"And on the way, you just casually broke into a pharmacy? They saw you on CCTV, kid. Don't play dumb with me." Turning the boy around, he set him against the police car and held him still, not really wanting to cuff the boy. He was so young, it didn't seem right. "Want to tell me and officer Jackson what you were doing stealing? It's bad to steal."
Were they old enough to know that? His boy seemed older... or maybe he was just taller. It was so hard to be sure. He looked over at the mouthy one and raised an eyebrow. "Not only did you steal, you stole drugs. That's a really bad thing to do."
Yoongi didn't know what to do. Why did there have to be two of them? That made this a lot more difficult. Jimin needed medicine to feel better and nowhere they were. Damn it. He tried to kick Hobi as subtly as possible, looking at the ground and trying to sound as sincere as he could. "We won't do it again, please."
Hobi flinched, but caught the hint, sniffing and pressing his eyes shut until he started crying a little. Yoongi could never seem to do that on cue.
"We didn't mean to be bad!"
"...Joon, what the hell do we do?" Teenagers would be so much easier than this. Jackson looked at the kid, frowning. "What did you even need the painkillers for?"
"You thought extra strength painkillers for flu, coughs and colds was candy? You know, if you're gonna lie, lie believably. I'm sure you can both read." What did they do with this? These damn kids. He didn't know how old they were but maybe ten to twelve, roughly, if he had to estimate. They shouldn't be out this late alone or breaking into places. "I think you knew what you were stealing. Why did you steal flu medicine?"
Seemed worth an ask. He turned his head and looked at Jackson, knowing he had to be bad cop because his partner was way too soft. "I think we need to contact the parents... maybe social services."
This whole thing painted quite a poor picture.
"Okay, you have two options so pick wisely. Either we take you to the station, book you in and you spend the night there or we go to your home and talk to your mom or dad. Which option seems better to you? Cause I'd rather take you home to your parents and talk to them." He had a few things to say about their state of care, he could say that much off the bat.
Hobi and Yoongi exchanged a look again, then Hobi just gave a nod, telling Yoongi to go ahead. He seemed to have more of an idea what to do.
"You can take us home." They just had to grab the meds. "I'm sure our parents are home."
"Right. What are they thinking, letting you out this time of night?" Jackson scoffed and already opened the door to the backseat, holding it for Yoongi, who hesitated.
"...are we taking the meds? They shouldn't be on the street."
"Suga-hyung's right!" Hobi was ready to support his wisdom. "Some druggie's gonna get it."
"Hyung? Huh. Thought it'd be the other way round."
"Get mine into the back and I'll get the drugs." He made sure that Jackson had a solid hold on Hobi before he let go. Luckily these boys had nothing to them, he was sure Jackson could handle it. He was jacked as hell. Wondering over, he picked up the flu medicine with a frown. High strength and for children. It was a strangely specific thing they'd stolen, he wasn't even sure if it'd be used in making drugs.
He slipped them into his inside pocket and came over to the car, watching Jackson curiously.
"We'll drive them home, talk to their parents and maybe call social services. We clearly have a different situation than we expected." Given they were children out this late and in such a poor state. "Come on, let's go."
"We need their names to see if they're in the system." Kids this young? They had to be. Jackson had managed to lock them both in the car on the backseat and now he got in the driver's seat, waiting for Namjoon to get in as well. "All right, what's your address?"
Yoongi frowned, but then he named an address, leaning back in the seat and pulling his feet up. Maybe this wasn't the worst. Maybe. At least Jimin might get the meds.
"...that's not a residential area. Where the hell do you live?"
"That's... huh. Just drive to it, this is gonna be an adventure." He was pretty sure that was the old shipping district which meant mostly storage warehouses but whatever, he was ready to embrace how weird this was. He got out his tech and set it up as Jackson fiddled with the GPS, idly setting it all up and expecting to be dicked around with.
These kids seemed slippery. He didn't trust them.
"So, tell me your name. First and last. If you lie to me, it's an offence and you'll be locked away longer. You don't want to end up in juvie, do you?"
"J-Hope." Obviously not the actual names, that much was clear, but they could just play dumb. They often played dumb, it worked more often than one might think.
