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Yoongi decides he hates the whole architecture of this building. It’s too old, too traditional, too cooped up. It takes out the life of the people who work here, draining them until they have no energy to live. He looks at the white ceilings, the white walls, glaring and empty.
He suddenly wonders how something so beautiful can come out of this place.
"You actually think the Min Group can compete with the Kim Group?"
Yoongi’s attention is pulled back to what is undeniably the most boring conversation in the entire planet. "Not compete, Chairman Kim," Yoongi says, a little tiredly. "We're here for a reason."
His father, currently sitting beside him, scoffs with his entire shoulders and rests his arms on the rests of the couch he’s sitting on, like he’s the one who owns the building. Not yet, at least. "You hide behind your family, Mr. Kim. You and your brothers. The world is changing, and sooner or later your heirs are gonna rip each others' throats trying to take power. Selling your shares to me is a better investment, don't you think?"
Yoongi ducks his head a little to hide his smile, extremely proud of his father’s words. He hears a derisive chuckle from the other side of the room.
"The problem with you, Mr. Min, is you think we're here because we're simply an old chaebol family. There's a reason why we're one of the three old chaebols left in Korea, we’ve taken over the others. You're feisty, but I believe you’re not feisty enough to convince me."
The tall young man beside Chairman Kim clears his throat and leans forward to whisper to his father's ear.
"Are we really going to spend two more hours in this meeting, Chairman?" he asks. There’s a flicker in his eyes as he meets Yoongi’s. Yoongi crosses his legs and looks across the table. His eyes flick on the belt Seokjin is wearing. It looks familiar.
Yoongi smirks from his seat. "Bored already, Seokjin-ssi?"
Seokjin crosses his arms and arches an eyebrow. “No, we just don’t have the time for shenanigans like this, Yoongi-ssi. If you want a merger, we need to know how Min Group can make sure the Kim Group’s legacy stands the test of time.”
Their fathers stare at them, observing their sons, measuring them up, assessing their skills for business, a test of to see how they will handle their businesses. They both look ridiculous, thinking they're able to control their sons well. Yoongi shifts and leans forward to turn to Seokjin’s father. “Mr. Kim, if you still don’t know the current impact of Min Group, then you haven’t been reading the news. A merger before your brothers decide to do it with other companies will have nothing but benefits for you and your future heirs.”
The words leave the old man Kim quiet in his seat, and Yoongi knows he’s thinking deeply. Seokjin looks at him, gaze piercing and intense, he turns to wait for his father to talk. Yoongi’s father, however, clears his throat.
"Might as well leave, Yoongi. We're getting nowhere at the moment. Let Chairman Kim think about this."
The old man stands up and Yoongi shoots a knowing glare towards Seokjin’s direction. Yoongi follows his father down the hallway, his and his father’s secretaries following them closely behind.
“I don’t know why you insist on this, Yoongi,” his father tells him as soon as they’re outside, not bothering to look back at him. “The company is doing well and good without that cocky old man’s investment.”
“Forgive me, Chairman.”
His father hums in disapproval as they enter the elevator. Yoongi notices how even the elevator music annoys him.
“But you know,” Yoongi continues, “the company was also doing well as a small restaurant before Grandmother got us our first investor. And look where we are now.”
Yoongi notices his father’s shoulder stiffen. The elevator doors open.
“Just make sure what you’re doing isn’t a bad decision,” the old man replies as he walks out, leaving Yoongi behind smiling to himself. He walks out and follows wordlessly.
**********
Seokjin tosses his jacket in the backseat before getting out of his car. He smoothens his hair and pops the top button of his shirt as he walks inside the club. He barely gets inside when he feels someone put an arm around his shoulders.
“Hyung!” Jimin grins and hands him a glass of beer, as if he was expecting Seokjin all along. “How’s work? Are we all good? Still making the money? Remember, I got that trip to the Bahamas in two weeks.”
Seokjin barely acknowledges his cousin, if it weren’t for the beer offered to him. "Where's that asshole?" he asks immediately. Jimin cackles. “In his office, I think.”
Seokjin strides to the direction of the spiral stairs, easily waving the two bouncers away. “How was the meeting earlier?” Jimin asks as he snatches a cocktail from some waiter’s tray passing by. Seokjin scoffs and drinks his beer.
“Why do you ask? You should have been there to help me in the first place.”
