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Hoseok’s black boots scrunch against the gravel as he makes his way through the dark street. The night is cold, the wind biting, but there’s an edge of excitement thrumming just underneath his skin, anticipation curling hot around his stomach so that he barely even feels the cold anymore.
There’s already quite a crowd hanging around the empty storage building, more so than other nights. People - the bad kind of people, the type that makes you cross to the other side of the street at night and walk just that little bit faster, Hoseok’s kind of people - are all huddled near the entrance, pushing their way around and trying to get closer to the street, closer to the fun.
They part easily for Hoseok though. One look at his orange hair and the keys dangling from his fingers has them making way for him, leaving the path clear for him to saunter into the abandoned factory they have claimed as theirs.
Inside the building there’s less of a crowd. The mood is quieter for it, though no less expectant. It’s been awhile since the last race after all, what with the cops catching them in their last raid and shutting down their usual spot, so energy is running high, adrenaline already turning heads dizzy.
Hoseok can’t help but smile, razor sharp and just the slightest bit dangerous. He likes it better this way, with the crowd itching for a good race and the drivers all strung up with pent up energy. It always makes the racers more daring, reckless enough to let loose and leave it all on the streets. It’s always amusing, watching them succumb to the roar of the engines, high on the thrill. Hoseok grins, twirling his keys around his ring fingers. At least, he thinks, until he puts them back in their place, biting the dust he leaves behind.
Hoseok makes his way to the far end of the building, back where his baby is stashed. There's a few other drivers standing around, sizing the competition up, but none of them dare step too close to Hoseok’s space.
It's an unspoken rule here, no one is allowed to touch Hoseok’s things. He's made that plenty clear over the years. Those who have been racing long enough are aware of it and are wise enough to keep away. Those who aren’t - well, there really aren’t idiots like that around anymore, at least not since Hoseok cracked a guy’s jaw after the fucker tried to mess with his baby before a race. No one’s tried to pull the same shit again after that.
As usual, Namjoon is already hovering in the back of the building, hands darkened black with grease and elbow deep into the guts of Hoseok’s orange corvette.
“How’s it going Joon-ah?” Hoseok asks as he comes to stand beside the younger man, smirking when he sees the exasperated look Namjoon sends his way.
“Much better now that I fixed the alternator that you killed,” he grunts out, throwing the piece of cloth he just used to wipe his hands at Hoseok’s head. Hoseok flicks it away with a careless wave, smirk curving into a grin.
“You should be nicer to me, Joonie,” he teases, can’t really resist the urge when Namjoon is just so easy to rile up. “I’m the one paying you after all.”
“As if you could call the scraps you give me payment.” Namjoon snorts. “You know that Jackson’s been begging me to go work for him, offering more too.” He jabs a finger in Hoseok’s direction. “You are the one that should be careful.”
“Oh, I’m sure he’s offering more,” Hoseok leers, wiggling his eyebrows at Namjoon. The younger man groans in response and waves a wench at him in a mockery of a threat. “Just not in cash, I’m sure.”
“Why do I put up with you again?” Namjoon asks, though the smile playing at the corners of his lips betrays whatever irritation he may have wanted to show. He knows, just as Hoseok does, that he could never go work for another driver, just like Hoseok would never think of hiring another mechanic. They’ve known each other too long for that, relied on the other too much for it to be anything but instinctual by now. That’s why, Hoseok thinks wryly, no matter how much Jackson begs, Namjoon is not going anywhere, whipped as he may be for the blonde foreigner.
“Hey, Hoseok!”
Hoseok turns around at the sound of his name, lifting a hand in greeting when he sees Jaebum waving at him from where he’s perched by his own car, a gorgeous black mustang that still has nothing on Hoseok’s own ride.
“You racing today?” the older man calls out, grin sharp in a way that speaks of anticipation. They’ve both been in the tracks for a long time now, long enough to recognize a good racer when they see one, so they’ve stuck to racing each other whenever they’re looking for a thrill. And really, Hoseok would like nothing better than to race against Jaebum. The other man is ruthless on the street and Hoseok’s been itching for a good race for weeks now, looking for a way to let out some frustration. Still.
“Not sure yet,” he answers, waving a dismissive hand when Jaebum’s expression falters. “I’ll let you know before the last checks.”
“You better don’t back out, Jung,” Jaebum calls over his shoulder before he shrugs on his signature leather jacket and climbs on his mustang, backing out into the open street where the crowd is getting impatient.
“You’re not racing?” Namjoon asks as soon as Hoseok’s turned his attention back to him. He’s confused, he can tell. Hoseok never backs out of a race, no matter where he’s driving or who he’s driving against. It’s gained him a bit of a reputation over the years, more of a bad one than a good one admittedly. Not that Hoseok cares much.