"Don't remember the last name, you'll have to ask our parents." Yoongi figured that might buy them time and J-Hope nodded in agreement. However, he also grinned brightly at the police officer and made a V sign.
"Thank you for being so annoyingly loud." Namjoon figured the best way to get through to these punks was to scare them. He was a smart guy, he knew something was up and he knew they wanted to go back to wherever they were living with meds. They didn't care how they did it. And they were determined on playing games. "Jackson, do a U turn."
Namjoon set the device aside and looked back, eyeing up the boys. They were young, all bravado and swagger, trying to be so cool to keep themselves safe. So sad.
"If you can't co-operate then fine, we can go to the station until you're willing. I want real names. First and last or we don't go home." And they couldn't do whatever it is they were both desperate to do.
Yoongi and Hobi exchanged a look again, but this time they both looked more worried. This was getting more than just bothersome and Jimin needed his medicine quickly. Damn it. "Min Suga," Yoongi finally offered, settling on a compromise.
"I'm Hoseok, but you can call me Hobi, sir." Hobi bowed politely, hoping that manners would even things out a little. "We can go home and then you can talk to our parents. I'm a good boy, they'll tell you. Suga-hyung's real cute."
Yoongi frowned. He was not cute! Hip Hop didn't do cutesy.
"That doesn't sound real but fine, keep going Jackson." Shrugging, Namjoon listened to the GPS and considered the boys in the back, knowing he wasn't going to get much more but he was getting something. It was baby steps. There was no Hoseok Min that matched this boy so they were either no related or it was a fake surname.
Either way, he was determined to get them home.
"Why are you two out at 2am stealing meds anyway? You wanna tell me about that. What's going on?" He wanted to ask 'who got hurt' because he assumed someone got hurt or something, hence this operation to get meds.
"We slept in late, so we can stay up later." Hobi shrugged, kicking his legs happily. At least he was smiling and looking relaxed. Yoongi less so, but then, he wasn't showing much of all. Inwardly, he worried for Jimin. Worried for Jimin so much.
"Shouldn't you be in school in the mornings?"
"We had a day off. Teacher's conference." Yoongi was quick with the lies, at least. "Hobi had a headache, so we need medicine."
"Convincing." Namjoon had to laugh. Whatever, he liked the punks, they were funny. In their own way. He hated to be harsh to them but he knew it was for their own good, didn't mean he didn't find them funny. They were such bad liars but in such a kid way, it was adorable. "We're getting closer now to the location... lots of warehouses, I don't see any actual houses."
He just felt the need to point that one would.
"You don't live here, do you? Nah. You shouldn't. I doubt you'd get indoor plumbing. Much be awkward to use the bathroom."
"Yeah, that'd be awkward." It could be quite the challenge, but they'd gotten good at distracting the guys at the gas station and thankfully that was just a twenty minute walk. "We're there! That's our front door." Yoongi pointed excitedly, bouncing in his seat suddenly and kicking Hobi, so he'd move to snatch the meds, which he promptly did.
They just needed to get Jimin to take the meds, then things would get better again. Hobi hid the meds under his jacket and Jackson focused on stopping the car and staring incredulously. He looked at Namjoon. This had to be a trick, right? "...I'd say we hold on to them while they show us their home."
"Oh, I'm pretty sure they're playing a con, we're gonna be careful. This is your home?" This shit tip? Hmm. Either this was another lie or they lived in appalling conditions. Either way, Namjoon kept the car locked as he turned around. He looked back at them, locked in the back and unable to escape, considering his options. "Jackson, go knock the door first and make sure there's someone in there."
He looked back at the boys again and raised an eyebrow. "Anything you wanna tell me before you get yourselves into my trouble? We can still turn around, you know?"
"Yeah, there's a monster in there," Yoongi said with a straight face, "Your partner's gonna get eaten."
"Suga! You're scaring me!" Hobi slapped Yoongi's arm playfully, then wrapped an arm around Namjoon's shoulder. "We're good boys, sir."
