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The car is quiet, has been since the last resting stop. Namjoon can hear the soft snores that one of the others is letting out, can hear the faint sound of the radio, a slow melody, in the background. They had been driving for five hours now, the ocean coming into view a half hour ago, and now timidly following their every steep as they near the small beach town where Taehyung’s parents have their summer house.
He turns his face to Seokjin, who is concentrated on the road ahead. His profile is as stunning as ever, the warm light from the setting sun washing his features in yellows and oranges. He’s wearing a tank top that looks a lot like one Hoseok had reported missing back when they had started packing their things. His skin is slightly bronzed, despite summer having barely just started. Namjoon had always envied that, how easily it was for the older to get tan, while for Namjoon was nothing but a painful experience. He wasn’t pale, none of them were, but his skin burned far too easily under the sun, leaving red marks and silhouettes all over his body. Jimin often made fun of how he shredded like a snake during summer, but Namjoon would just ignore him, claiming that he was too tall to hear what Jimin was saying. Something twists in his stomach as he still looks at Seokjin, at the shadows that his long lashes cast on his cheekbones, at the straight slope of his nose, at the plumpness of his lips. There’s a feeling he can’t describe properly trying to take over him. It feels like he is doing something he shouldn’t, as if staring at your friend while resting your head in your hand was nothing further from a sin, something Namjoon should be punished for doing. He pushes those thoughts away in favor of savoring the way the elder’s face contracts in concentration.
Seokjin must feel Namjoon staring, because he turns and gives him a tiny grin, before moving back to the impressive road full of curves and the smell of salt water. The air feels good against his skin, not too warm, not too cold. Just enough for him not to die of suffocation despite being in the van for far too long. He looks out at the endless sea that stares right back at him, so blue and bright its almost blinding. He turns around to peek at how the others are doing. His eyes immediately find Taehyung, who is sitting behind Seokjin, with his head resting against the window and his eyes closed, breath slow and steady. Jimin is sitting right next to him, cap pulled down over his eyes, whole body slightly sunken down. He can’t see Jungkook, directly, only through the rear mirror, their eyes meet and the younger gives him a tiny smile, before returning to look at the scenery that surrounded them. He tries to look further back, where Hoseok and Yoongi are sitting. They had been whining about how uncomfortable sitting there was, how they didn’t have any space to properly sit and how it was too hot to be that close. Looking at them now, Namjoon can’t help but think that they don’t look like they mind the closeness. Hoseok is sleeping on Yoongi’s shoulder, who has his arm around him, hand absentmindedly tracing patterns on the bare skin of Hoseok's back (he had taken his shirt off two hours in).
Namjoon often feels incredibly grateful for those around him, these guys who he gets to call his closest friends.
The sun is warm against his skin as he closes his eyes, the sea breeze invading his nostrils, nothing but summer on the air. He sighs, content.
--
Seokjin shakes him awake some time later. They had reached the house, which looks beautiful against the sunset. Everyone is slowly stirring awake, cracking their bones and trying to make blood circulate their limbs again, sore from so many hours of sitting.
“Slept well?” whispers Seokjin, his hand is resting on Namjoon’s bare shoulder, the thin straps of his tank top covering almost nothing, moving in circular motions. He smiles at him before nodding and stretching his limbs. He feels good, relaxed, his brief slumber making everything that much blurry and pleasant. Seokjin smiles back at him before unblocking his belt and stepping out of the car, door closing after him with a soft thud. He opens his own door, unlocking the seatbelt, and stretches fully, arms directed towards the sky and back arched in a way it normally would be painful, but feels oddly good as it lets his back get the blood it deserves.
Another door opens behind him, Jungkook appearing right by him. He looks dazed, out of it, and Namjoon can’t help but ruffle his hair and him pull closer, his arm around the younger’s shoulder’s. Jungkook lets himself be handled, probably too tired to even reprimand Namjoon for the skin ship. He looks at the house with huge eyes and a tired face.
“It looks nice”
“It really does” Namjoon’s voice is slightly too husky, sleep changing it and molding it. They stare for a little while before Taehyung is patting their backs and signaling for them to help carry all of their luggage into the house. They move to the back of the trunk, and Namjoon can’t help but smile when he briefly sees Yoongi kissing Hoseok’s forehead before they get out of the car, both unaware of having being caught.
The house is not big, it’s rather small but still cozy and welcoming. It’s been in Taehyung’s family since a long time ago, walls and floors old and full of stories. His mother had recently changed a few things, renewed some of the original foundations to make it sturdier, so it lasts longer. The kitchen and living room are on the same floor, with a small isle separating the two spaces. There’s a soft looking sofa in front of a very old TV that Taehyung assures them functions perfectly. Right in front of the entrance there’s some stair’s that lead to the rooms and a bathroom. There’s three bedrooms, and they all leave their stuff where Taehyung tells them.
They divide the space fairly easily, only some minor whining from Seokjin because Namjoon snores in his sleep, but he says it while smiling warmly at him. The unpacking goes smoothly, they talk with each other over the sound of ruffling and zippers, shouting from room to room. Jimin is talking about how he still can’t feel any blood in his butt, and Namjoon can only hear someone snickering before a loud slap resounds through the whole house, followed by what can only be Jimin’s screams of pain. He and Seokjin move to their door to see what happens, but all they see is Jungkook running down the stairs with a fuming Jimin right behind him, Taehyung crying of laughter by the door of the youngest three room, holding his stomach. From down the hall, Hoseok rolls his eyes and tells them to stop being childish and properly unpack, but he himself can’t hide the smile on his face.
“Namjoon-ah”
“Hm?”
“You excited?”
