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namseok | 3.4k words | sentinel/guide, pre-dystopia

Hoseok rubs his temples and shuts his eyes, willing the dull throbbing behind them away. He takes a few calming breathes as the dull throbbing flares instead, to the point that it’s almost dizzying. It takes several minutes for the dizziness and pain to fade, and when he opens his eyes he has to do his best not to jump when he finds one of his coworkers peering over at him.

“Hoseok-ssi, are you alright?”

Hoseok forces a smile and nods. “I didn’t sleep well last night, so I have a little bit of a migraine.”

It’s not completely a lie. He didn’t actually sleep well the night before — he hasn’t slept well since he started this job several months ago. It’s starting to take a toll on him and impact his control over hiding his guide instincts.

Jimin is concerned, and insists that Hoseok quits this job, but Hoseok argues that that would flag the watchmen which is the last thing they need right now before they leave the city. So Hoseok will bear with it, and Yoongi’s promised to try to find some stronger painkillers to swipe during one of his own shifts.

“Ah,” Hoseok’s coworker replies, giving him a sympathetic smile. “Well I have some painkillers if you need.”

Hosoek waves his hand. “It’s okay. I’ll be heading home soon anyway.”

Except, hours later, Hoseok finds himself alone, all his coworkers long gone including the one that offered him painkillers. Another dizzying wave ripples over him and this time Hoseok can barely bite back the low groan that leaves him. His vision blurs, and Hoseok can’t read the screen in front of him. Lowering his head he shuts his eyes again, begging to whatever gods to alleviate him of this.

There’s only one way for Hoseok’s symptoms to disappear, one that he’s unsure will ever happen. He doesn’t know if he even wants it to happen.

With a sigh, Hoseok opens his eyes and looks back at his screen, opting to save the work and call it a night. Whatever he didn’t finish can be taken care of tomorrow.

After gathering his things, he stands and pushes his chair in, taking his phone out of his pocket to swipe through his missed messages as he starts to head out. The group chat he shares with Yoongi, Jimin, and Jeongguk is flooded with messages, the latest starting to rise in concern as Hoseok has yet to answer where he is.

He smiles fondly and starts to type out a reply, stopped when he bumps into something firm and his phone flies out of reach.

Almost instantly, his vision blurs again and Hoseok curses internally, gritting his teeth as he tries to mask his symptoms and search for his phone so he can leave.

“H-here.”

The blurry outline of his phone is placed in his line of sight, and Hoseok takes a deep breath before he reaches out to take it. His fingertips graze the other person’s hand, and Hoseok swallows a gasp as sparks travel up his arm. He snatches his hand back, phone secured in his hand and his vision clearing instantly.

The sparks dance across his chest, and Hoseok tries to breathe through the sensation as he slowly looks up the person who handed him his phone.