ALL NOVEL Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Chilly
"Do you really think Frosty the Snowman is a good pick?" Jungkook asked eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Hoseok let out a scandalized gasp, hand pressed against his heart, "It is a masterpiece, a Christmas classic steeped in lessons about friendship and sacrifice. Why wouldn't it be the perfect choice for any situation?"
"It's the middle of summer." Jimin deadpanned. Hoseok didn't yield: doubling down on his claim, "And friendship and sacrifice are no longer relevant when the weather reaches above 60?"
"No, but Christmas Classics do." Taehyung cheerily chimed in. Hoseok's head whipped between the two young men now contentedly smirking at him. Noticing Hoseok's upward tilt of lips that looked suspiciously like a suppressed smile despite his supposed anger, Yoongi let his own smile slip.
"The practice of celebrating Christmas in July, the middle of summer has become quite common," Namjoon stated. Both Taehyung and Jimin let out groans, Hoseok grinning before plopping down beside his defender. Yoongi flicked to the aforementioned show clicking play. There were a few grumbled complaints from the younger two about not having admitted defeat, one about Frosty the Snowman not even being a movie but the complaints soon faded.
The first song was coming to a close as Seokjin and Teddy entered the room, laden with snacks and drinks. Based on known preferences the goods were quickly passed out.
Teddy settled into a pile of pillows and blankets she had arranged in front of the couch before running to grab the snacks while the movie was chosen. Seokjin squeezed onto the couch to her right having refused to sit on the floor since every time before he ended up with a sore neck and back.
He managed to settle in with minimal jabs about being an old man. Yoongi didn't join in the fun although he did find the banter amusing. Glancing at Teddy he found her unphased by the comments her eyes glazed over while she intently watched the show. Her concentration rivaling the focus she usually reserved for work on her holoscreen or teaching them.
The thought that he was analyzing the facial expressions based on the significant amount of time he had with her that was painless was shocking. Almost as shocking as the thought that she was cute like this, wrapped in a blanket burrito hands only emerging to grab something to shovel in her mouth.
It wasn't like Yoongi was a stranger to feeling attraction bad people could be beautiful, of course, the attraction snapped out of existence the moment he found out that they were bad people. And maybe that was what this was just a passing fancy, that would fade the moment he got to know her more. But he had been getting to know her.
Their lessons about basic first aid lasting at least an hour every day not to mention the time they spent eating together or just hanging out like right now. Wrenching his gaze back to the screen he tried to focus on the animations and the voices accompanying them.
It was successful - for now.
The movie was cute, but he found his attention and gaze drifting. Jimin was crushed into the corner of the couch with a blanket weaved in between his limbs. There must have been logic to the placement since he seemed ridiculously content occasionally trying to shoulder his way deeper into the couch. His eyes were drooping more by the second.
Next to Jimin sat Jungkook his legs crisscrossed beneath him his hands clutching his ankles to accommodate the eager lean he had towards the Holoscreen. It wouldn't surprise Yoongi if this was Jungkook's first viewing of "Frosty the Snowman". While not mentioned often Jungkook's upbringing wasn't one to indulge in the frivolity of media that did not facilitate their morals.
Behind Teddy was Hoseok, he didn't seem to mind the limited legroom. Despite Hoseok's eager defense of the movie his interest drifted from time to time to the people around him, probably wanting to see the reactions to his choice. In one instance Hoseok caught his gaze, Hoseok's sunshine of a smile spreading across his face. Yoongi attempted to return the gesture with his smaller but no less genuine smile before Hoseok turned his gaze back to the movie.
Yoongi continued to observe the rest of the members: Seokjin was next. He had a variety of snacks clutched in his hands his legs tucked up to his chest. Although Seokjin's gaze was firmly on the Holoscreen it was clear by the little smile he gave every time he bit into the food where his attention was.
Taehyung and Namjoon were shoulder to shoulder leaning towards each other now and then to say something. From what Yoongi managed to overhear, Namjoon was sharing facts about the show with Taehyung while Taehyung was sharing some conspiracy theories about it.
He was glad they all seemed content on the couch, squished though they were. It made him feel less guilty about taking the only armchair.
As comfortable as he was growing up with these people, he did not enjoy physical contact when he was supposed to be focusing on something else. The crowding he saw on the couch would have made him feel trapped, which is the same reason he avoided sitting on the floor. In the chair, he could react quickly and had a higher vantage point to monitor everything it made him feel more in control - safer.
Teddy's focus he had earlier interpreted as focus seemed least focused her eyes not seeming to track the character's movements like before. Her right hand crossed in front of her every once in a while to twist her bracelet back and forth.
This went on for the rest of the movie. He nearly jumped out of his chair when she began to scratch at her arm. Not the dismissive scratch of a phantom itch, but like she wanted to take her skin off layer by layer. He saw the bright red of blood being to appear.
Luckily he wasn't the only one to notice. Seokjin lowered his legs to lean forward and put his hand on top of the scratches. Her hand stopped mid-reach to scratch again, and she turned to look at Seokjin a look of utter puzzlement on her face. He pulled his hand away showing the drops of blood, she seemed embarrassed to see the blood on his hand.
"Why'd you stop me?" She asked it was a whisper because "Frosty the Snowman" was still playing in the background, but Yoongi heard her clearly enough. Did she really think they wouldn't care if she hurt herself or did she just not think anyone would care? His heart chilled at the thought. This was something they needed to remedy, after all she was no good to them injured or dead.