Seokjin is laying on the bed closest to the tiniest balcony Namjoon has ever seen, face squished onto the pillows with his body sprayed out over the thin blue covers. The sun has already set and everything outside is dark and flooding with sounds and life. Their room is the tiniest, the beds so close together they simply decided to push them against one another. There’s a closet incrusted into the wall, were he and the older had put their clothes and other luggage. Some hours have passed since they arrived, lost in the frenzy of making the house come alive with all of the things they brought with them. Seokjin had changed into a t-shirt too big for him and the pink shorts Namjoon remembers he bought with Jimin, having showered before Namjoon did so. He himself is putting on different clothes too, the stickiness of sweat and roughness of the road washed away by the refreshing water. He had to use Yoongi’s shampoo, since he had forgotten his own, and in return had let the older borrow some of his toothpaste. His hair is still dripping wet as he lays beside Seokjin, shirtless and relaxed.
“Yeah, what about you Hyung?”
The older stares at him briefly before nodding and smiling. They had been planning this out for months now. Taehyung had suggested it and they all had agreed on it. It’s a way for them to let go a little bit, to forget about their everyday life’s and simply concentrate on the promising summer in front of them. It’s Taehyung’s and Jimin’s graduation celebration too, both having finished their career. Namjoon remembers how he, Hoseok, Yoongi and Seokjin had decided to celebrate his and Hoseok’s graduation by getting so drunk they passed out and where found by an elderly woman walking her dog the morning after, in a park none of them remembered getting to. This is way better. Seokjin puts his head on the pillow, facing Namjoon, and closes his eyes. He looks really young like this, and Namjoon is tempted of tracing the plumpness of his lips with his fingers. The older had always been handsome, always taking care of his face and properly moisturizing. Namjoon never understood why he seemed so fixated on it, but to each their own, and if he is being honest, Seokjin’s face looks almost velvety.
“Namjoon-hyung, Seokjin-hyung, food’s ready” Is Jimin’s voice, coming from outside the room. They listen to his footsteps slowly get quieter and quieter before either make a move. Namjoon stands first, putting on a shirt and toweling his damp hair one last time. When he finishes, Seokjin is by the door, waiting for him. Namjoon throws the towel to the floor, ignoring the look he gets from the other and moves down the stairs, greeted by the sound of Jungkook and Yoongi bickering over the TV and the smell of something fried.
They decide to eat outside, on the huge patio that overlooks the beach below. They move all the chairs so they are looking at the night sky. Hoseok is sat on the same chair as Yoongi, feeding the older when no one’s looking, but they were caught by Taehyung who, sitting next to them, proceed to announce it to the whole group. Seokjin is sat on the floor between Namjoon and Jungkook, resting his back on Namjoon’s leg, a blanket sheltering him from the floor below. He's taking too big bites of his food and Namjoon had to clean his chin more than once. Jungkook and Taehyung are excitedly talking about some game Namjoon has never heard about while he and Jimin, who is sitting in a chair next to him, talk about the latest movie the younger has watched.
It’s peaceful, and Namjoon is glad.
--
Three days in, and things aren’t as peaceful.
“I swear it was here!”
Jungkook is fuming, searching desperately everywhere. Namjoon can hear his footsteps outside of his room, his feet stumping against the floor. He searches for his phone, and looks at the time, 6 a.m. screams the screen back at him. The sun is already out, barely fitting through the curtains and tightly closed blinds. Someone moves beside him as he closes the phone. Seokjin stirs and stretches, his left hand knocking accidentally against Namjoon’s shoulder. His hair looks like a bird’s nest, and his face is slightly swollen with sleep. Even his lips look bigger. He turns and faces Namjoon completely, eyes closed and slightly burrowed on himself. Namjoon heart clenches at the sight, something twisting in his stomach once again. It’s been happening since a long time ago. Seokjin wakes something in Namjoon that he can’t quite name. It makes him crave something he feels guilty about. Makes him feel like he is only using Seokjin’s friendship and affection. He pushes the thoughts down as he hears Yoongi’s angry creaming from outside, smiling at how Seokjin furrows his brows.
“What’s going on?"
“Jungkook lost something and freaked out, go to sleep”
The older opens his eyes and scans Namjoon’s face, before nodding and simply sinking into the mattress. If Namjoon is honest with himself, he most often than not finds feelings of jealousy directed towards Seokjin, flooding and making his mind their own home. Seokjin has an easiness to everything he does that surprises even himself sometimes. People are attracted to him, not only physically, but mentally. He has so many friends that Namjoon has lost count. He is everything Namjoon thinks he is not. But those feelings get drowned almost as fast as they reached the surface, replaced by a longing Namjoon can’t quiet place, or that is not ready to place, not yet.
Seokjin suddenly puts his hand on Namjoon’s face, who was staring unfocused at the ceiling above him. The younger is startled and lets out a high pitched gasp that has Seokjin giggling.
“You too, Joonie, go to sleep”
Namjoon sighs at the nickname. He has long lost the battle against Seokjin and his love for such things. He closes his eyes but is startled once again as a strong arm wraps around his middle, putting him closer to Seokjin. The older nudges his arm and Namjoon let’s himself enjoy the way Seokjin feels in his arms, his head a heavy weigh on top of his chest. The older’s breath slowly calms down, coming in small gasps. Namjoon let’s himself go back to sleep again.
When they wake up, hours later and still in each other’s arms, neither say anything. They untangle themselves and go get ready to enjoy yet another day of relaxing and doing nothing. They’ve done this before. Wake up in each other’s arms. Most often than not, however, they are way passed drunk, feeling the anxiety of being alone and finding some kind of solace in each other. It’s an unspoken rule for them to not talk about it. He doesn’t think that the others know, even though the stares Taehyung and Hoseok give them sometimes make him anxious. And that anxiety he does not understand. They aren’t doing anything wrong, just hugging their loneliness out. But it still feels wrong, like they should have never started it.
He remembers when it happened for the first time. Seokjin had gotten dumped, a girl Namjoon barely knew and that somehow seemed extremely important to Seokjin. Despite that, Namjoon had been a good friend, inviting him to his apartment and letting him cry and get drunk. He tried putting him to bed and leaving, but Seokjin had asked, pleaded, for him to stay. And Namjoon couldn’t, and can't, deny how weak he is for Seokjin, so he complied.
“What happened this morning?”