They reach the top of the stairs and still Seokjin continues to walk to the end of the hall, where there are ess people. “Ah,” Jimin replies sheepishly, “Well, I was busy! It’s not like I can actually contribute anything, you know. Plus Uncle might get suspicious.”
Seokjin scoffs. “Just keep an eye out for your father, hm? I’m pretty sure he’s halfway through his plans for a takeover. Give your mother a heads up as well.”
Jimin nods. They reach the red door at the far end of the floor and Seokjin shoves his empty beer glass to Jimin.
"You be careful," his cousin warns him, cocking his head subtly towards the handful of people glancing their way, curious eyes too obvious even under the blinking lights. What’s he doing in there?
Seokjin laughs.
"Sure, Chim. Say hi to your motorcycle boy for me? What was his name, Jeongguk?"
Jimin winks at him and finishes his drink. "Already did. Earlier today."
Seokjin rolls his eyes. "You're supposed to be attending your business classes, you petulant child."
Jimin shrugs. "What for? To get a higher position in the company? Please. Namjoon hyung's got all that covered for the three of us."
Seokjin smiles despite his current state, which is end this conversation now and quick.
"We're really lucky to have him."
"Or, he's lucky his cousins aren't really up for the whole battle of company shares," Jimin tells him as he salutes and walks away.
Seokjin laughs, watches his cousin dance his way down the stairs, and eventually turns to open the door wide open.
"Ah, Min Yoongi. Out of all the clubs in Seoul..." he starts, with obvious flair only done for his audience. Yoongi is observing the dance floor through the tinted windows of his office, a drink in one hand and his phone in the other. He doesn’t bother looking at Seokjin until he hears the door click and close. Yoongi scoffs as he finishes his drink. "This club is mine ."
"Ah, but the property that it stands on..."
Yoongi finally cranes his neck and sees Seokjin leaning against the door, head tilted, eyebrow arched, as if challenging him. Seokjin smirks as Yoongi steps up closer to him. Closer, and Seokjin doesn't move, not even a little bit, because he will not do that for Min Yoongi, the cocky heir of Min Group. He wasn't raised like that.
"Hmm. I like this belt of yours, Seokjin-ssi." Yoongi says as he hooks a finger on one of Seokjin's belt loops.
But in the dim red light of the room he can see the devilish glint in Yoongi’s eyes, his silver hair almost sparkling like the moon. And like the tides, it's instinct for Seokjin to come nearer to him.
Seokjin hooks one of his own fingers on Yoongi's chin, urging him to look up at him. He smiles and shakes his head, as if he doesn't know Yoongi's fully aware that the belt is his, that he left it in Seokjin's apartment earlier that morning, in a rush to go to the meeting where they will be seeing each other again.
He tilts his head and bends down to catch Yoongi’s lips in his.
Throughout the years Yoongi tasted different to Seokjin. He tasted like beer during high school: bitter but new and different. And it was surprising, how good he tasted, how fast he got addicted to Yoongi, because Seokjin was taught only to follow his father’s rules, which included nothing more than dedicating his life to the family business. Seokjin and Yoongi were young and exploring when they found each other, and they ended up being each other’s only vice, a way to rebel against their fathers’ expectations.
Years later Yoongi tasted like coffee in college - keeping Seokjin awake and alive while lying down on his lap in his dorm room, his source of strength at night when they're both studying, as Seokjin pushed through with his master's while Yoongi juggled his business courses and the gigs his father will never know about.
The rivalry of their companies still becomes a heated discussion sometimes. They both can't help it, they both have been programmed by their fathers from their birth to want to succeed, to feel the need to please them. And though they think they've broken away from that, it still pulls them in sometimes and then that's when Yoongi tastes like vodka: good in small amounts, dangerous after the fourth shot. But Seokjin can’t help it, he always ends up needing more of it, always more of Yoongi. He wakes up with a horrible hangover but he regrets none of it when he turns and sees Yoongi asleep by his side, still there, still holding his hands in the end.
And together they've pushed through it, and then there are days when they could escape from everything, and in those moments Yoongi tastes like a hot chocolate cocktail, served late in the evening as they spend some time together in Seokjin's mother's family cabin somewhere in Japan.
