ineedanepiphany | (no subject)

He's not pouting about it, really. People are still coming over, mostly, and there will still be sweets, even if it's not birthday cake. Seokjin tries to keep Namjoon's suggestion in mind that they've asked for hotteok so that he doesn't have to cook all by himself (never mind that he wouldn't have to cook at all if he bought a birthday cake). He's almost finished getting everything ready too. The hotteok batter is proofing. The miyeok guk is simmering on the stove.

A text went off an hour ago with a generous birthday gift from his father. The number still makes Seokjin's stomach twist to think about.

And maybe he should have just reminded the others that today is his birthday. It's just that he'd sort of hoped they'd remember without him saying but maybe that's just a selfish expectation.

He really shouldn't pout. But he does have the face for it.

There's a knock on the door and a buzz from his phone and Seokjin smiles his biggest smile. At least someone's come. That should be enough.

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Yoongi is pretty sure he's never actually going to stop saying that Seokjin's family sucks. He won't say it again today, but there's always the future. It's not his fault that it's just true.

"Because we're the best," he says simply. "It's just what you deserve. Besides, we like it here."

Seokjin huffs out a laugh, nodding. "It's true," he agrees. His family, the real one gathered in this apartment, are the people who matter. He hates to think it because he knows it makes him a bad son but if it came down to his blood family and the six friends here? Seokjin would turn his back on his family in a second.

"I like this place better when you're all here."

It's hardly a revelation, but it still makes Yoongi a little sad. He doesn't like to think of Seokjin here by himself in between their visits, bored at best or desperately lonely. He really does deserve better than that. Yoongi just has no idea how to give it to him.

"Maybe you should get a roommate," he says lightly. "Pretty sure any of us would love to move out of our homes." There's a part of him that wants to joke about his own circumstances, about how he'll need a place to stay if his father ever finds out about him, but it's too sad a joke to make, too true, for a party.

"What do you think I've been trying to do with one of you for the past year?" he retorts. It's certainly not from a lack of trying, he'd say, but he also knows that each of them has a reason for not leaving his situation behind. Health, family, pride. All of them prevent them from walking away.

You should stay over tonight though. All of you but definitely my koyoong-i cat."