Seokjin doesn’t sound half as drowsy as one would have expected after just waking up, yet again, he always had some inexplicable energy in the morning (afternoon by now). He was wearing a shirt Namjoon recognizes as his own, and yet again, something turns in his stomach. He scratches his own tummy under his t-shirt, yawning as he goes down the stairs. Jimin is sprawled on the couch, without a shirt on and sweating slightly. Taehyung and Jungkook are sitting on the floor, playing a game in a console Taehyung had found in a closet yesterday, one of his old childhood toys left forgotten. He moves to the sofa and nudges Jimin, his bare knee colliding with the younger’s ribs, the other grunts in response.
“Lemme sit”
The younger makes a long ‘m’ sound and refuses to move. Namjoon vocalizes that he is too tired for that shit and simply goes to sit on one of the chairs. Yoongi, who was simply standing in the kitchen reading a furniture magazine, gives him some food of the night before, pizza and chicken wings reheated are a healthy and valid breakfast, he thinks. He almost misses Hoseok answering, emerging from the backyard door.
“this dumb bitch lost his phone”
He nods in Jungkooks direction, who simply grunts, annoyed because apparently Taehyung is winning. Namjoon is biting on a chicken wing when he feels arms around his shoulders. He doesn’t need to see to know that is Seokjin. Namjoon grabs a piece of pizza and twist his head just enough to bring it to Seokjin’s mouth, the older smiles briefly at him before munching on the piece, moving to sit on the chair beside Namjoon.
“did you find it?” Says Seokjin, he is pushing a strand of hair away from Namjoon’s face and tucking it behind his ear. It feels strangely domestic, and somewhere deep in his heart, Namjoon knows he really shouldn’t be feeling so good about the small touches Seokjin always reserves for him. Yoongi is looking at him strangely from where he stands, now perched over Hoseok’s back. They are all silent for a second, the sounds coming from the open door and the TV drowning the way Namjoon’s head is reeling with satisfaction. Seokjin is slowly stroking the hairs at the back of his head, and Namjoon is too sleepy to realize that maybe, maybe, enjoying such an innocent touch so much might be an indication of something. He takes another piece of pizza. Jungkook realizes he has been asked a question at the same time Taehyung manages to win the game, which results in Jungkook muttering angrily at him before looking at Seokjin.
“yeah this tiny fucker had hided it”
He is signaling to the sofa, where only Jimin’s black hair can be seen.
“listen here it was that stupid man child over there”
And now is Taehyung who is being signaled, the other scoffs, offended.
“I didn’t know this health freak would randomly decide to go running at 6 in the morg-“
“I do it all the fuck-“
“Those were too many insults for a five-minute conversation”
Interrupts Seokjin standing up and grabbing the plate he and Namjoon had been eating from. They lay around the house some more, the sun too intense to go to the beach. It’s much later when, after much convincing, Jimin manages to make them all put their swimsuits on and go.
“lets go!”
--
The sun is setting by the time they actually decide to step a foot in the sand. They went to buy food, snacks and, obviously as healthy and stable young man, tons of alcohol. Yoongi had the idea of making a fire and sitting around it. Seokjin went to fetch his guitar, which Taehyung had begged for him to bring.
One of the many reasons they all clicked so well with each other was music. They had all met at a music academy in their old town. Namjoon already knew Hoseok, they were neighbors and best friends. Then came Yoongi, who looked slightly intimidating and was older, but melted into putty and became more active and easy going with Hoseok around. And his hands controlled the piano with an ease Namjoon envied. Then Seokjin, who was actually a guitar teacher for the younger kids, but Yoongi, who had also started teaching piano, brought him to one of their hangs out. He and Namjoon clicked instantly, both easily falling in a comfortable friendship, that became more and more complicated over the years. Taehyung and Jimin came as a pair, like with almost everything they do. They were both amazingly good singers that simply wanted to hang out with the cool kids in the academy, even if Namjoon and the rest were definitely not cool. Jungkook came last, through Seokjin, who had given him classes for a while. He used to be shy and soft spoken, until they managed to crack his shell and unleash the monster. Namjoon smiles at all the memories.
“What are you smiling at Joonie?”
Seokjin had just gotten out of the water, that looked almost black under the falling sun. He could still hear the screams and laugh of Jungkook and Hoseok, they apparently had managed to drag Yoongi into the freezing liquid. Taehyung screamed at the latter for splashing him. Jimin snickered on the towel beside Namjoon. He lifts his head to look at Seokjin. It’s been a while since he had seen him shirtless. Him and Jungkook had started going to the gym together almost a year ago, after being convinced by Jimin. His broad shoulders glistened in pink and orange tones, he didn’t have abs as defined as Jungkook or Jimin, but Namjoon often though that was impossible (those two had more muscle than water in their body). They are not defined, but they are definitely there, he can see them shyly appearing as Seokjin moves to sit on the towel, hair dripping. They’ve been here for three days, today the fourth, and Seokjin has even started to get small freckles all over his cheeks. It makes him look slightly adorable and it makes Namjoon feel slightly out of breath.
“just…how we meet”
There’s a pause and Seokjin looks at him incredulously, eyes opening in a way that briefly makes Namjoon wonder if they are going to fall out, before breaking into a high pitched and breathless laugh. Another time, and Namjoon would have joined him, because Seokjin’s laugh was contagious, but he is too embarrassed to do so. He properly sits up and pushes Seokjin, the older falls over still laughing. Namjoon can practically feel the blood in his body rushing to his face. The muscles in his back contract as laughter shakes his body.
“that’s cheesy”
“aw shut up! You are cheesy”
The Moon is already up in the sky by the time Hoseok and Jungkook decide to stop pestering Yoongi so he can help Namjoon set the fire up. He does not start the fire, per se, none of them trust Namjoon with any object or thing hat could be potentially dangerous. He does put a few branches and wood together so Yoongi, who can actually be trusted with fire, makes everything burn and warmth irradiate. They sit around it, moving their towels so they have somewhere to sit. The night is warm, bordering on cold, just enough so Taehyung goes to fetch them some hoodies back at the house. He ends up bringing his own hoodies for Jimin and Jungkook to wear, which they complain about.