Yoongi nodded in agreement as he watched the door, not surprised to see Tae open. Not the best, he supposed, but the only other option - with Jimin's current state - was Jungkook. At least Tae talked, even if he sometimes said really weird things.
Right now he just looked at Jackson with big eyes and Yoongi frowned. He really had to get them more food. Damn it.
"Don't take my hyungs to jail!" Tae already sounded panicked.
Jungkook ran to the front by Tae and looked around him, eyeing up the strange man and then the police car, wanting to be excited by the police car but too nervous over what it meant. He just tugged at Tae insistently to protect him, looking every bit the small, nervous toddler he was.
"Holy shit."
Namjoon got out of the car and shut the door behind him, leaving the boys in the car as he hurried over to see this with his own eyes. Dear God, these boys were tiny, why were they here alone? It was cold out and damp, they looked so underfed. "Jackson, call ... God, I don't know, someone."
Crouching down, Namjoon looked at Tae and tried his best to smile. "We're not gonna take anyone to jail. Promise. They were caught stealing. That's very bad. Do you have a dad or a mom I can talk to?"
Jungkook slipped past Namjoon and ran between Jackson's legs, hurrying over to the police car to try and help his hyungs. Jimin was really, really sick and they needed to help!
"You have to ask Suga." Tae might be young, but he knew better than to tell adults anything they hadn't agreed upon beforehand. He knew what adults were like. Hobi and Yoongi could handle that. He glanced past Jackson to Jungkook, just to make sure he wasn't running off. Not that he thought he would. "Suga knows."
"That's nice for Suga, but it's not like he talks to us." Jackson muttered and leaned forward to look into the place, frowning. All he could see where piles of some stuff - small piles - and one old mattress with yet another pile on it. No sign of anyone else that he could see. "They live alone here, don't they?" This was horrifying.
And there was a toddler trying to open the car door.
"We can't ask Suga, we want to ask you. I'm Namjoon, you can call me Joonie." He held out his hand to Tae and when the other resisted, he just gently touched his arm. So damn thin. Poor boy, had he been alone here with just these other kids? This was insane. "It's okay, I'm a policeman. I'm here to help."
Jungkook managed to open the door for Yoongi and then he pointed urgently inside, bouncing a little. Jimin was sick again, he threw up and he cried, then he got quiet. Usually he'd be scared to have a grown up yell at him but he was more scared about Jimin.
Looking back, Namjoon cursed and gave Jackson a look. "This is crazy... let them pass." Then maybe they could understand what was up.
Yoongi grabbed Hobi by the arm immediately, although he did find the time to ruffle Jungkook's hair as he passed him. He headed past Tae and the cops into the building, letting go of Hobi to leave him by the exit so he could maybe block the adults from interfering just long enough.
Then he crouched down by the mattress and, as far as Jackson could see, picked up a pile. But then he looked closer and realised that he was cradling a tiny boy against his chest and hurriedly getting the pills out of the package they'd stolen before.
Jackson didn't really get emotional easily, not like that, but the entire build-up of having caught punk kids that were actual kids, not teens, leading to them coming here, finding even smaller kids and now the revelation that the theft had been because one of those tiny kids appeared to be sick? That did tug on the heartstrings. "Damn."
God damn. Hobi stood no chance against him and he easily shoved his way past the boys and hurried inside, rushing over to reach out and grab Yoongi's hand before he could force the pills into the boy's mouth. "Hold on, we're calling an ambulance. A doctor can make this better but they can't. They might make him worse or interfere with the doctor. Trust me, I know. Meds are tricky."
God, the boy in his arms was so thin and pale, he was shivering weakly with a sheen of sweat all over him. The smell in here wasn't great either. Sick, urine, damp and whatever else. It smelled like sickness. How long had he been like this?
"You don't know if he might react badly. Please." He reached out and touched the boy's forehead, he was red hot to touch. Shit. This was not good. "Jackson? Tell the ambulance it's a real emergency, this kid is on fire."
Jimin stirred a little and opened his eyes, looking weakly at Yoongi. "H--Hyun'?"
