last hope

Chapter 8

'I cannot believe you talked me into this,' Hoseok hisses, tugging at his costume. 'I look like an idiot.'

'Nothing new there,' Jimin smirks, slapping Hoseok's ass as he walks past. 'You look cute, hyung, don't worry about it.'

Hoseok stares in disbelief at Jimin's reflection in the mirror, watching as he disappears out of the bathroom.

'Honestly, hyung, you look really cute!' Taehyung nods enthusiastically, apparently ignoring the ass-slapping.

'Tae,' Hoseok says carefully, desperately trying to muster any patience he has remaining from the past few weeks. 'I didn't want to look cute! How is being cute going to help me? I need to look hot!'

Hoseok watches their reflections, as Taehyung studies his friend in the mirror for a second. Hoseok's hair is artfully tousled - mainly due to the fact that Taehyung has been playing with it for the last forty-five minutes as he tried to calm Hoseok down and stop him from spiralling.

He's wearing a simple combination of black skinny jeans and a black t-shirt, both of which are far too tight and leave nothing to the imagination. When Taehyung had handed him the clothes, Hoseok had been relieved. Taehyung was wearing leather trousers and a flowing white shirt, open almost to his waist and revealing a series of bites up to his neck, all carefully placed with fake blood. Jimin, of course, was dressed as a vampire.

It is the final addition to his outfit which is causing Hoseok to glare at his friend's reflection in the bathroom mirror.

'You've come as a sexy vampire and his victim,' Hoseok gestures at the doorway Jimin recently disappeared through, and then back at Taehyung. 'And you've dressed me up as a fucking cat.'

Taehyung smiles at him as if he is stupid. 'Yes, and you look adorable.'

'I'm going to kill you,' Hoseok seethes, 'both of you. And then I'll have Jungkook bury the bodies.'

Taehyung just rolls his eyes at him.

Hoseok crosses his arms. 'For your own safety you'd better promise me that Yoongi is wearing a costume too.'

Taehyung pauses for a split second, before grinning back at him. 'Sure, hyung, of course he is!'

Hoseok groans. 'I need a drink.'

Jimin appears, as if by magic, and hands him a glass of what he's assuming is whiskey. He doesn't stop to smell it before he downs half the glass. He grimaces.

Jimin and Taehyung share a look as they each grab one of Hoseok's arms and drag him out of the bathroom.

They march him into the living room, and Hoseok can hear Jungkook laughing, but he can't see him. He's honestly a little in awe of how many people they have managed to squeeze into their dorm.

'Aren't you going to get in trouble for this?' Hoseok nudges Taehyung as they make their way to the window. The room is so crowded it is hard to move, and Hoseok is desperate to be able to see outside.

Taehyung snorts, shaking his head. 'Trouble? What are we, eight?'

Hoseok rolls his eyes. 'Don't come crying to me when you get kicked out.'

'Leave the kids alone,' a voice calls, and Hoseok looks up to see Yoongi lounging against the windowsill. He's momentarily drawn into the other man's eyes, lined in dark shadow and staring straight at him, before his focus expands and he notices what Yoongi is wearing.

'You've got to be kidding me,' he whispers, grabbing Taehyung's sleeve and dragging him back a few steps. 'Is this a joke? Are you all betting on how quickly you can drive me insane? Because you're close.'