“My clothes look better on you than your own clothes be grateful”
But they all secretly know that Taehyung just likes to share things, enjoys giving them to others. He even gave Namjoon one of his precious ties just because the older had said it was cool. Namjoon watches from the towel he is sharing with Yoongi as the other’s try to come up with a game or something. The liquor is cold on his mouth, he congratulates himself for asking Taehyung to bring some ice cubes, the taste is slightly bitter, made better by the pineapple juice Seokjin enjoys so much. He eyes the latter, now laughing with Jimin over something Hoseok had said, no screamed, at Jungkook. Yoongi is sipping silently from his own cup, wearing Hoseok’s warm hoodie, they switched not a long time ago because Taehyung brought the older a sweater far too thin for his liking, it almost covers his thighs which are slightly red from the barely there sun of the late afternoon. He looks at Namjoon.
“You like him”
Namjoon isn’t surprised to hear the low grunt that is Yoongi’s voice. He looks back at the older, but Yoongi is not looking at him. He is staring, in a way that can only be described as fond and loving, at how both Hoseok and Taehyung tackle Seokjin into the towel, probably for one of his infamous dumb jokes. Jimin is asking them to stop behaving like little kids and come up with a game, resting his body on Jungkook’s side just as the younger wings his arm around his shoulder. Namjoon himself does not know how his eyes look as he watches the interaction, but he guesses is not that far from how Yoongi does. The statement does not surprise him, only brings sense to what Namjoon is feeling. Liking Seokjin, one of his best friends, the person he would put his life in the hands of. He thinks of the way his heart clenches when Seokjin laughs, about the way his skin tingles every time he wakes up next to him, despite the horrible headache that comes with each time. Thinks about all the time he has fantasized about kissing those lips. It makes sense, he sips from his cup once again.
“I guess I do”
Yoongi hums, before sitting up completely and fetching some chips that Jimin bought. They are supposed to be slices of apple cut thin and fried, or so Jimin had said. They actually taste good, which surprises Namjoon every time he tastes them. Is not often that something Jimin claims to be healthy doesn’t taste like dirty wet socks. Yoongi opens the package and offers the opening to Namjoon, who sticks his hand in and grabs a handful of the delectable chips.
“Are you going to tell him?”
He ponders over it. What could go wrong? The word rejection shines as bright as the flames in his head. But rejection is not a scary when he realizes just how deep his feelings are. He had known for a while, if he is honest with himself, just how much he adored Seokjin. The word he feared to muster, even at his loneliest times, was love. Is not as if he couldn’t name the twisting of his stomach, is that, secretly because if one thing Namjoon hated was voicing his doubts, is that he didn’t know if it really was love. It wasn’t up until recently, when he once again woke up with Seokjin by his side, adorably cuddled on his side, that he realized that he had been lone gone. Rejection, being rejected by Seokjin, somehow it doesn’t seem like a realistic outcome.
“I think so” His eyes met with Seokjin’s, who smiles at him. They have settled for playing truth or dare. Typical, overused, done so much some would even say it’s traditional. Namjoon doesn’t care. Jungkook proceed to explain that once they had at least gone two full rounds, Seokjin would play the guitar some more and they would call it a day. The fire casts moving shadows all over Seokjin’s face, his dark eyes shine bright under the red and orange lights of the fire. They stare at each other for a little just before Seokjin stands and moves to sit with Yoongi and him. The latter stands and, before he moves to where Hoseok is signaling him by patting the space next to him, talks once more.
“Good”
“hm?”
“you deserve to be happy too”
Seokjin sits just as Yoongi moves, grabbing another bottle of peach flavored something and smiling at Namjoon. He’s reminded of when they were younger, Seokjin had bought Namjoon’s and Hoseok’s first beer ever, being the only of age back then. He remembers the shockingly bitter and gassy taste and the way both Yoongi and Seokjin laughed at them, their cheeks pink and tears in their eyes. It’s been a long time since he had last felt so disgusted by a drink, even though Jimin’s healthy smoothies really try to take the spot, but the memory is also sweet, because Seokjin bought him some lollipops to erase the taste from his mouth. They went home together, Namjoon staying at Seokjin’s house, mainly because Yoongi and Hoseok ditched them to do God knows what. It’s a tender memory.
“What were you guys talking about?” Asks Seokjin, words slightly slurred by the alcohol, he had never been a lightweight, he could drink Namjoon under the table at any time, but his words always seemed to melt together the second he as little as took the first sip, it amused Namjoon to no end.
“Stuff”
“oh, hiding secrets from your hyung?” he says it in a jokingly matter, lightly shoving Namjoon with his body. The younger laughs and takes more chips from the bag Yoongi left behind in favor of putting his head in Hoseok’s lap. They always made a cute couple. Jungkook and Taehyung are trying to drink their drinks as fast as they can, the winner’s bottle the one going to be used to choose who was anyone asking to. Jimin watches them, a mix of fondness and amusement in his eyes.
“how are we going to make the bottle spin in the sand?”
There’s a commotion. Silence. Everyone stares at Namjoon. Taehyung chokes on the beer he was drinking, Jungkook following suit. Jimin snorts right before he realizes the two youngest have spilt beer all over the towel. They start screaming, while Hoseok and Yoongi watch in disbelief. Seokjin snickers, almost spilling his own drink, Namjoon helps him by giving a towel they weren’t using to clean himself up (it was Hoseok’s). When everything is relatively calm again, both Jungkook and Taehyung have tears in their eyes and seem a little bit out of breath, Seokjin clears his throat and speaks.
“Namjoon is right, let’s just go by age, the old-“
“the youngest starts! We always do the opposite!”
They all agree, even Namjoon, who has to stop looking at Seokjin’s puppy eyes. They move once again, settling everything so they are closer to the fire and each other.
