"With all due respect, hyung. If I finish school, I work less shifts. And then I don't have any income to cover expenses." His father was getting by on the pathetic sick pay they got and Jungkook supplied the income, it was just the two of them these days so if he wanted to get the bus, get food or enjoy himself ever, he really needed that kind of money. "I can do whatever you wish but it may get a little tricky for me."
Maybe he could skip the bus and walk to school. And he didn't have to eat every meal, he could just steal food from the bar. They always had snacks!
With a small frown, he nodded his head and contemplated who he knew was a problem. "I know a few guys already questioning you and some who are just glad for the change. I can write down the names. I'm loyal, hyung, but I'm sure you know that. I was hoping you'd come back and rule." He couldn't help it now, he straight up beamed. "You're going to be a great leader."
"I'll try to be good, at least." Right now he felt like opening his wallet and throwing money at Jungkook, just so he'd stop bringing up his shifts and income and whatever else for half a minute, but he had a distinct feeling that wouldn't really help with anything. "You and your family will be provided for. I am not letting any of my people go without education so they can keep from starving. That's pointless. Even if their job actually is to clean the floors."
They had to go over the books together, but clearly something wasn't adding up right where salary was concerned. Yoongi already suspected it might be dis-proportionally going to the higher ups, which meant he had another huge mess to resolve. They had expected that. He turned his hand and took his watch off, handing it to Jungkook.
"You are with me. That can be a symbol of that. I take care of my people."
"Woah, hyung! I'm not a stripper." Holy shit, he was throwing money at him. He had to laugh, it was so weird. It wasn't even offensive or scary, just funny. He caught a few bills and collected them, setting them aside and honestly, he wasn't sure what to do with them. It seemed rude to just take the money when he knew he could earn it but the idea of going back to school was tempting.
"Your watch? No, hyung, no, I couldn't accept such a gift. Please." That was important, that was such an expensive watch and so far, all he'd done was clean a wall.
If he turned up with that suddenly on his wrist, it would not go well for him. "People will think I stole it or something, it'd attract negative attention. I insist, you should keep it." As cool as it was and as much as he wanted it, he couldn't accept something that nice.
"Accept it. You can just start wearing it when you feel you are ready." Yoongi sighed and leaned back in the seat, trying to figure out where to even begin with this. Jungkook had been cute as a kid, definitely still respectful in his own way, but different than this. Not surprising, given what he knew of his family standing he supposed he had been pretty much treated like a dog for years now.
He felt an odd sense of guilt, but he knew it wasn't really his fault. Responsibility, that's what he had now.
For a moment only he thought about what Jimin would say to that and then he thought about Jimin stroking his hair and he had to push the thought away, because he could not cry in front of Jungkook. This boy had literally devoted his life to him. He couldn't let him down by showing weakness.
"I need to do some shopping. You can tell me what looks proper enough that I can get away with it. But only if you let me buy you an outfit too. I want you by my side sometimes from now on, you have to look the part."
"You're so kind, hyung." He took the watch and looked it over, noting how expensive it was. Damn, it was a wind up too, that was impressive. He wondered how the mechanics worked, probably so damn fancy inside. He pocketed the watch nervously, intent on hiding it away and hoping no one thought he was a thief. It was a lot of money to suddenly have.
Looking at Yoongi with a baffled expression, he tried to wrap his head around everything. Clothes? By his side? That was a lot to get at once.
"I'm cool with you buying me new threads, hyung. All my stuff has seen better days but me by your side? I'm just a kid." He didn't want to fail or embarrass them, he knew he had a lot of work to do before he was ready for something like that. "If you insist, I will try my absolute best to be worthwhile to you. I just hope I don't mess up."
He rarely did. He was a frustrating perfectionist, even as a child. All his blocks were perfectly colour co-ordinated.
"According to most of the people going against me, I am just a kid too. Ask me if I give a fuck." He certainly did not. He wasn't going to back down. "Your loyalty is worth a lot more than a couple years more or less. Stop letting people push you around just because they are older. Older doesn't mean better. Doesn't mean wiser. Definitely doesn't mean they are harder to kill."
Maybe not exactly the right lessons to install in the kid, but whatever. Yoongi was determined to earn the respect he deserved, but he wasn't going to do that by playing by someone else's rules. "You've never messed anything up your whole life, I doubt you're going to start now. You won't let me down."
"You talk some dangerous talk, hyung." Jungkook had to laugh, it was insane really. Not only their culture but their clan, his father, everyone drummed into him the food chain of how this world worked and who to respect when and where. It was so weird to hear someone saying to just fuck that system. "Still the rebel, still the coolest guy I know. You didn't change much, did you? I like that."
It made him feel a lot more relaxed around him. This was the Yoongi he knew. The cool rebel kid who led him astray. "Fuck it, I'm in. I'll do whatever you want. I won't let you down, I wouldn't dream of it. I'd sooner die."
