Chapter Text
Tight.
Hoseok's binder was tight, compressing his chest and cutting into his ribs a bit. It wasn't like he hadn't felt that sensation before - he has - but he wasn't used to it since his binder wasn't new, rather a few years old. However, now he was wearing the new one, the one his parents gifted him when he moved out (when they kicked him out), and he was willing to put his comfort aside for a flatter chest, especially since he was currently standing in front of one of his new roommates for whoever knows how long.
The older and (and certainly taller) man introduced himself as Seokjin, telling Hoseok he could just call him Jin, and hyung of course. His hair was black, swept back in a clean and stylish way, and he wore a white dress shirt and black tie, the shirt definitely fitting him in all the right places, from his broad shoulders to small waist. His lips were full and pulled into a smile that showed off straight pearly white teeth. Jin was the only one home, since most of the roommates were still in high school, the youngest being 17, so he kindly showed Hoseok around. While Jin told him about the sleeping arrangements as they walked around the house, Hoseok kept quiet and observed, trying to remember everything the elder said.
"... And this, is our rule board." Jin led him near the front door, pointing at the chalkboard on the wall near the shoe rack (which held an enormous amount of all kinds of shoes). "There's not many rules, in fact there's only one." Jin brushed a bit of hair out of his face and Hoseok looked at the chalkboard. In bright red capital letters was something that made Hoseok's hands sweat and his throat dry a bit.
"NO GIRLS ALLOWED!"
"I know it sounds childish, but that's the only request from grandfather... Well that and paying rent on time, but I'm sure you knew that." Jin rubbed the back of his neck as he looked around, thinking about if he missed anything. "I think that's it, but if you have any questions, just ask me, I'll be in the kitchen making dinner." Jin smiled as he gave Hoseok a pat on the shoulder, and began to walk away before he paused and turned around. "Oh, are you allergic to anything?" Hoseok shook his head and Jin nodded. "Good."
Hoseok watched Jin wall away, his dress shirt tucked into black trousers, a pair of pink wacky socks on. Hoseok smiled at his elder’s sock choice, before he looked back at the chalkboard, his smile falling a bit.
“NO GIRLS ALLOWED!". He didn't know why that was so... Harrowing. Hoseok was a boy, a male, not a girl, well not legally but hopefully that would be fixed soon. The no girls rule wouldn’t be a problem for him surely since he was a boy, and didn’t plan on dating any girls since he was rather leaning towards guys. At the moment, Hoseok was worried to date a girl or guy, worrying because he was afraid he would be found out.
The ache in his arm reminded him he was still carrying his luggage, and he turned away from the chalkboard, heading to his new room. If Hoseok remembered correctly, Jin said Hoseok was sharing a room with someone, and their room was the first on the right. For a split second, Hoseok wondered if he could just hope back on a train and go back to his parents' house, with his sister and his dog, but he knew he couldn't. Not only did he not have the money, but his parents made it pretty clear they didn't want him living there, even if they tried to hide it behind smiles and enthusiasm about him moving out and being an adult.
There's certainly no going back now, Hoseok thought, and twisted the door handle, opening up and getting hit with what smelt like cotton candy. The room was a light blue with one bed in one corner, the other in the opposite corner, two desks facing each other, a lit candle on the desk Hoseok knew was his roommates. That would explain the cotton candy smell. Hoseok put his bag and luggage on the empty bed, and sat down for a moment. The binder was really making him almost breathless, and he took a deep breath, the tight fabric really compressing his chest. He took this time to take in his roommate's side of the room while he waited for the sensation of his lungs being squeezed to go away.
It wasn't messy, but it wasn't exactly clean either. The bed wasn't made, pillows and blankets thrown everywhere on it, a few hoodies bunched up on it like they were just taken off and thrown there. Though there was a teddy bear neatly placed against the headboard, looking worn out, as if it had been ran over multiple times and tumbled down a cliff. But Hoseok wasn't one to judge someone for a teddy bear, after all he had slept with a little blanket up until he was 15.