“ok…I’m going to start”
The expectation can be touched, savored, it’s so heavy in the air that Namjoon feels anxious. The last time they played truth or dare, Yoongi dared Jimin to make a strip tease in front of all of them, and that was a very confusing erection Namjoon had to deal with. Another time he discovered Hoseok and Yoongi had had sex on his bed, more than once. Another and Jungkook was dared to drink whatever Taehyung prepared for him in an hour (they ended up at the ER). Another he had to straddle Seokjin’s lap for as long as the game lasted (that was a far less confusing erection). Taehyung was once dared to make out with Hoseok and they puked their guts out the second their lips touched (Taehyung was crying, Hoseok was crying, they bowed to never try any natural alcohol Jimin brought ever again). In conclusion, this game was never good to any of them, because despite how much they loved each other, they were friends, and friends wanted to watch each other suffer.
“Just spill it out Kook and let’s get it over with” Mumbled Yoongi, now sat next to Jimin, Hoseok was lying face down on the towel, clearly far from sober. If Namjoon had to rank who had more alcohol resistance, Hoseok would be one of the lasts of the list, only two beer’s and a bottle of soju in, and his poor friend could barely stand. It made Namjoon snort.
“ok since you are so into this, Yoongi” a pointed look from the older “Hyung, truth or Dare?”
Everyone was waiting for his answer, Seokjin shifted beside Namjoon and put a hand on his knee, smiling softly at him before returning to look back at Yoongi, who seemed in deep thought. Everybody knew it was bullshit, mainly because Yoongi hadn’t said ‘dare’ since what they named The Incident (it involved Yoongi in a maid outfit that belonged to Jimin and a very flustered McDonald’s worker), eventually the older answered, not before taking a long sip of his drink.
“Truth”
“Where was the last time you and Hoseok hyung had sex?”
There were several disgusted sounds coming from everyone except those two, even Hoseok made a face at the question. Jimin looked like he was about to puke, but then again he was also a lightweight, so maybe he really was. Taehyung mumbled something about why would Jungkook want to know about that. Namjoon stopped covering his ears in favor of looking at how the youngest and second oldest of the group stood each other’s stares. Jungkook was smirking and Yoongi looked, dare he say, flustered. Namjoon directed his gaze to Hoseok, who was almost as red as the fire burning lively in the middle. He had a bad feeling about this. Seokjin’s hand moved from his knee to grab some apple chips, but he too was looking at Yoongi and Hoseok suspiciously. Yoongi sighed.
“Shower, this morning”
Many things happened after that answer. First, Taehyung choked on his drink again, spilling it all over Hoseok’s pants, who cursed and stood up trying to stay away from the spray that Taehyung’s mouth became. Jimin almost puked on the spot, but managed to hold it in before puking in an innocent trash can not far away from them. Jungkook grin widens and he looks almost happy at the revelation, but the happiness disappears as soon as Yoongi throws himself at him, he manages to avoid the older, standing up too and running away from Yoongi, who screams insults at him. Seokjin looks disgusted and amused, and Namjoon feels faint. When everything has calmed down again, and Hoseok has changed his pants, Jimin speaks, voice barely above a whisper.
“We shower there hyung , I showered there right after you”
“How did you know Jungkook?” Is Tae who is asking that, he is caressing Jimin’s head, that’s lying in his lap, slowly, fingers brushing the older’s hair in a manner that Namjoon supposes is going to make Jimin relax a little bit after barfing everything he had eaten for the past 24h. He eyes Jungkook suspiciously, who had his head resting on Taehyung’s shoulder, as far away from Yoongi as he could manage. The younger rights himself and shakes his shoulder’s.
“Caught them this morning”
“And you didn’t think of telling me?!”
Just as the youngest were about to start another discussion, Seokjin speaks, voice firm and unrelenting. He sometimes sounds like a father who wants to chastise his kiss, had said once Namjoon, they were drinking in Taehyung’s and Jimin’s apartment, the older wasn’t there, with them, and Namjoon had missed him immensely. “So like a daddy” snickered Hoseok, that traumatized Namjoon to the extent of not being able to look the older in the face for a week, all thanks to the very graphic images his drunk brain had provided. He smiles a little at the memory, just as Seokjin finishes saying what he was saying.
“Yoongi, your turn, ask away”
The older hums and sits down between Hoseok’s legs, who now has some shorts on that don’t look his at all. Yoongi looks around the circle, all of them snuggled together as the night got considerably colder and closer to ending. He turned to Jimin and smirked.
“Jiminnie, truth or dare?”
The younger did think for a second, he looked incredibly comfortable in Taehyung’s lap, almost like he was going to fall asleep. Namjoon secretly knew that Jimin was going to go with Dare, because the younger had some sort of liking for doing stupid things and was apparently a masochist. Namjoon remembered once when Jimin got dared to stay naked outside of his own apartment. And the dumb piece of garbage still did it, much to everyone’s amusement. It was both Jungkook and Taehyung who, eventually, insisted on how dumb the dare was and made Jimin come inside. That night Jungkook slept in the other’s apartment, Namjoon had to pick him up on his way to work, the younger seemed bothered and refused to talk about what happened. Namjoon is so busy thinking about it he almost misses the answer.
“Dare”
“Kiss Jungkook and Taehyung, at least two minutes each”
Silence. They all stare at Yoongi, surprised by the dare. They all knew that the relationship the three younger had was…not entirely platonic, as Namjoon often said. The glances, the stares, the touches…nothing was entirely platonic. Yoongi and himself had once spoken about it. It was after what they all suspected was a major argument between the younger three. Namjoon had started to suspect something was up when he went to wake up Taehyung one morning and found the three of them in a cuddle pile in the middle of their living room. But, who was he to judge when he himself woke up next to a man he swore didn’t have feelings for? So he let them be. He looked back at Yoongi, a mischievous glint in the elders eyes.