"Changed a lot in some ways, but I guess not so much in that." Yoongi smiled, glad that he seemed to be getting through to Jungkook, even if it had taken a while. Good, he liked that. He needed some people around him that actually knew what he was aiming at, that he could trust and that he could be himself around. Well. A much more composed version of himself, but still.
"You'll meet Namjoon. I think you'll get along. He's from outside, but he's catching on quick. He's smart." Yoongi wasn't sure what, if anything, Kookie would know about everything that had happened involving Namjoon, so either way, an introduction couldn't hurt. "Now. Do you think I can get away with not wearing a suit?"
"Probably if you go more gangster. A lot of the guys do that now. If they're not in a suit, they look like they're probably street gangsters, you know? Go all in or you'll look like you're just lazy though." Jungkook advised, not sure who Namjoon was so he decided to sidestep that for now. He would meet him later, get a good feel for him. He didn't get to know much about the business, obvious.
He just cleaned the floors and handled whatever grunt work was sent his way. "You could also go inform what the suit, I guess. You'd have to look cool though. Like maybe a shirt and a waistcoat, some gold all over it. That'd be swanky as fuck."
"Yeah? Sure, sounds swanky." Yoongi got his phone out to quickly answer some messages, realising that he needed to change the screensaver, which was still a picture of a sleeping Jimin from behind. Really, he should probably delete all pictures he had of Jimin out of respect for him, but he wasn't sure if he could make himself do that.
Damn it. Whatever. Yoongi figured he might as well, opening up his phone and navigating around, then showing Jungkook a few pictures of himself. "That's how I walked around for a couple years now. What do you think?"
Honestly, he just wanted to test Jungkook's resolve of trying to be respectful. It wasn't as if he looked bad by any means, not really. But poor? Oh yeah.
"Woah, I thought I was the one trying to look like you. Now you're trying to look like me." Jungkook had to laugh, a lot more at ease with Yoongi now he knew the other held some fondness for him. He looked at the pictures and then had a bit of a laughing fit over the hat that just said 'zzz' on the top.
That always was his favourite hobby. "I wouldn't advise going out around here dressed like that, hyung. You're a tiger! You don't want to be treated like a dog."
He passed the phone back, smiling playfully at him. "I like the hat a lot though. It's cute."
"Yeah, my b-- Someone bought it for me. Said it's all that's on my mind anyway." Yoongi looked at the picture with fondness for a moment before putting the phone away. That was kind of symbolic, wasn't it? No, he couldn't get away with wearing any of the clothes that he'd worn while he'd been with Jimin. Suga really was dead. He had always known that, but he couldn't have predicted how much it'd hurt. He wondered how long it would be until the pain died down.
"I'll go for something a lot less cheap and slightly less casual. And you will stop dressing like a dog too. You know that's not what you are, don't you? Can you shoot a gun yet, Kookie?"
"I know I'm not, I don't care what they say about me. They can mock me all they want. I work hard and I do my job, I will be rewarded as long as I do that. I'm happy, I love my dad and I do like my job. People suck but they always suck." He really wasn't all that heart broken over it all, he didn't think of himself as a dog, he just knew that people came to expect certain things from people. Men like Yoongi had to be their best and men like him had to just keep out of the way.
"No one ever showed me how to handle a gun, hyung. My dad taught me a few things with his but I've never really had my own gun. I just clean stuff and fetch things." All the things a guy like Jungkook was expected to do.
"I'm a good shot though, I used to do archery at school. I won a few medals in that so I'm hoping I can translate those skills."
"Then come to the shooting range with me tomorrow. I need to show Namjoon how to handle a gun, I might as well show you too. You'll probably do better than him even with your eyes closed." He loved Namjoon, but he'd be very surprised if he turned out to be a natural with a gun. He wouldn't even give him one, but he couldn't risk him staying in the business without those skills.
"You got medals for archery, yeah? That's impressive. I can't believe they made you drop out of school. Make sure to tell me what school you went to, I'll make a call. Or would you rather go to a different school? Or I can pay for homeschooling, whatever."
"I liked that school, I had good friends. I mean, you know, they didn't make me." They just gave him little choice. Not that he ever talked to the big boss, he was never really allowed near him but his supervisers had been pretty clear. "Yong-hwa just sort of said it was in my best interest to quit, like, what does a dog do with an education? I guess he thought I was dumber."
God, he hated that jerk. One of the elites, he walked around like he was something special and he bossed Jungkook around endlessly. "I needed the money or I wouldn't have done it. I'm not a brainless idiot who does what I'm told just cause but ... sometimes I have to make the grown up decision."
"Yeah. I get that." Did he ever get that. "Whatever. I'm here now. I can make some decisions for you and you'll be back in school by Monday. I'm sure you won't have any issue keeping up." He just couldn't imagine Jungkook letting him down in any way like that. Yong-hwa, hm? Yeah, there was someone he would definitely have to deal with.
But that was for him to worry about, not Jungkook. He went through his phone and put on some music, figuring he might as well make use of the bit of downtime. "You aren't a dog, Jungkook. Who knows. One day you might be a tiger too."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
Maybe he could skip the bus and walk to school. And he didn't have to eat every meal, he could just steal food from the bar. They always had snacks!