"Shh, it's okay. It's okay, Jiminie. Hyung will take care of you." Yoongi promised it, even though he had no idea whether it was an empty promise? An ambulance? He supposed. Fine. They could do that. Maybe they'd be in the system, but he was sure he could find his kids again, they could be together, they'd just run off. He'd done it often enough by himself and with Hobi. They could do it with the kids too. Right now, Jimin's health mattered.
Tae sat down by Jimin's side, gently gripping his hand and looking at his friend with so much concern. "Can the ambulance make it better, police man hyung?"
Jackson was making the call, feeling sick from both the smell and mostly how awful this was. How could something like this happen to kids this young?
"Oh yeah, they will try their absolute best and they'll fix him up." He reached out and tentatively, he stroked the boy's hair, feeling a swell of compassion. "I don't know anyone's name. Could you introduce me? I want to help you all get somewhere nice, warm and safe." That didn't smell awful, look like it was rotting and have one bed. One very ruined and soiled bed. Jesus.
Jimin sniffled and looked up at his hyung, squirming in pain. "Hurts. Everything... it hurts."
He ached, he was hot, he was headachey and he couldn't eat anything. He was a mess and he didn't understand what was happening. Almost delirious, he felt the room spin and he closed his eyes with a weak little sob.
"It's okay, little bud. It's gonna be fine. I know the hospital, they're great. My husband works there." He turned his head back, giving Jackson a terrified and concerned look. This was fucking crazy. What the hell?
"I'm TaeTae. That's Kookie. That's Hobi-hyung. That's Suga-hyung. And that's Jiminie... We are same age." Tae's introduction was probably not that helpful, but presented sincerely.
"It will be okay," Yoongi promised, hoping it wasn't a lie. He didn't like lying, but sometimes he had no choice. He had to do what was best for his boys, even Hobi.
"They're on their way," Jackson assured his partner, still looking on with concern. "What do we do with all these kids?"
They could hardly all ride in the ambulance, right? Although, from the looks of them they all seemed as if they might be malnourished at the very least, even if only one of them was feverish. "I guess we take them all to the hospital?"
Yoongi was thinking, pulling Jimin close. "I'm not leaving Jiminie."
"They all need to see a doctor. Look at them." They were so small, thin and ragged, they needed to be checked up. "Flu spreads like crazy and I think the kid has it, I'm worried it could have passed." None of them seemed to have signs though. Tae seemed perky, even if he was obviously a little hesitant.
Namjoon focused on the receptive boy, placing a soft hand on his back and trying to be encouraging. "TaeTae, you wanna ride in a real police car? I'll even make the siren flash just for you. We'll drive you and your brothers to the hospital while the ambulance takes Jiminie."
Reaching out tentatively, now that Jimin had stopped making little whimpers, he checked the boys pulse. Fuck. It was slowing. "You can stay with him but you also need a check up."
Jungkook came over and stood beside Yoongi, also clinging on and watching Jimin. He wanted to stay with Yoongi, even if Jimin was sick. He could come 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
Were they old enough to know that? His boy seemed older... or maybe he was just taller. It was so hard to be sure. He looked over at the mouthy one and raised an eyebrow. "Not only did you steal, you stole drugs. That's a really bad thing to do."
no subject
Hobi flinched, but caught the hint, sniffing and pressing his eyes shut until he started crying a little. Yoongi could never seem to do that on cue.
"We didn't mean to be bad!"
"...Joon, what the hell do we do?" Teenagers would be so much easier than this. Jackson looked at the kid, frowning. "What did you even need the painkillers for?"
"...thought it was candy."
no subject
Seemed worth an ask. He turned his head and looked at Jackson, knowing he had to be bad cop because his partner was way too soft. "I think we need to contact the parents... maybe social services."
This whole thing painted quite a poor picture.
"Okay, you have two options so pick wisely. Either we take you to the station, book you in and you spend the night there or we go to your home and talk to your mom or dad. Which option seems better to you? Cause I'd rather take you home to your parents and talk to them." He had a few things to say about their state of care, he could say that much off the bat.
no subject
"You can take us home." They just had to grab the meds. "I'm sure our parents are home."
"Right. What are they thinking, letting you out this time of night?" Jackson scoffed and already opened the door to the backseat, holding it for Yoongi, who hesitated.