New racers are always coming up to him, all cocky and full of faux-confidence, trying to prove themselves against a tried racer, thinking they actually have a chance of winning. Hoseok can't deny that he enjoys putting them back in their place. Loves watching their faces dawn in horror through his rearview mirror when he leaves them behind as he races through the tracks. Or, if they’re annoying enough, when he drives their pimped-up trash cars out of the street and straight into a wall.
So yeah, the only reason for Hoseok to step out would have to be a problem with his car and Namjoon, out of everyone here, has to know it’s not that.
“I’m waiting,” Hoseok answers, smirking at the way Namjoon frowns at him.
“Fine, you cryptic fucker,” Namjoon grouches, standing up from where he had been kneeling next to the wheels and grabbing his utility box from the floor. “Keep your secrets. I’m gonna go check on Jackson. You owe me five hundred for the alternator, by the way.”
“Be sure to use protection, Joon-ah,” he calls out after the other, crackling at the way Namjoon flushes when the focus of the other racers and their mechanics shitfs to him. Namjoon turns around one last time to flip him off, scowling all the way. Hoseok waves cheerily back at him.
He leans against his corvette, watching as the other racers slowly start to make their way into the street as well. A few minutes later and Hoseok’s the only one still hovering inside the factory. He can hear the roar of the engines roaring out on the street, getting ready for the race, but he stays where he is, waiting.
Just when he’s about to give up, the prospect of a good race winning over his disappointment, (barely, just barely) there’s a sudden scuffle from the entrance of the factory. Hoseok’s head snaps up at the sound, instantly recognizing the slightly desperate tone of voice. He turns towards the entrance, something he refuses to call anticipation settling low on his spine. And there, as expected, is Jungkook, struggling against the mass of bricks that is Hyungsik to try and get into the building.
“Hyungsik,” Hoseok calls out, waving a hand at the other racer. “Let him trough.”
Jungkook’s expression floods with relief the moment he spots Hoseok, still leaning against this corvette, moth quirking up into that same grin that got Hoseok’s attention in the first place.
“I don’t know what you’re playing at, Jung,” the other racer grunts out, right hand going to grab the scruff of Jungkook’s shirt, grip tight. Jungkook scowls. “This runt doesn’t belong here.”
“I said let him through,” Hoseok replies, still smiling, always smiling, but there’s a threat in there too, barely hidden by the pleasant tone of his voice.
Hyungsik hesitates, huffs and flushes in defeat, but ultimately let’s Jungkook go. As soon as his grip on the boy’s shirt loosens Jungkook is hurrying away and over to Hoseok, sending the other racer a glare over his shoulder before turning to him, grinning from ear to ear.
“You’re late,” is all Hoseok says. As much as Hoseok may spoil the kid, he’s still annoyed. This is a one hell of an opportunity he’s offering Jungkook here, but he doesn’t seem to be taking it seriously enough.
“I know, hyung. I’m sorry,” Jungkook says, pouts even and Hoseok feels himself giving in, even if he knows that Jungkook is unrepentant. Hoseok rubs a hand over his face. Honestly, at this point he wonders why he even puts up a fight in the first place.
“You’ll still let me do it though, won’t you?” Jungkook asks, wringing his hands in anticipation and looking over Hoseok’s shoulders at the corvette parked behind him, eyes glinting in a way Hoseok knows his own mirror.
“I shouldn’t,” he says, and watches, amused, as Jungkook deflates. “But then again, I’m not exactly as stickler for the rules, am I?”
“Yes! Thank you, hyung. You're the best.” Jungkook grins, grabbing Hoseok’s keys from his hands without further thought and climbing into the car before Hoseok can even react.
“Not that fast, Jungkook,” Hoseok laughs, can’t really stop the sound from bubbling out at the sight of Jungkook, so eager and impatient. He opens the passenger seat, sliding in next to the younger and quirking an eyebrow at him when he sees the thrown look on his face. “What,” Hoseok smirks, “you really thought I would let ride my car alone in your first race?”
“It’s not my first race though,” Jungkook mumbles, turning on the ignition and letting his hands slide over the steering wheel in slow, almost reverent motions.
“Whatever chicken games you used to play before are nothing,” Hoseok answers, serious for once. Jungkook needs to get that through his head, otherwise he’s going to get eaten alive. “This is a real race, with drivers who won’t stop just because you’re new. This is dangerous,” he adds, locking eyes with Jungkook. “Could get you hurt.”