With a small frown, he nodded his head and contemplated who he knew was a problem. "I know a few guys already questioning you and some who are just glad for the change. I can write down the names. I'm loyal, hyung, but I'm sure you know that. I was hoping you'd come back and rule." He couldn't help it now, he straight up beamed. "You're going to be a great leader."
no subject
They had to go over the books together, but clearly something wasn't adding up right where salary was concerned. Yoongi already suspected it might be dis-proportionally going to the higher ups, which meant he had another huge mess to resolve. They had expected that. He turned his hand and took his watch off, handing it to Jungkook.
"You are with me. That can be a symbol of that. I take care of my people."
no subject
"Your watch? No, hyung, no, I couldn't accept such a gift. Please." That was important, that was such an expensive watch and so far, all he'd done was clean a wall.
If he turned up with that suddenly on his wrist, it would not go well for him. "People will think I stole it or something, it'd attract negative attention. I insist, you should keep it." As cool as it was and as much as he wanted it, he couldn't accept something that nice.
no subject
He felt an odd sense of guilt, but he knew it wasn't really his fault. Responsibility, that's what he had now.
For a moment only he thought about what Jimin would say to that and then he thought about Jimin stroking his hair and he had to push the thought away, because he could not cry in front of Jungkook. This boy had literally devoted his life to him. He couldn't let him down by showing weakness.
"I need to do some shopping. You can tell me what looks proper enough that I can get away with it. But only if you let me buy you an outfit too. I want you by my side sometimes from now on, you have to look the part."
no subject
Looking at Yoongi with a baffled expression, he tried to wrap his head around everything. Clothes? By his side? That was a lot to get at once.
"I'm cool with you buying me new threads, hyung. All my stuff has seen better days but me by your side? I'm just a kid." He didn't want to fail or embarrass them, he knew he had a lot of work to do before he was ready for something like that. "If you insist, I will try my absolute best to be worthwhile to you. I just hope I don't mess up."
He rarely did. He was a frustrating perfectionist, even as a child. All his blocks were perfectly colour co-ordinated.
no subject
Maybe not exactly the right lessons to install in the kid, but whatever. Yoongi was determined to earn the respect he deserved, but he wasn't going to do that by playing by someone else's rules. "You've never messed anything up your whole life, I doubt you're going to start now. You won't let me down."
no subject
It made him feel a lot more relaxed around him. This was the Yoongi he knew. The cool rebel kid who led him astray. "Fuck it, I'm in. I'll do whatever you want. I won't let you down, I wouldn't dream of it. I'd sooner die."
no subject
"You'll meet Namjoon. I think you'll get along. He's from outside, but he's catching on quick. He's smart." Yoongi wasn't sure what, if anything, Kookie would know about everything that had happened involving Namjoon, so either way, an introduction couldn't hurt. "Now. Do you think I can get away with not wearing a suit?"
no subject
He just cleaned the floors and handled whatever grunt work was sent his way. "You could also go inform what the suit, I guess. You'd have to look cool though. Like maybe a shirt and a waistcoat, some gold all over it. That'd be swanky as fuck."
no subject
Damn it. Whatever. Yoongi figured he might as well, opening up his phone and navigating around, then showing Jungkook a few pictures of himself. "That's how I walked around for a couple years now. What do you think?"
Honestly, he just wanted to test Jungkook's resolve of trying to be respectful. It wasn't as if he looked bad by any means, not really. But poor? Oh yeah.
no subject
That always was his favourite hobby. "I wouldn't advise going out around here dressed like that, hyung. You're a tiger! You don't want to be treated like a dog."
He passed the phone back, smiling playfully at him. "I like the hat a lot though. It's cute."
no subject
"I'll go for something a lot less cheap and slightly less casual. And you will stop dressing like a dog too. You know that's not what you are, don't you? Can you shoot a gun yet, Kookie?"
no subject
"No one ever showed me how to handle a gun, hyung. My dad taught me a few things with his but I've never really had my own gun. I just clean stuff and fetch things." All the things a guy like Jungkook was expected to do.
"I'm a good shot though, I used to do archery at school. I won a few medals in that so I'm hoping I can translate those skills."
no subject
"You got medals for archery, yeah? That's impressive. I can't believe they made you drop out of school. Make sure to tell me what school you went to, I'll make a call. Or would you rather go to a different school? Or I can pay for homeschooling, whatever."
no subject
God, he hated that jerk. One of the elites, he walked around like he was something special and he bossed Jungkook around endlessly. "I needed the money or I wouldn't have done it. I'm not a brainless idiot who does what I'm told just cause but ... sometimes I have to make the grown up decision."
no subject
But that was for him to worry about, not Jungkook. He went through his phone and put on some music, figuring he might as well make use of the bit of downtime. "You aren't a dog, Jungkook. Who knows. One day you might be a tiger too."