Archive of Our Own ^beta

Yoongi hated going to the playground. He hated kids. They were loud and annoying. But apparently his hatred for kids his own age had been worrying his parents and his teachers.

Summer time was his favorite time of the year because he didn't have to go to school where all those annoying kids were. He could stay at home and play on his own, watch the tv, steal his hyung's gameboy and use it when he wasn't around. Until that summer.

That summer, his parents insisted on bringing him out more often, taking him to parks, the pool, his father had even suggested he could go to a summercamp. Luckily for him, his mother had disagreed with the last idea, too worried to let Yoongi be on his own for that long.

Yet, Yoongi hated all of it.

That day, his parents had both been busy with work and since his hyung really wanted to attend a party with his friends, he had been forced to take care of his little brother. Yoongi had suggested they could just stay at home, since his brother didn't seem to like the idea to go to the playground either, but his hyung didn't even listen to him.

“Just do whatever you want, you brat, I'll be hanging out with my friends.” he had said, stopping in front of the sandbox. Yoongi looked up at him, a little scared. He didn't like to be left alone in public. His hyung seemed to falter a little and he crouched down to be on his eye-level. “I'll be sitting on those benches with my friends and keep an eye on you, alright, buddy? I'm not gonna leave you. But I don't want them to call me a babysitter either, okay?”

“Okay.” he whispered.

“Don't get into trouble, yeah?” His brother smiled, ruffling his hair affectionately and then getting up.

“Okay.”

He watched as his hyung jogged up to a group of older boys that cheered once he reached them. He didn't understand how someone could possibly like being surrounded by so many people. Loud people. He sighed, kicking one of the rocks on the sidewalk. He didn't even know what he was supposed to do. Usually his mother would force him to play with other kids, but his brother had said to do whatever he wanted. And he didn't want to play with others. He scanned the playground, noting where the loudest kids where and trying to avoid those places. He chose a nice, quiet spot under a tree, where he could still see his brother and friends and where he could just be. He sat down and watched the other kids play.

Some were running after each other. Too bothersome and tiring.

Some were playing on the swings, getting higher and higher and then jumping down. Too dangerous.

Some were screaming and... Yoongi guessed that was an attempt at dancing. Too noisy.

There were two little kids, definitely younger than him, sitting under one of the other trees. They were quietly playing with some rocks, as if they were the only ones in the whole playground. Yoongi didn't mind them. He considered going up to them and ask them if he could just sit there, when his attention got caught by another little kid.

He was sitting in the sandbox on his own, building a big sand castle. He was tiny and around Yoongi's age. He was wearing a large orange t-shirt and some shorts, a baseball cap protecting his eyes from the July sun. Yoongi also noticed the small acorn bag the kid had gently placed next to himself, as if it was his most precious possession.

Yoongi smiled to himself. The kid was cute and seemed nice. He had a very bright smile and it made Yoongi feel warm. But it was a different kind of warmth than the one he was feeling from standing under the sun. He wanted to join him, ask him if he could help him build that awesome sandcastle, but hesitated when he saw more boys approach him.

As soon as the kid noticed them, he smiled even more brightly, showing off his castle and telling them all about it with excitement pouring out of his little body.

Yoongi knew something was wrong when the other boys started laughing among themselves and whispering. The kid's smile fell just as one of the boys kicked his castle, completely destroying it.

“Your castle sucks!” he sneered, stomping on the sand to make sure nothing was left.

The little kid's eyes swelled up with tears and he started openly crying, his tiny fists rubbing at his eyes.

The other boys were laughing loudly and Yoongi had enough. He stood up and ran up to them, pushing the boy that had stepped on the castle. “Leave him alone!” he yelled.

The boy snorted, pushing him back. “Or what?”

Yoongi hesitated, fear catching up with him. He hadn't planned this out. “I...”

“You're gonna start crying too, you brat?” another one of the boys laughed.

Yoongi saw his vision blur with tears. Those boys were bigger than him. And taller. And there were five of them. “I-I'll c-call my hyung and-and... he's... he will kick you!” he tried to reply, but his heart was beating too fast, too loud in his ears and he was so scared.