“I know,” Jungkook says, but he’s still grinning, anticipation clear in the white-knuckled grip he has on the wheel, the determined furrow of his brows. Hoseok sighs, but he can’t the deny the curl of satisfaction that settles around his stomach. Hoseok knows, just like he knew the moment he saw Jungkook trying to gain in on him with his beat up jeep that night months ago, that the kid has what he needs the hold his own in a real street race. Hoseok smiles.
“Go on then.” He nods his head towards the front entrance, where the metal doors are thrown wide open, gaping into the dark street.
“Right,” Jungkook mumbles before he presses down on the pedal. The car rumbles pleasantly and Hoseok thinks he hears Jungkook sigh in contentment before he leads them out into the street. Jungkook goes to stand in line with the rest of the cars, revving up until the corvette stands nose to nose with the other racer’s cars.
There’s a sudden knock on the window and Jungkook startles for a second before Hoseok tilts his head and motions for him to lower the window down.
“What’s this?” Jongin says from the other side of the door, eyeing Jungkook with curiosity before shooting Hoseok a look. “You’re having a kid race for you now, Hoseok?”
“We’ll see how well he does today,” Hoseok says back, grinning at the blonde man. Jongin shrugs, unconcerned. He’s been acting as a sort of mediator for about a year and he’s learned to trust Hoseok’s word by now, so he just pats the side of the door once and nods.
“Well then, the race is up to the bridge by the bypass, the one still in construction. Five racers and no backing out.” Jongin leans further into the the car, grinning from ear to ear. “As always, if I catch any sort of foul play, you guys are out,” he says, winks and then leaves.
“No foul play? Really?” Jungkook asks, turning to Hoseok, disbelief on his face. Hoseok just grins at him and lets himself relax back against the leather seat.
“No foul play they can catch,” he says and laughs at the way Jungkook’s eyes widen. “You should listen more carefully. Now eyes up front, we’re about to start.”
Jungkook swallows, hands tightening on the wheel as Jongin makes his way to the middle of the street, sauntering forward until he's standing in between the five race cars. The blonde lifts his arms up and the rumble of the engines fills the night, the crowd’s whistles and cheers ringing loud and echoing across the dark street.
“Relax, baby,” Hoseok breathes, the nickname rolling easily off his tongue. Jungkook startles, jumping slightly in his seat. He looks at Hoseok wide-eyed, jaw going the tiniest bit slack, head tilting to one side rapidly in a gesture Hoseok has learned means that the younger is unsure.
Jungkook open his mouth to answer, but before he can Jongin brings his arms down in a quick movement and the race starts. The other four cars dart forward, rushing down the street.
Jungkook hits the gas the moment he notices the other cars moving. The corvette lurches forward, making Hoseok slide across his seat. They hurtle rapidly down the dark street in hot pursuit of the others racers, chasing after the drivers who are all ahead of them.
Jungkook grunts, revving up until he's gaining on the first two drivers, Baekhyun and Jackson if Hoseok sees right. He darts past them, expertly slipping in between the two drivers and then pulling forward before they can react.
Hoseok laughs, beyond delighted, because he was right. Jungkook is a street racer on the making if there ever was one, quick and smart and all Hoseok’s. He was the one who had found Jungkook after all, the only one who had been smart enough to catch the hidden drive in the younger boy, and that means Jungkook is his to train, his to mold into a real racer, one that can be as ruthless as Hoseok himself is.
“C’mon, baby,” Hoseok urges, turning around on his seat so that he's facing the younger. He leans in closer, slipping a hand over Jungkook’s thigh and tilting his head up so that he can whisper in his ear. “C’mon now. Two down, two to go.”
“Hyung, I-” Jungkook breathes and Hoseok relishes on the fact that he sounds just that little bit strained. He goes to turn around but Hoseok tightens his grip on his thigh before he can.
“Eyes on the prize, Jungkookie,” he says, chuckling against Jungkook’s skin. “You gotta win the race first.”
Jungkook let's out a frustrated huff of breath and then presses down on the pedal. Hard. The engine rumbles, a deep, raw, sound that Hoseok takes pleasure in. They shoot forward, racing down the street until they’re nose to nose with the red Lexus Hoseok recognises as Jiho’s.
Jungkook breathes in, breathes out, and then he swerves sharply to the right, speeding past Jiho in one smooth movement that leaves no room for the other racer to react.
“Good job, baby,” Hoseok says, lips ghosting over Jungkook’s neck with every word. He sees Jungkook’s hands tighten on the wheel for a beat before he relaxes, lips curving up into a grin and sinking into the leather seat, finally letting himself loosen enough to really enjoy the thrill of the race. He even tilts his head to the side, baring more of his neck to Hoseok.
“One more to go,” Jungkook whispers, voice full of anticipation, full of promise, making Hoseok grin.
