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Namjoon isn’t a saint.
Despite his outward friendly and charming appearance and charisma, Namjoon’s mind is a completely different sight.
Hate, envy, greed. Every time Namjoon even so much as looks at Yoongi, strong negative feelings flood through him. He can’t help himself.
It wasn’t always like this.
Before Yoongi had showed up with his pretty face and sinful words, Namjoon was fine.
The club was his. The stage was his.
Now, though. Now, he has to share, and Namjoon is, if not anything else, possessive as hell.
As Yoongi walks over to wish Namjoon luck on stage, his face turns from a hard glare, to a sincere smile. He’s always been good at deception.
“Joon-ah! Good luck up there, yeah? You’ll do great, y’always do~” Yoongi encourages in his thick accent, making Namjoon’s eye twitch just a little.
He lets his dimples pop. “Thank you, hyung! I’m sure you’ll be good as well,” he says back, accompanied by a closed-mouth smile.
“Oh, one more thing, Joon-ah,” Yoongi starts, catching Namjoon off guard as his own smile morphs into a smirk.
“You’re bad at hiding your feelings~ if you hate me, don’t try to hide it. You’re not the only good rapper around here either, so stop being so narcissistic.”
Namjoon’s jaw drops completely, and Yoongi struts away, rather proud of himself.
He’s never wanted to crush someone so badly in his entire life.
It’s a few months after the confrontation, that Namjoon decides to expand his borders. He starts auditioning, getting himself out there more.
He craves more now than what the underground can offer him.
Recognition. Success. Fame.
He wonders if he’s being too greedy, but he wants to be heard.
What’s not surprising to Namjoon is getting through auditions. He has the practice, the experience, the knowledge. He loves rap, breathes it, lives it.
No, that doesn’t surprise Namjoon at all.
What does surprise Namjoon, though, is getting settled in, training for months on end, then being introduced to his new apparent roommate.
“Yoongi.”
The shorter male barely looks at Namjoon as he throws his bag on the free bed.
“Do me a favour and fuck off, Namjoon. Just, fuck off.”
It’s their first argument, as before that point, Yoongi had never showed any aggression towards the taller.
Namjoon can’t help but wonder what changed in him.
Three months, Yoongi and Namjoon only speak to each other when completely necessary. For music and practice, nothing more.
It affects Namjoon more than he’d like to admit, and he wonders if he should step up, apologise.
He doesn’t though.
Not until another month has passed, and Namjoon has consumed too many beers.
“Yoongi. Yoongi, let’s talk,” he murmurs as he crawls into his own bed, knowing Yoongi would be working on music as he always is at 2am.
“Nothing to talk about, Namjoon,” he insists back, covering a yawn.
Namjoon disagrees.
“I’m sorry, Yoongi-ah, Hyung? Yoongi. Uh… anyway, yeah. I’m sorry I was an asswipe to you. I sucked.”
Yoongi almost laughs. “You drink to much. Go to sleep and apologise tomorrow.”
A long whine leaves Namjoon, and before Yoongi knows it, the taller is hanging off the top bunk, looking at Yoongi helplessly.
“Let me finish!” He demands, pointing accusingly at Yoongi. “I was a douchebag, cause I always… I knew you were good, like, really good! You could beat me, and I don’t like losing. It wasn’t your fault, it was my fault, so I’m sorry. I won’t be mean to you anymore, I promise.”
Giving a very sincere look, Namjoon pulled himself back onto his bunk, smiling a little to himself. A burden was lifted, drunk or not.
The next morning is more awkward than Namjoon had expected.
Yoongi seems to be avidly avoiding him, which isn’t far from the norm, but it seems more extensive.
After a few hours, Namjoon finally corners Yoongi.
“Ai- Namjoon, let me live in peace,” he complains, trying to shove past the younger, but to no avail.
“Everything I said, I meant it. I really am sorry. Wanna go get breakfast? I’ll pay,” he offers, earning an exhausted huff from the other.
“Not today… but. Maybe tomorrow.”
It’s enough for Namjoon. He lets Yoongi go with a dimpled grin.
Around three years later, they finally debut.
From underground rappers to idols, and now accompanied by six other amazing, talented boys.
Namjoon can’t be happier.
“So tell me,” the interviewer holds the microphone towards Namjoon, always acting as a spokesperson for the group. “How do you all manage to get along so well?”
The leader smiles, briefly glancing towards Yoongi.
“At first, there was a lot of controversy between a few of us. We learned to put our differences aside, to stop focusing on ‘me’, and start focusing on ‘us’ instead. I think that’s how we get along. Mutual respect and appreciation for others who are trying to reach the same goals, to live the same dream.”
It means so much more to Namjoon and Yoongi. Years of hating one another, fighting to be number one, when they could have been fighting together for the same spot.
They won't make the same mistakes again.