Namjoon was never a loss for words. He always had a quote that he had read from one of his many books that fit the exact situation or occasion. This caused the others to generally view his command of languages and speech making abilities with a stunned awe. His lectures when a member of the maknae line were being irresponsible or failing to take care of their health were impressive too. Namjoon was still a member of the hyung line, despite being in the exact middle in age, and being the leader made him very protective of the other members.
However protective he might be about everyone else, Namjoon was sometimes careless about his own safety to the point of self-injury. Often thinking about other things, he would get distracted and wound up with cuts and bruises that he couldn’t account for. They didn’t bother him, but he knew it was exasperating for the others to have such a klutz for a leader. He usually kept illnesses and injuries to himself to avoid the sighs and frustrated glares of the members, and even just because it saved time.
So when Namjoon woke up the day after a 4 hour recording session with his throat feeling like he had swallowed liquid fire, he kept it to himself. His head wasn’t stuffy, but he could feel hot post-nasal drip trickling down his throat made him want to cough. When he did, his throat flared up with a scorching ache that made him wince. He pulled himself out of bed, fighting the urge to roll over and sleep until he could breathe without feeling like he was eating glass like Taehyung ate Honey chips. He sniffled back the flood that gravity sent rushing down his nasal passages. When a soft groan came out as a feeble squeak, he wasn’t even surprised.
He got dressed in a t-shirt, sweats, and his comfiest hoodie. He shuffled to the bathroom, his hand rubbing his aching throat absently. Taehyung came out of the bathroom a moment later, drying his fluffy hair with a towel. He brightened when he saw Namjoon, “Rapmonie-hyung! Good Morning! Can you talk to Seokjinnie-hyung and see if he will make pancakes for us this morning?”
Namjoon simply waved and nodded, edging past Taehyung into the bathroom. He closed the door quickly to avoid more of the younger man’s enthusiasm and conversation. He looked at himself in the mirror and sighed. He didn’t look sick exactly, he decided. Just tired… and a little paler than usual.
After managing a shower, Namjoon felt a bit more human, although his throat still ached miserably. Coming out of the bathroom, he nearly ran head first into Yoongi. He blinked in surprise, unsure of what to say with his voice as useless as it was at the moment. Suddenly, Seokjin came up behind Namjoon and said, “What’s the matter Jooniyah? Yoongi got your tongue?
Namjoon jumped, startled out of his distraction. He inhaled sharply, his breath catching in his throat. He started to cough, burying his face into steepled hands. Seokjin’s smile disappeared and his arm snaked out and supported Namjoon around his waist. Yoongi’s hand found his forehead and Namjoon heard him sigh, “Again?”
The youngest rapper was in no condition to deny it as he was coughing too hard to respond. The coughs were loud and rough; they tore their way out of his lungs leaving him breathless and gasping. Seokjin rubbed his back as Yoongi disappeared into the bathroom.
Slowly, Namjoon caught his breath and cleared his throat tiredly. When he looked up, he saw he had an audience. Taehyung’s mouth hung open in shock. Jimin looked close to tears in Jungkook’s arms. Jungkook was biting his bottom lip worriedly. Hoseok was leaning against the doorway of the room he shared with Jimin and frowned deeply, “Joonah! You have to start taking better care of yourself!” Yoongi emerged from the bathroom carrying cough medicine, a thermometer, and a bowl of water with a washcloth in it.
Yoongi motioned for Seokjin to take Namjoon back down the hall to the leader’s bedroom, as Namjoon sputtered feeble protests; his normally deep voice reduced to a breathless squeak. Seokjin ignored him and dragged him back anyway. Yoongi and Hoseok followed their hyung and his captive. Once inside Hoseok pulled down the comforter and helped Seokjin get Namjoon into bed,tucking him in like a child. Namjoon was certainly pouting like one at the moment, so it was fitting.
Three worried faces peeked through the doorway. Namjoon blushed with humiliation. Yoongi prepped the medicine for their unhappy patient, as Seeokjin wrung out the wet compress. Hoseok slipped the thermometer under Namjoon’s tongue. Namjoon fought the childish reaction of wanting to bite Hoseok’s finger, in retaliation. Instead, the leader of BTS scowled around the device and rolled his eyes at his hyungs’ smothering care.
Seokjin saw the look and scolded him, “Namjoonah, you are the leader. Behave!”
Hoseok nodded his agreement, “The maknaes follow your lead… What would you be saying if it was Jungkook sneaking around, trying to hide how sick he was?”
Namjoon looked down, he had given the Maknae several on that very subject over the years. Yoongi put a gentle hand on Namjoon’s shoulder, looking him in the eyes.
“Sometimes it’s best to lead by example, hmm?”
Namjoon nodded and relaxed against the pillows, becoming obedient and compliant at once. He let Seokjin place the washcloth on his forehead and listened to Hoseok’s scoldings as the thermometer showed a 38.7° C (101.7°F) degree fever. Namjoon managed a soft, hoarse whisper, “Sorry, Hyungs.”
They each smiled at him affectionately and Namjoon managed a slightly chagrined one in reply. He might be the leader, but it was still important to obey his hyungs and being loved and babied wasn’t all bad… The baby of the hyung line tapped Seokjin on the arm and asked, “Hyung, will you make pancakes…?”
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