Jungkook switches tactics then. Jaebum is few meters ahead of them but there's still a few miles left of the race, so Jungkook speeds up until he's just behind the black mustang, trailing after him but never once passing him by.
Hoseok sits up straighter. This is not something he would usually do himself. He usually prefers sheer speed over clever moves but he can see the intent behind this and he can't help but smirk at the thought. Jungkook is really something else.
And it works, because just before Jaebum is about to reach the bridge, Jungkook’s foot comes down on the gas pedal and the corvette gains on the other car with almost imposible speed. Hoseok laughs, can't really help it when he sees Jaebum’s surprised expression as they shoot past him.
Jungkook laughs with him, racing all the way across the bridge, whooping in delight when he realizes it means he has just won the race.
Grinning, he turns towards Hoseok, smile brighter than the headlights coming in behind them. He’s panting a little, breath coming in quick and sharp, adrenaline still running thick through veins.
“I won,” Jungkook says, proud, almost smug. Hoseok doesn’t begrudge him, he has no reason to. It's not everyday that an average rookie racer manages to beat four tried drivers, after all. Then again, Hoseok thinks, average is not something he would ever think to call Jungkook.
“You did,” Hoseok says back, curling a hand behind Jungkook’s nape and bringing him in closer so that he can rest his forehead against his.
“Does this mean you'll finally let me take you for a ride now?” Jungkook asks, cheeky despite himself.
Hoseok chuckles, leans in closer until he's breathing the same air as him.
“Is that what you want as your reward for winning?” Hoseok asks, playing along and smiling all the way. “Am I your prize then?”
Jungkook nods once, sharp and sure, and then closes the distance between them with no hesitation, kissing Hoseok with the same urgency he had when he was racing.
Hoseok groans into the kiss, can’t really stop himself when Jungkook slips his tongue into his mouth and bites down on his bottom lip. Jungkooks tugs at him, hands slipping down to his waist and drawing him forward until Hoseok slips into the younger’s lap.
“Hyung,” Jungkook breathes as he slips his fingers under Hoseok’s black shirt, mapping the skin he finds there. Hoseok swallows back a moan and leans down to kiss a trail from Jungkook’s neck up to his jaw instead.
“C’mon, baby,” Hoseok mumbles, biting down and sucking a mark on Jungkook’s skin, grinding his hips down and dragging a loud groan from the younger. He’s just about to reach down to tug at Jungkook’s shirt, wanting it off now, when there’s a sudden tap on the window, making them both freeze.
“You guys,” comes Namjoon’s voice from behind the window. “Could you maybe go celebrate somewhere else? I don't wanna have to clean your mess when I fix the car.”
Hoseok groans in frustration, letting his head fall against Jungkook’s chest, who whimpers pathetically at the loss.
“Fuck off, Joon,” Hoseok hisses at the mechanic, but all Namjoon does is glare at him.
“Out. Now,” Namjoon grunts out, throwing Hoseok a scathing look and then glancing back at Jungkook, who’s blushing so hard it’s noticeable even in the darkness of the street. “You too, lover boy.”
Hoseok sighs but gets off Jungkook’s lap either way. The last time he pissed Namjoon off he had had to deal with squeaky brakes for a month before the mechanic found it in himself to forgive Hoseok for whatever stupid shit he had pulled that time.
“C’mon, Jungkookie.” Hoseok tugs at Jungkook, climbing out of the car and gesturing for the younger to do the same. Jungkook complies easily enough, scrambling out of the driver's seat and avoiding Namjoon’s knowing gaze with all his might.
“Don’t worry,” Hoseok says, chuckling when he sees Jungkook’s dejected expression. “There’ll be another time.”
Jungkook’s head snaps up at that, looking at Hoseok with wide brown eyes, mouth parted in surprise just enough for Hoseok to see his slightly larger front teeth.
“You really mean that?” he asks. Hoseok rolls his eyes, slipping an arm around Jungkook’s waist and pulling him closer to his side.
“Of course,” he answers, smile softening the slightest bit. “I still have to make a racer out of you, after all.”
Jungkook scoffs, pushing at Hoseok’s shoulder. “I’m already a racer, hyung,” he grouches, but he’s smiling too, like he can’t help himself. “You’re just pissed cause you couldn't race.”
Hoseok hums. Honestly, he’d take watching Jungkook drive over a race any day. There’s something about the way Jungkook looks when all he can think about is winning, when his whole focus is on the road ahead of him, when he grins that grin of his as he races past other drivers. It’s a thrill greater than any Hoseok could get out of a race.
He’s not about to tell Jungkook that though. The younger is already cocky enough as it is, so all Hoseok does is smile and cling tighter to him as they make their way back to the abandoned building, all the while feeling like he’s the real winner of the night.