"...are we taking the meds? They shouldn't be on the street."
"Suga-hyung's right!" Hobi was ready to support his wisdom. "Some druggie's gonna get it."
"Hyung? Huh. Thought it'd be the other way round."
Yoongi glared at Jackson, but said nothing.
no subject
He slipped them into his inside pocket and came over to the car, watching Jackson curiously.
"We'll drive them home, talk to their parents and maybe call social services. We clearly have a different situation than we expected." Given they were children out this late and in such a poor state. "Come on, let's go."
no subject
Yoongi frowned, but then he named an address, leaning back in the seat and pulling his feet up. Maybe this wasn't the worst. Maybe. At least Jimin might get the meds.
"...that's not a residential area. Where the hell do you live?"
"'s nice!" Hobi felt like defending their home.
no subject
These kids seemed slippery. He didn't trust them.
"So, tell me your name. First and last. If you lie to me, it's an offence and you'll be locked away longer. You don't want to end up in juvie, do you?"
no subject
"J-Hope." Obviously not the actual names, that much was clear, but they could just play dumb. They often played dumb, it worked more often than one might think.
"Don't remember the last name, you'll have to ask our parents." Yoongi figured that might buy them time and J-Hope nodded in agreement. However, he also grinned brightly at the police officer and made a V sign.
"I'm your hope! I'm your angel!"
"J-Hooooooope!" Yoongi yelled in support.
no subject
Namjoon set the device aside and looked back, eyeing up the boys. They were young, all bravado and swagger, trying to be so cool to keep themselves safe. So sad.
"If you can't co-operate then fine, we can go to the station until you're willing. I want real names. First and last or we don't go home." And they couldn't do whatever it is they were both desperate to do.
no subject
"I'm Hoseok, but you can call me Hobi, sir." Hobi bowed politely, hoping that manners would even things out a little. "We can go home and then you can talk to our parents. I'm a good boy, they'll tell you. Suga-hyung's real cute."
Yoongi frowned. He was not cute! Hip Hop didn't do cutesy.
no subject
Either way, he was determined to get them home.
"Why are you two out at 2am stealing meds anyway? You wanna tell me about that. What's going on?" He wanted to ask 'who got hurt' because he assumed someone got hurt or something, hence this operation to get meds.
no subject
"Shouldn't you be in school in the mornings?"
"We had a day off. Teacher's conference." Yoongi was quick with the lies, at least. "Hobi had a headache, so we need medicine."
"Yes!" Hobi clutched his head. "Ow."
no subject
He just felt the need to point that one would.
"You don't live here, do you? Nah. You shouldn't. I doubt you'd get indoor plumbing. Much be awkward to use the bathroom."
no subject
They just needed to get Jimin to take the meds, then things would get better again. Hobi hid the meds under his jacket and Jackson focused on stopping the car and staring incredulously. He looked at Namjoon. This had to be a trick, right? "...I'd say we hold on to them while they show us their home."
no subject
He looked back at the boys again and raised an eyebrow. "Anything you wanna tell me before you get yourselves into my trouble? We can still turn around, you know?"
no subject
"Suga! You're scaring me!" Hobi slapped Yoongi's arm playfully, then wrapped an arm around Namjoon's shoulder. "We're good boys, sir."
Yoongi nodded in agreement as he watched the door, not surprised to see Tae open. Not the best, he supposed, but the only other option - with Jimin's current state - was Jungkook. At least Tae talked, even if he sometimes said really weird things.
Right now he just looked at Jackson with big eyes and Yoongi frowned. He really had to get them more food. Damn it.
"Don't take my hyungs to jail!" Tae already sounded panicked.
no subject
"Holy shit."
Namjoon got out of the car and shut the door behind him, leaving the boys in the car as he hurried over to see this with his own eyes. Dear God, these boys were tiny, why were they here alone? It was cold out and damp, they looked so underfed. "Jackson, call ... God, I don't know, someone."
Crouching down, Namjoon looked at Tae and tried his best to smile. "We're not gonna take anyone to jail. Promise. They were caught stealing. That's very bad. Do you have a dad or a mom I can talk to?"