There weren't any posters hung up, like Hoseok expected a teenage boy to have, but he did have some pictures on the little shelf that held a few books, one of the few books being The Little Prince, a children's book, but once again Hoseok wasn't a judgemental person. From the pictures, it seemed like the boy really loved his family, for there were a few more pictures on the boy's desk.
His desk was more messy than his bed, papers and notebooks all over, the only clean spot was where the laptop was, covered in brand stickers. Hoseok then noticed a little drawing of a yellow balloon, and smiled to himself; his roommate seemed to be innocent and nice from his family pictures, teddy bear, and yellow balloon drawing.
After looking over everything, Hoseok figured he should finally start to unpack himself before his roommate and the others came home, so pulling a bit on his binder and readjusting his shirt, Hoseok got started, going for his clothes first.
~~~
After putting his clothes away, throwing a few blankets onto his bed, and putting his laptop on his desk and backpack near his desk, Hoseok had changed into some loose track pants and a hoodie from his old school's soccer team, and joined Jin in the kitchen, where he offered to cook and Jin turned down his offer. Jin had told him it was his job as the oldest to take care of his little dongsaengs, so Hoseok kept him company, sitting at the little island they had in their kitchen with his chin in his palm, mentally taking note of how masculine Jin looked even with a pink cute apron on. Hoseok wished he could look that masculine, he then wondered if he looked masculine enough in the black track pants and grey hoodie.
"You know it's okay to talk, right? I haven't heard you utter a single word since you've gotten here." Jin stirred whatever he was making in a big pot, and while it smelled delicious and Hoseok's stomach was begging him to eat something since he hadn't eaten lunch, his brain was beginning to freak out.
Hoseok hadn't spoke, Jin was right. But he hadn't said anything because his voice wasn't exactly as low as it should be, not as a 19 year old boy. Hoseok had just recently started testosterone, not even through a full month yet, so his voice hadn't dropped yet, as much as Hoseok wanted it to. He wasn't trying to out himself, he didn't want to have everyone know that he was a transgender male for fear of being ridiculed and kicked out. But he knew he would have to talk eventually, so doing his best, Hoseok tried to lower his voice and spoke a few words.
"Sorry about that, hyung." Hoseok cringed at how high his voice still sounded even when he tried to lower it. It sounded fake, like he was little kid trying to sound like a grown man.
"That's okay, you don't have to talk if you don't want to, I understand some people aren't much for talk." Jin shrugged and turned around to face Hoseok, a few strands of his black hair sticking to his face a bit from slaving away in the kitchen for the last hour. The problem was Hoseok was a big talker, he loved talking to people. "Your voice is high, by the way. I'm surprised, you seem like your voice would be way lower." Jin said and Hoseok could feel his cheek begin to redden; please don’t be suspicious, Hoseok internally begged.
"Oh uh well I-I-" Jin cut him off with a laugh and ruffled his hair before going back to his cooking.
"It's adorable, you're so cute." Hoseok felt a wave of relief wash through his body, glad Jin wasn't suspicious about his voice.
Just when Hoseok was beginning to feel off edge, the door opened and Hoseok heard multiple voices echo through the house. Jin turned around, wiping his hands on his apron, glancing at the clock.
"Oh, the high school boys are home." Hoseok gulped as footsteps came closer.
"Jin hyung! It's your favourite maknae! Give me all the food I'm a growing boy!"
"Jin hyung don't give him all the food I'm a growing boy too!"
"Shut up Jimin you're not growing anymore you midget."
"Jungkook Jimin is gonna slam you on the floor."
"Not with his midget arms attached to his midget body!"
"God why do I put up with these children?"
The footsteps grew closer until they stopped in the opening of the kitchen, four boys stopping, not noticing Hoseok yet. A blonde boy had another boy in a headlock, the light brown haired boy biting his arm with a pair of bunny teeth, while a boy with bright red hair laughed and held onto the arm of the last boy, a boy with purple hair and dimples showing as he couldn't help but smile at the two boys fighting. But they stopped as Jin cleared his throat, and gestured to Hoseok, who looked like a deer in headlights.
"Woah, who's the new guy?"