They're not that young anymore, and they've shifted to a life of less drinks, more talk, more sleeping in each other’s arms contentedly. But still, these days, Yoongi tastes like wine to Seokjin. He's the glass of wine after a long day, just the right amount of sweet and bitter swirling in his mouth. Relaxing, soothing, just right. More talk about their future, though it seems a little bleak right now, a little sad, but it's not like they didn't know right from the start.
But less talk right now, as Seokjin pulls Yoongi in, one hand on his cheek, the other at the small of his back, and just kissing him hard and hungry. He can taste something sweet in him, probably a Manhattan. Yoongi smirks and tugs him lower, and Seokjin's response is to push them forward until the back of Yoongi's legs hit the couch and he falls with a light thud, bringing Seokjin down with him.
"Well someone missed me." Yoongi pulls away and traces the outline of his lips with his thumb. Seokjin lifts his legs up on the couch, sits on Yoongi's lap, and smiles as he loosens his necktie.
"Shut up, I still haven't forgiven you for saying I was bored at the meeting earlier."
"But were you not bored, hyung?" Yoongi busies himself with the top buttons of Seokjin's shirt, smug when he's able to remove three in a single move. Seokjin sighs as Yoongi starts mouthing on his neck, resting his hand on Yoongi's waist. Yoongi rubs his sides, as if to comfort him.
Seokjin takes Yoongi's left hand, reveling at its shape and size and strength. "I was ," Seokjin whispers as he kisses the inside of Yoongi's wrist, "but you didn't have to say it out loud. You could have texted me," he pouts but places another kiss on Yoongi's arm, and then another, and yet another. He leans his head on Yoongi's shoulders and smiles softly at the ring in his forefinger.
"But you were the one who said we shouldn't text when we're at negotiations."
Seokjin suddenly remembers, and he pouts as he pulls away to look Yoongi in the eye. "But still. I got half an earful from Father."
The corners of Yoongi's lips tilt downward and he cups Seokjin's face with both hands. "I'm sorry, I won't do it again. That was too mean, I crossed a line. I just wanted both of us out there immediately."
"I know, me too." Seokjin frowns. He's always hated the negotiations, especially during the start when it didn't seem their plans would go anywhere. He follows Yoongi's hands as they trace Seokjin's necklace, until they reach the ring he's fashioned as a pendant. The older smiles and holds Yoongi's hand.
They bought the rings as early as college. They've forgotten the exact date they bought it; all they know is they wanted it the moment they saw the rings being sold off at a small jewelry shop in Spain. They didn't hold any promises, any dates, any words, any symbolic meaning. They're plain silver rings with matching carvings of swirls and tendrils of leaves, and held nothing but the fact that they each owned one, and that is enough for them.
"Do you know my father thinks I'm scared of you or something?" Yoongi tells him, and Seokjin chuckles. “If he only knew.”
Seokjin straightens his back and gapes down at Yoongi.
"I am Kim Seokjin, Kim Group's eldest heir. Our group owns major shares in more than half of the biggest conglomerates in Southeast Asia. I am literally in a position to end your career, your company, and right now," he glances down at their crotches flushed close, "your sex life. Are you not scared of me, Min Yoongi?" he asks, eyes narrowed.
Yoongi cocks an eyebrow. "Should I be?"
"Did you not hear what I just said? Yes, I'm very scary." Seokjin nods menacingly.
Yoongi reaches up to caress his cheek. "But you're too cute."
"How dare you."
Seokjin surges forward and plants his face on Yoongi's shoulder again and bites. Yoongi hisses and flinches. "Fuck, hyung, ow. Why should you be a biter? Be a normal boyfriend and leave hickies, not bite marks."
Seokjin giggles and kisses the part of Yoongi's skin he bit. He moves up his neck and leaves a trail along his sharp jaw until Yoongi gets impatient and catches his lips in a searing kiss, long and messy and eventually turns to something akin to sloppy and almost lazy. After a long day, it's their favorite kind of kiss.
Seokjin sighs as he pulls away. "How long?" he asks. Yoongi smirks.
"You've seen it, you've waxed poetic about how long it is."
Seokjin blushes and hits Yoongi's arm. "Jackass. I was talking about our fathers' negotiations. How long do you think will it last?" he puts his arms around Yoongi's neck and goes in for another kiss.
"I'm not sure. What does your father say?" Yoongi rubs Seokjin's lower back and kisses his jaws.
