day." He paused, a teasing smirk on his face. "I'm an alpha for a reason, hm? I love taking care of cute little omegas the same way cute little omegas like you want to be taken care of."
Hoseok was sure he was sporting a full-body blush at this point, pulling the covers up over his head so he could hide, mumbling about the older having no class, earning easy-going laughter, and maybe this really was the solution, because Hoseok surely felt like he was breathing easier, his omega settled and no longer rattling about like mice in a box.
"C'mon. Time to face the music." Seokjin patted his bottom, encouraging, even as Hoseok grunted out complaints. "The others have missed their Hoseok-ah too. They're probably complaining about me hoarding you all for myself."
"It's cold." Hosoek whined, rolling over, unsatisfied as Seokjin left the bed.
Until he was picked up, blanket still wrapped around him, that is.
He squeaked. "Hyung!"
"Can't tell me it's cold now." Seokjin replied simply, and Hoseok did is best attempt at further cocooning himself whilst mid-air, trying very hard not to think about the naked man still carrying him, and how it definitely wasn't an impressive display of strength. Truly, his omega was weak.
Heh. Weak for that ass.
Ok. Dumb joke. Hoseok's inner monologue was doing him dirty right now. This was serious, and yet here he was giggling, at seemingly nothing.
Someone gasped, and Hoseok struggled to make out who it was through the thick downy duvet. He didn't have to guess for very long, soon enough he was opened like a present, Jimin's face staring down at him even as he tried to hide further into Seokjin's torso, shy. He'd worried the others a lot, he realised. He thinks he'd realised it from the beginning, really, his mind had just been too cloudy to properly see it, thus, his timid demeanour now.
Not that their baby alpha was having any of it, taking Hoseok off Seokjin's hands and into his own, cooing as he sat down in their pack nest. "Oh hyung, you look so adorable like this."
Hoseok should laugh it off, get up and remind him that he was older than him, much too mature to be cooed at. A few months ago he surely would. A few days or weeks ago he wouldn't have allowed himself to be in this position at all. Now?
He could confess that he loved the treatment a little too much, not that Jimin or Seokjin seemed to mind.
That made sense though, the others however. . . ?
Hoseok tilted up, just enough to peek past the wall of duvet he had surrounding him, knowing well by their scents that all the members were present. Sure enough, not only were they present, but they were all looking at him, and Hoseok couldn't read or smell any negative emotions, but still. . .
"Hi." He spoke, diffident, something, anything, to break the ice.
"Hi, Hope-ah." Namjoon was the first to reply. "You feeling okay?"
It was so awkward, god it was so awkward, but Hoseok had brought it on himself, he supposed. He nodded, and should have said something more, but Jeongguk let out a quiet whimper, tackling him, and Jimin in the process, pressing himself close and scenting every inch of skin he could reach. Hoseok had let out a surprised sound, but facilitated the action easily, baring his neck further for the maknae.
"What? Me too!" Taehyung protested, before joining Jeongguk's efforts, the dual scenting session tickling his skin, and Hoseok laughed.
The moment had broken some of the tension still hanging in the air, Hoseok was still here, now, and they weren't going to let him go anytime soon. Yoongi ended up being the one to remind them. "We're still going to have to have a long conversation about this, as a pack. Okay Hope-ah?"
Hoseok nodded sheepishly, curling up on himself again.
"But. . . I think we can all agree that we can wait for a little while. Just until we're all settled again, okay? More than anything, we need sleep. Schedules for tomorrow were postponed after, well, everything."
Hoseok felt a little guilty, having realised by now that his temporary disappearance had clearly not just been a pack worry, but a company one too. He'd have a lot of people to apologise to in the morning, maybe even more people to thank, but that could wait, just for now.
The concept of an imminent talk wasn't exactly something Hoseok looked forward to, per se, but he knew they all needed it, communication is key, and all that; but it felt a lot less scary when he reminded himself of who he was going to have it with. His pack, his family. They'd never hurt him. . . not intentionally.
Hoseok sighed, melting back into their pack nest, exhausted beyond belief, letting the others get comfortable on and around him. After all these weeks, this is one of the things he'd missed the most. Sharing air with the people he loved the most. How lucky he was to be loved back.