Namjoon dared to look at the three youngest members of what he considered almost family. He found a flustered Jimin, who also seemed to look mildly offended, he had sat upright, suddenly far away from both Taehyung and Jungkook. The youngest of the trio looked pale, his mouth open, resembling a fish out of the water, his cheeks colored so fast Namjoon thought he was going to faint from how quick his blood was to move to his head. Taehyung, however, had a carefully crafted blank face, void of emotion and any indication that the situation affected him. His eyes reflected a whole different story, dark orbs that looked panicked, confused. The later spoke, voice barely stuttering.
“Jimin, do it, let’s get it over with”
Jimin looked at him startled, Jungkook only glanced at him from the corner of his eye, before looking away and biting his lips. There was a very apparent tension that made Namjoon uneasy. Seokjin seemed to be feeling antsy too, since he started fiddling with the leg of Namjoon’s shorts, nervously looking between the three youngest. Hoseok also looked like he was ready to run at any moment. Yoongi was the only one out of all of them that didn’t look like he wanted immediate death, which was surprising, to say the least.
“o…kay”
The oldest of the three moved between Taehyung’s legs and cupped his face. Taehyung still had that blank look in his face, but it disappeared right after Jimin gulped loudly and started moving forward. They kissed. At first it was just Jimin pressing his lips against Taehyung, both with his eyes closed with force, crinkling slightly. Jungkook stared at them, mouth pressed in a thin line. Then it became…heated. Taehyung was the one to start moving his lips first, slowly, like he was afraid Jimin would turn away. But Jimin moved his lips against Taehyung too, moving just as slow. Jungkook now looked like he was going to burst, his mouth hanging open, his eyes glazed. Namjoon looked at the two, now openly making out, before turning away at the evident image of a tongue, hiding behind Seokjin, who had his eyes open, mouth hanging open too.
“alright that’s…that’s enough”
It was Jungkook’s voice, tiny and almost inaudible. The other’s pushed away from each other immediately, like they had been electrocuted. Taehyung wiped the corner of his mouth, his eyes were glazed and he looked like the third world war was being held inside his head. Jimin tried to move closer to Jungkook, who simply grabbed him by the neck and started kissing him, Taehyung’s leg between the two, Jimin still between the other’s leg. Taehyung stared, and everyone else did too. Jungkook didn’t wait, moving against Jimin’s lips as soon as they had collapsed. The kiss was far more intense if the dirty sounds both were letting out was any indication. Namjoon didn’t dare to look at them, letting his forehead rest against Seokjin’s shoulder.
“that’s…that’s it? Ok stop kissing”
Jungkook and Jimin pushed away. There was an awkward silence, no one had the guts to brake it. The fire shone bright and the weaves moved loudly. Namjoon stared at the fire, his head now comfortably resting on top of Seokjin’s shoulder. The older was sitting cross legged, facing the fire too. He snuck an arm around Namjoon’s middle at some point the younger couldn’t recall. It was hidden under Namjoon’s hoodie, no one could see it except him and Seokjin. Namjoon took another sip from his drink. Jimin cleared his throat and moved to sit on Taehyung’s side again, closer to Hoseok and Yoongi. The younger stared at Namjoon and smiled slightly, face still flushed from the exertion of kissing.
“Namjoon Hyung, truth or dare?”
Namjoon took yet another sip of his drink and realized that he had finished it. He sat up right, looking at Jimin straight in the face, and grinned. What could go wrong? His mind briefly shows images of him straddling Seokjin’s lap with a red face, of when Hoseok dared him to perform the whole single ladies dance in front of the whole dorm back in college, of when he had to admit that he had touched himself to the thought of one of his friends, sat around him in a tight circle (he didn’t say the name, but the way everyone smirked except Seokjin made it fairly obvious). Of when he had to kiss Yoongi (it was a peck, but it still felt wrong), of when Jungkook made him explain in detail the first time he had sex. What could go wrong?
“hm…truth”
“would you get into a threesome with Hoseok hyung and Yoongi hyung?”
“fuck no, they would leave me hanging to fuck each other”
He laughed, and everyone else did too. The awkward spell was broken. Seokjin barks that laugh of his that makes everything that much funnier. Namjoon feels content with his answer, even more so when Hoseok assures him that yes, they would in fact forget about him if they ever had a threesome. The moon is shining almost as bright as the flames by now, and they decide to stop the game. It would normally last for hours, but they are tired, and on this side of drunk. Seokjin moves to grab his guitar and Namjoon misses his warmth instantly, almost whining at the loss but stopping himself on time.
Namjoon has never considered himself a singer, despite having gone to a music academy and having been taught how to do so. He was more into the whole process of creating a song, of writing lyrics, rather than on singing them. Yoongi often said that Namjoon should have been a rapper like him. Yoongi had the faculty of spilling words fast all the while following a rhythm, it made Namjoon dizzy sometimes, how the older could go without breathing for so long. Yoongi had rapped to many of Namjoon’s songs, vocalizing each of the words Namjoon wrote down for him with ferocious confidence and remarkable ease. The younger, however, couldn’t exactly imagine himself doing so now, rapping. He chose to be a producer, and he liked his job.
Seokjin played the first chores to a foreign song all of them had memorized by now. The oldest sang the first lyrics with ease, his voice like melted honey, breathy in just the right places, not extremely powerful, but the song didn’t need a powerful voice. Jimin followed suit, his voice was the highest of them all, easily reaching the higher notes and easily harmonizing with other voices. He had a rather strong voice, but many years without practice had made him rather unstable, still sweet no matter what. Taehyung started singing on the first chorus, Namjoon liked his voice the best, if he was honest, low and sometimes husky, still being able to reach and impressive falsetto. Taehyung was stable and had a silky voice that could make goosebumps arise in your skin. The last to join the song was Jungkook, he had the best technique out of all of them, since he was still going to the academy, after all. His voice was breathy but sweet, and he pronounced all the words with ease and so much feeling it sounded like he was singing from the heart, like he had written the lyrics himself.
The other three, Namjoon, Yoongi and Hoseok, listened with smiles on their faces as the other’s went from one song to another, voices harmonizing and melting into each other. It was when the fourth song finished, that Taehyung turned to the other two, ignoring Namjoon completely, and voiced a petition.