The boys' laughter became louder, until they noticed a girl marching towards them.

“Why is my little brother crying?” she demanded, picking up the kid that was still crying.

“Nuna!” the kid sobbed. “My castle!”

“It was him!” accused one of the boys pointing at Yoongi.

The girl looked down at Yoongi and he almost bolted from the scene, his eyelashes no longer able to hold back the tears.

“No! He's my hero! They're mean!”

Yoongi's eyes met the other kid's and he suddenly felt warm again.

“Really, now?” mumbled the older girl. She smiled at Yoongi and then glared at the other boys. “Get lost before I tell your mothers, you punks.” Her tone was so firm and scary, the boys didn't even hesitate before they started to run away. She sighed and kissed the kid's cheek to calm him down. “It's okay, Seokie. We can build another one.” She lowered him to the ground again and sat down with him.

Yoongi just stood there, not knowing what he was supposed to do.

The other kid sniffled hard and dried all his tears before walking in front of him. “Thank you!”

Yoongi was even more confused. Was he supposed to say it back? Or should he just go?

“Yes, thank you for defending my little brother.”

Yoongi just looked from one sibling to the other. “Okay.” he whispered.

“My name is Hoseok and I'm six! What's your name?”

The kid's – Hoseok's smile was so bright that it was almost contagious. Yoongi sniffled, wiping at his nose with his wrist. Without realising it, the corners of his lips had turned up and he was smiling.

“Yoongi. I'm Min Yoongi and I'm seven.”

“Thank you, Yoongi hyung!” Hoseok chirped before hugging him tightly.

“H-hyung?” mumbled Yoongi. He usually hated physical contact, but there it was, that warmth again. He let Hoseok hug him and just stood still.

Hoseok pulled away after one last squeeze and gave him a puzzled look. “You're my hyung!” he explained. “Wanna help me build a castle?”

That time, Yoongi didn't even hesitate. “Okay.” he replied, another smile pulling at his lips.

“Yay!” cheered Hoseok, taking his hand and tugging at it until they were both sitting down in the sand.

They had just started gathering some of the sand again when Yoongi felt a hand on his head. He looked up only to find his hyung.

“Hey, buddy, everything okay?”

Yoongi smiled and nodded his head. “Yes, I'm building a castle, hyung!”

“With a new friend?”

“Yes! Hello! I'm Jung Hoseok and I'm Yoongi hyung's new friend!!” announced Hoseok proudly.

“We're friends?” asked Yoongi, looking at Hoseok with wide eyes.

“Of course!” exclaimed Hoseok. Next to him, his older sister started giggling.

Yoongi's brother joined her, chuckling as he ruffled Yoongi's hair. “That's awesome.”

Yoongi didn't pay any more attention to his hyung and focused back on Hoseok. They sat even closer to each other, gathering the sand and compacting it to form another castle. As he was getting some sand, his fingers got in contact with something soft. It was Hoseok's cute bag. He took it out of the sand and examined it. It was in the form of an acorn, with cute, colored buttons on the top. There was even a cute, green leaf on one side. He felt empty under Yoongi's fingers and for a moment he wondered why was Hoseok carrying an empty bag, but he realised he didn't care. It was cute. But it also got dirty because of the sand. “Oh, no!” he gasped. “It got dirty! I'm so sorry, Hoseok!” He wiped it with his hands, getting rid of most of the sand and then handed it to Hoseok. “Here.”

Hoseok's sad pout turned into a puzzled look. “You don't think it's ugly? And for girls?”

Yoongi frowned, confused. “No?” He gave it one last wipe and smiled when Hoseok took it. “It's cute. Like you.”

Hoseok giggled happily, his smile so bright it made Yoongi feel warm once again. He really liked that warmth.

“You're my hero!” chirped Hoseok, leaning over and hugging Yoongi tightly.