"I think we definitely made headway in convincing him to sell to you, but he's the oldest out of all his siblings, he's full of pride." Seokjin sighs and drops his head on Yoongi's shoulders. "Maybe when Namjoon finally convinces Uncle Leeho to start a takeover, he'll finally come running to you."
"And are you fine with that?" Yoongi asks.
"With what?"
"Your father's share merging with ours. Namjoon becoming CEO when his and Jimin's and your fathers are gone, maybe even before,” Yoongi murmurs to his skin.
Seokjin puckers his lips and plays with the sleeves of Yoongi's shirt. "We've talked about this Yoongi."
"Just in case you changed your mind."
Seokjin pulls away and looks him in the eyes. "What, and be rivals with you for the rest of my life? It's tiring, love. Besides, you and Namjoon are friends, it will be a healthy relationship. How about you? If you're group chair you'll have less time for your music and other endeavors."
Yoongi parts the stray hair on Seokjin's forehead and moves to cup his cheek. "By other endeavors you mean you."
"I'm not an 'other endeavor,' Min Yoongi, I expect to be in a separate, high-priority category,” Seokjin scoffs. Yoongi smiles. "You've always been, though."
Seokjin bites his lips and tries really hard not to smile, but he looks at Yoongi and he couldn’t help but break out into a childish grin.
"Good," he finally says. Yoongi pulls him in closer, humming and moaning in his mouth, on his skin.
They barely hear the knocking on Yoongi’s door. “Yah, Seokjin hyung, are you there? Still alive?” Jimin’s voice comes from the other side. Seokjin turns and sees Yoongi frowning in confusion. Seokjin tries to kiss it away and smiles. “He told me I’ve been visiting you far too often, he told me should do a little show for your suspecting audience. I decided to indulge my cute baby cousin. I mean, it’s true, anyway.”
Yoongi rolls his eyes. “People should stop meddling with other people’s businesses,” he pouts. Seokjin sighs. “But they do, Yoongi. We can't do anything about that.”
Their eyes meet and Seokjin bends to rest his forehead in Yoongi’s. “Just a little more, Yoongichi,” he whispers. Yoongi nods and wraps his hands around him. “I’ll see you at home, okay?”
"Wow, will you stop fighting, you're fighting in the morning and now even at this time of the night? How long are you gonna be fighting in there?" Jimin yells lazily. There must be other people outside. Yoongi scowls at the door. "He is literally the worst actor. What kind of a script is that?"
Seokjin laughs and pulls away. "Have you seen his new boyfriend? He looks cool and they look cute together. That's some new drama I can't wait to see the outcome of," he says as he buttons his shirt up. “His father’s gonna pop a fucking vein.”
Yoongi ruffles his hair to its usual place. “Motorcycle kid? Yeah, I think they met here actually. Kid’s one of my recent regulars.”
“Really? Gosh, Yoongi, you keep on trying to break the Kim Conglomerate down, do you?”
Yoongi laughs along with him, his gummy smile sending jolts straight to Seokjin’s chest.
" Wow , I sure do hope no one is dead in there or is gossiping about other people's private lives!" Jimin yells from outside.
They both laugh and Seokjin bends down to kiss Yoongi again. This time a little more bittersweet, even though he knows Yoongi will follow him shortly, will be on his bed beside him later.
Seokjin pulls away and Yoongi catches his wrist. Maybe Yoongi can see the worry in his eyes, the nervous fumbling of his fingers from time to time, the way he insists on putting on shows to make sure people are not talking behind them anymore.
"It won't be long, hyung," Yoongi assures him. They've been working on this plan for years, and he's not going to let anyone get in their way of being together, of removing dumb rivalries and dissolving all the hurdles life will throw at them.
"I've seen it. It's long enough," Seokjin winks and scrunches his nose. Yoongi grins and rubs his thumb on Seokjin's hand. The older nods, and it's almost painful when they both let go. Then Seokjin takes a deep breath and starts yelling.
"This won't be the last of it, Min Yoongi!" he yells, loud enough for people outside - who are surely waiting to hear something - to hear.
"You and your old chaebol group will die, hyung!" Yoongi yells back, and if Seokjin had the time he would like to point out how bad he is at acting as Jimin. He reaches for the door, smiling and rolling his eyes, but not before Yoongi stands up and runs for one final kiss.
"Come home soon?" Seokjin whispers. Yoongi nods.
"You know it."