“Yoongi hyung, why don’t you sing?”
Seokjin, with the guitar in his lap and finishing what was his fifth bottle of a peachy thing, sighed at the question. They always had this discussion whenever they agreed to singing together. Namjoon would sometimes sing with the other’s, his voice extremely breathy and low, and would often change notes and force his voice to make everyone laugh. Hoseok had an amazing voice, but didn’t like singing in public that much, he was shy, if Jung Hoseok could ever be shy about anything. But Yoongi, good old Yoongi, always refused singing. Always.
“I don’t sing, I rap, brat”
“C’mon! Just this once!”
Taehyung was insistent. And Namjoon was tired. He closed his eyes when the two started arguing, resting his head on his hand, which was on top of his crossed knee. Seokjin left the guitar on his other side and hugged Namjoon to his side, making him rest almost all of his body on top of him. Namjoon let’s himself be held, the sound of the waves, the flickering fire, and the bickering of his friends lulling him into a superficial slumber. And if the fact that Seokjin was humming with his head on top of Namjoon’s and that helped him fall asleep faster, well only Namjoon needed to know.
---
The morning after is weirdly calm.
They did come home in the middle of the night, and Namjoon is surprised no one got themselves killed on the way. He remembers Seokjin almost carrying him home, but everything is blurry.
He finds himself awake when the sun has just barely made it to the sky. Everything is still rather cold, the warmness of summer and the sun unable to fight against the coldness of the night and the moon. There’s light coming from the drawn curtains, resembling the first morning they woke up there, at the beautiful beach house.
He turns on the bed, and looks at the man that has made his heart tingle for a long time. Seokjin is sleeping soundly, breath coming out evenly, he is even drooling a little bit, and it should be gross but Namjoon can't stop himself from smiling at the sight. He is shirtless, and Namjoon blurrily remembers Seokjin complaining about being too hot or something. It's a sight he reveals in, the broad shoulders and endless golden skin laid before him bathed in the yellow light of the early morning sun. Namjoon could write poems about it. He does not, however, what he does is stand up and walk out of their shared room, trying to not wake up any one in the house as he made his way to the kitchen.
He is surprised to find himself shirtless too, but he is halfway down the stairs, so he forgoes the idea of getting a shirt. The door to the room of the three youngest is closed shut, notices Namjoon, he thinks back to the events of last night, and a bit of worry settles itself on his gut. He ignores it for now, deciding to make some coffee, since is the only think he is confident he can't totally ruin. The kitchen is warmer than he expected, probably because of all the sun that comes through the windows that face the sea. He mentally praises himself for not putting on a shirt.
As the rather new coffee maker makes random noises, Namjoon thinks back to his conversation with Yoongi. Everything seemed to fall in place, slowly but surely. He liked, no, probably loved, Seokjin. Had had since a long time, most likely. But Namjoon would never praise himself in his ability to realize his own feelings. He thinks about the many times he had woken up next to the other man, and how worth it the headache felt if it meant being able to snuggle closer to Seokjin’s warmth. He supposes it had never been friendly cuddles, the way they hugged each other, desperately holding onto one another, how they hide their heads in the others necks, how their legs would end up tangled. He is busy remembering a particular time when he woke up with a horrible need to pee and how he had to basically untangle himself from the deathly grip Seokjin had on him, to realize another person entering the kitchen, until said person draped themselves all over Namjoon’s back, warm naked skin on warm naked skin, making Namjoon flush but smile nonetheless as he felt Seokjin head rubbing against the back of his neck.
"Good morning"
"hm"
It was cute, how cuddly sometimes Seokjin got. Namjoon noticed years ago how it happened mostly around him, how Seokjin went soft and calm around him. He used to attribute it to his calm nature, Namjoon had always being a relaxed person, maybe not to the extent if how Taehyung was always chill (If he didn’t know better, Namjoon would seriously consider the younger being high off his ass). But he soon found out that it wasn’t because of his aura or whatever, he simply relaxed Seokjin, As the older had said himself. Namjoon turns around, after pausing the coffee maker, in Seokjin’s hold, grabbing the older’s middle and letting him snuggle against his chest. Seokjin is warm and soft against him, his face feels a little cold and wet, and Namjoon guesses the older must have washed his face before coming down.
"want some coffee?"
"hm"
Namjoon watches amusedly as Seokjin pulls himself away from him, rubbing viciously at his eyes, as if that is going to make the sleepiness dissipate. He walks over to the other side of the isle, sitting down in a stool Jungkook found in the backyard and brought inside the house. Namjoon glances at him and realizes how beautiful Seokjin looks, his hair is still fluffed up, some strands sticking to his head while the others stand in different locations. His face is swollen with sleep, his lips looking redder than ever. There’s a flush all over his body, tinting his skin with a rosy tone that shines brightly under the pure light of the sun that’s filtered by the window. Namjoon almost forgets to turn the coffee machine on to prepare Seokjin’s coffee.
"why are you up so early?"
"couldn't sleep"
Both of his voices sound husky, deepened by the long rest. Seokjin had always told him about how hard it was for him to get up in the morning. Namjoon himself had experimented once just how much the older enjoyed sleeping. They had to leave early in the morning to travel back to the city they were born in to visit their parents, Namjoon remembers how Yoongi had asked him to wake the older up, and when Namjoon asked him why didn’t do it, Yoongi simply replied ‘I don’t feel like dying’ and left to help Hoseok carry the luggage to the huge van him and Seokjin owned. He spent ten full minutes trying to wake Seokjin up, and only succeed after screaming at the older to wake up. Seokjin didn’t look at him until much later, when they were eating with all the others at the old restaurant they frequented when they were younger, apologizing sheepishly and nudging him with his shoulders. So Namjoon was rather surprised with the revelation, as he grabbed both of their mugs and put Seokjin’s in front of him.
"why?"