Jungkook slipped past Namjoon and ran between Jackson's legs, hurrying over to the police car to try and help his hyungs. Jimin was really, really sick and they needed to help!
no subject
"That's nice for Suga, but it's not like he talks to us." Jackson muttered and leaned forward to look into the place, frowning. All he could see where piles of some stuff - small piles - and one old mattress with yet another pile on it. No sign of anyone else that he could see. "They live alone here, don't they?" This was horrifying.
And there was a toddler trying to open the car door.
"Hey!"
no subject
Jungkook managed to open the door for Yoongi and then he pointed urgently inside, bouncing a little. Jimin was sick again, he threw up and he cried, then he got quiet. Usually he'd be scared to have a grown up yell at him but he was more scared about Jimin.
Looking back, Namjoon cursed and gave Jackson a look. "This is crazy... let them pass." Then maybe they could understand what was up.
no subject
Then he crouched down by the mattress and, as far as Jackson could see, picked up a pile. But then he looked closer and realised that he was cradling a tiny boy against his chest and hurriedly getting the pills out of the package they'd stolen before.
Jackson didn't really get emotional easily, not like that, but the entire build-up of having caught punk kids that were actual kids, not teens, leading to them coming here, finding even smaller kids and now the revelation that the theft had been because one of those tiny kids appeared to be sick? That did tug on the heartstrings. "Damn."
What did they do?
"...should I call an ambulance?"
no subject
God damn. Hobi stood no chance against him and he easily shoved his way past the boys and hurried inside, rushing over to reach out and grab Yoongi's hand before he could force the pills into the boy's mouth. "Hold on, we're calling an ambulance. A doctor can make this better but they can't. They might make him worse or interfere with the doctor. Trust me, I know. Meds are tricky."
God, the boy in his arms was so thin and pale, he was shivering weakly with a sheen of sweat all over him. The smell in here wasn't great either. Sick, urine, damp and whatever else. It smelled like sickness. How long had he been like this?
"You don't know if he might react badly. Please." He reached out and touched the boy's forehead, he was red hot to touch. Shit. This was not good. "Jackson? Tell the ambulance it's a real emergency, this kid is on fire."
Jimin stirred a little and opened his eyes, looking weakly at Yoongi. "H--Hyun'?"
no subject
Tae sat down by Jimin's side, gently gripping his hand and looking at his friend with so much concern. "Can the ambulance make it better, police man hyung?"
Jackson was making the call, feeling sick from both the smell and mostly how awful this was. How could something like this happen to kids this young?
no subject
Jimin sniffled and looked up at his hyung, squirming in pain. "Hurts. Everything... it hurts."
He ached, he was hot, he was headachey and he couldn't eat anything. He was a mess and he didn't understand what was happening. Almost delirious, he felt the room spin and he closed his eyes with a weak little sob.
"It's okay, little bud. It's gonna be fine. I know the hospital, they're great. My husband works there." He turned his head back, giving Jackson a terrified and concerned look. This was fucking crazy. What the hell?
no subject
"It will be okay," Yoongi promised, hoping it wasn't a lie. He didn't like lying, but sometimes he had no choice. He had to do what was best for his boys, even Hobi.
"They're on their way," Jackson assured his partner, still looking on with concern. "What do we do with all these kids?"
They could hardly all ride in the ambulance, right? Although, from the looks of them they all seemed as if they might be malnourished at the very least, even if only one of them was feverish. "I guess we take them all to the hospital?"
Yoongi was thinking, pulling Jimin close. "I'm not leaving Jiminie."
no subject
Namjoon focused on the receptive boy, placing a soft hand on his back and trying to be encouraging. "TaeTae, you wanna ride in a real police car? I'll even make the siren flash just for you. We'll drive you and your brothers to the hospital while the ambulance takes Jiminie."
Reaching out tentatively, now that Jimin had stopped making little whimpers, he checked the boys pulse. Fuck. It was slowing. "You can stay with him but you also need a check up."
Jungkook came over and stood beside Yoongi, also clinging on and watching Jimin. He wanted to stay with Yoongi, even if Jimin was sick. He could come too!
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)