“And you're my sun!” That was the first thing that came to mind and Yoongi really hoped it was as nice as it had sounded in his head. Judging by Hoseok's smile when he pulled away, it was.

“Nuna!” When Hoseok's sister and his hyung looked down at them, Hoseok stood up and puffed out his chest. “I want Yoongi hyung to be my best friend forever!”

His sister giggled, patting Hoseok on the head. “You need to ask Yoongi, Seokie.”

Hoseok nodded and turned back to Yoongi. “Wanna be my best friend forever?”

“Yes.”

Yoongi didn't really know what that meant. He had never had friends before and didn't know how those things worked. But Hoseok was so excited and happy that he couldn't say no. He wanted him to always be happy and make him as warm as he made him feel. Maybe that's what being best friends forever meant.

Ten years later

Yoongi took a deep breath and then opened his eyes. He could do it. He took Hoseok's hand, interlocking their fingers and almost dragged him away from all their friends. Some of them catcalled after them, but he didn't care.

“Hyung?”

Yoongi didn't reply at first, just kept tugging at Hoseok's hand, until they were in Hoseok's room. He locked the door behind them and then just stood there. He took out the gift he had been hiding behind his back and gave it to Hoseok. “Here.”

“You couldn't give it to me in front of everyone?” he laughed, taking the gift and starting to open it. “It's not something weird, is it?”

Yoongi felt his cheeks heat up with a blush and his heart skipped a beat. “No...” His hesitation caught Hoseok's attention and he looked at him with his eyebrow cocked. “Just open it, Seok.”

As he did, Hoseok's lips morphed into the brightest smile. “No way!”

“I know it's not the same one, but it's pretty similar and as soon as I saw it I just had to get it for you.” he explained in one breath.

“You got me an acorn bag that looks like the one I had when we first met?!” shrieked Hoseok, holding up the bag to take a better look at it.

“It's silly, I know.” Yoongi held his breath. Maybe he should have also gotten him something else. That was a stupid idea. But it was too late. He was too scared to see the expression on Hoseok's face. They had known each other for so long, he could tell right away if he was lying.

“I love it.” replied Hoseok without hesitating and taking Yoongi off guard. He glanced up at him and he could swear his heart stopped beating. They stood there for a few tense seconds, staring into each other's eyes, both looking for something. Neither of them knowing what, exactly.

“Hyung.” It was barely a whisper and then Hoseok was stepping closer to him. His eyes were filled with uncertainty and his lips weren't smiling anymore. “Remember back then... I said I wanted us to be best friends forever...”

“Yeah?”

“What if... what if I don't want that anymore?”

Yoongi felt his stomach drop. “You don't want to be my friend anymore?” he whispered, eyes falling to the ground to stare at their feet. Hoseok's socks weren't even matching. How didn't he notice that before?

“I want you to be my boyfriend?”

Yoongi's eyes snapped back up to meet Hoseok's. “What?”

“Shit, forget that...” Hoseok's shoulders slumped and he took a step back.

“No, wait, yes!” Yoongi's head was spinning and he didn't know if he was dreaming or if that was really happening. He had been in love with Hoseok for years but had always been too scared to admit his feelings. “Of course I want to be your boyfriend, Seok, fuck, of course!”

Hoseok's eyes widened and his lips parted to form a small o. “Really?”

“Yes!”

They shared one more look before their lips were meeting. It was Yoongi's first kiss – and Hoseok's too, unless he had kept it secret. He framed Hoseok's face with his hands to keep him in place and sucked on his bottom lip before pulling off. “Fuck, Seok, I've wanted to do this in so long.”

“Why didn't you, you ass?” snorted Hoseok.

They hadn't parted, Yoongi's hands still on Hoseok's cheeks. He caressed his cheekbones and then leaned into Hoseok's space some more, their foreheads touching and their noses brushing. “Was too scared. You?”

“Me too.” whispered Hoseok, his breath warm against Yoongi's lips. “But now...”

“Now I can do this.” he smirked before kissing Hoseok again. “Happy birthday, Seokie.”

“The happiest.”