"you weren't there"
Namjoon almost chokes on the coffee, to bitter for his taste, since he had forgotten about the sugar, making the coffee just like Seokjin likes. The statement is said so truthfully, like it was the only answer, and Seokjin looks at him in the eyes, and Namjoon feels like he can see everything that makes Namjoon who he is, can see his soul. Namjoon feels like he can’t hide anything to those dark eyes illuminated by the whitish light of the morning. There’s a slight breeze that flood the room, tasting like the sea. Namjoon loses himself in those eyes, unable to from a single word.
"Namjoon?"
"yeah?"
Seokjin is staring at him intensely, gaze traveling all over his face and stopping briefly to stare at his lips. Namjoon gets self-conscious and bites his lips, the olders eyes follow every single movement. Their eyes meet, and Namjoon feels like the world is slowing down for them. Like time has decided to stop itself, just so the two can savor this moment, can taste the anticipation and the unsaid words in their tongues long enough to remember it forever.
"I like you"
He feels his breath falter, his heart stops. Those words come so naturally out Seokjin’s mouth, even though they sound heavy, carrying so many feelings in them, in their vowels and vocals. Words he had always secretly imagined Seokjin saying, even if he denied it after. Words that felt too heavy on his heart every time he caught himself thinking them. Words that made Namjoon’s world stop. Right there, right then. In the early morning, with the sun shining shyly on them, the endless ocean a background to their feelings, the coffee bitter in his tongue. He smiles.
"is this because I made you coffee?"
Seokjin look at him alarmed, whole face turning a handsome red tone. His eyes and mouth open, looking at Namjoon like he said the worse thing in the world. The older looks down, probably trying to come up with a eloquent way of telling Namjoon that he wasn’t right, but the latter grins to himself, leaving the coffee alone in favor of sliding closer to Seokjin. The older’s knees collide with his lower stomach, since he has his legs propped up on a bar uniting the stool’s legs. He lets his hands land on top of them. Seokjin is wearing the shorts he has worn to sleep since they arrived, they are soft and a weak shade of pink, they rest mid-thigh, and Namjoon can’t help but reach them, letting his hands travel up and down Seokjin’s thighs, feeling the way the hairs residing there stand up as goosebumps invade the older’s skin. He hears Seokjin’s breath come to a halt too, as hands find his hands, knobby fingers caressing the skin of Namjoon’s hand.
"It’s not because of the coffee”
"I know”
“you do?”
Seokjin’s voice is teasing as he moves his arms around Namjoon neck, hands having traveled the expanse of Namjoon’s arm. They stare at each other, a smile on both of their lips. The waves sound almost alarmingly close, but Namjoon is more preoccupied with how close Seokjin is. Namjoon speaks, just before leaning closer, his lips brushing against Seokjin’s as he voices his feelings.
"I like you too"
"you better"
And then they are kissing, soft lips against slightly dry ones. Namjoon braces himself on Seokjin’s thighs, as the older opens his legs and lets him slide between them. He caresses the skin just below the end of the pink shorts Seokjin loves so much. Seokjin’s own hands travel from his face to Namjoon’s back, touching every muscle and caressing the small burnt parts from when Namjoon forgot to but sun screen on himself. Seokjin tastes like the mint of his toothpaste and smells like his favorite body wash, and then there’s something extremely Seokjin, a smell that Namjoon has never been able to decipher what it is, sweet and just on this side of flowery, and Namjoon loves it. He feels Seokjin’s knobby fingers trace the knobs of his spine, and it makes him shiver slightly, mouth parting in a soft sigh, the older uses that to shyly trace Namjoon’s open lips with his tongue, and the younger can’t do nothing but let Seokjin in, just like he had that many years ago, when Yoongi presented him as ‘Seokjin, he is older, but acts like he is 12’.
Can’t do anything but touch, touch the skin he had thought he couldn’t not so long ago. He runs his fingertips up and down Seokjin’s soft stomach, smiling slightly as the older shivers against him. The golden skin he had wished to touch now incredibly close to him. They stop their kissing before it gets too headed up, and just press their lips against each other. Namjoon takes a small step back, mindful of the way Seokjin’s hands are on his hips, gripping with his thumb going up and down in a way that makes the younger feel incredibly loved, and stares at Seokjin. The latter looks even better now, lips slightly spit-slicked and swollen, eyes glazed over, and the happiest smile Namjoon has ever seen on his face.
“I’ve waited to do that for so long Namjoonie”
“Let’s not wait again then”
Just before they can press their lips against each other, they hear someone screaming as they stroll down the stairs, and then a voice, belonging undoubtedly to Hoseok, screams in glee.
"Holy shit everyone is happening mark your calendars!"
“fuck you!”
Replies Seokjin, bringing Namjoon flush against him, naked skin against naked skin, the olders strong arms surrounding hips as his hands rest on top of the small of his back. Namjoon blushes, hiding his face on the spot were neck meets shoulder, and despite the blush, he can’t help but landing a small kiss there, making the older giggle.
“you already have Namjoon for that!”
"ew guys"
Those last two were Taehyung and Jungkook, in that order, as they too walk down the stairs. The youngest sits on the couch, not before making some puking noises Namjoon can hear and not see. Taehyung and Hoseok enter the kitchen, turning all around them. Hoseok pushes them as they pass, and Taehyung makes more puking noises. But Namjoon spares a glance at them and they are both smiling, fondness in their eyes. He snuggles closer to Seokjin, he can feel the older smile against his forehead, since he had decided to rest his head on the olders upper chest, is a weird angle, but Namjoon cares close to nothing.
"not another exhibitionist couple";
"for the last time it was once-"
The last to join the commotion are Jimin and Yoongi. The first settles with Jungkook on the couch, and Namjoon can barely see how Jungkook opens his arms so Jimin can rest on top of him, the older of the duo complying. Yoongi ruffles his hair and says something to Seokjin, probably teasing and sarcastic, but Namjoon doesn’t catch it. The morning isn't as peaceful anymore, but as he rests his forehead on Seokjin’s bare shoulder, feeling more than anything the way the older is bickering with the rest, Namjoon can’t say he minds.