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Seokjin
Seokjin is a sweaty, flour covered mess, and judging by the whining he can hear from across the kitchen, Yoongi has got to be in the same situation.
“Hyung. Hyung, this is disgusting , can't we just stop?” Yoongi sounds tired, which Seokjin feels deep in his soul, but Yoongi should also know that they can't stop no matter how much they want to. Everything is riding on them right now.
“Yoongi-yah,” Seokjin sighs, blowing his bangs out of his way so he can see better. He takes a calming breath, and then another before turning to glance at Yoongi who looks absolutely miserable. He feels bad, feels awful that he dragged Yoongi into this. “You know we can't stop.”
“Can't I switch places with Joon-ah, then?” Yoongi is full on pleading right now, it makes Seokjin feel even guiltier for agreeing to this in the first place.
So he does the math in his head and thinks how hard he'll have to work to get everything all done and perfect by himself. Seokjin could do it is the thing, they've found that out since they started adding catering to the possibilities available at The Last Epiphany , he just doesn't want to do it alone. But-
“Go on and get cleaned up, Yoongi. Try and rinse your hair if you can, take a shower if you can spare the time.” Seokjin settles on saying, ignoring the look of pure relief on Yoongi's face. It's been hard on him since Jungkook left to Busan on a school trip with some of his other friends just this morning. Namjoon will help Yoongi calm down, Seokjin is sure of it, and until then, Seokjin will just have to work harder.
Seokjin's lucky after all, Namjoon had chosen to stay when Jungkook had asked him to go to Busan with him as a chaperone, but Namjoon had decided to stay here, to let Jungkook have time to himself with friends without his brother looking over his shoulder.
Honestly, Seokjin is thankful right about now.
It had been Namjoon's idea in the first place to do catering as a side option, so they'd brought Hoseok with them to the car lot to find a good van for it. Hoseok was an amazing haggler, and he apparently knew enough about cars to steer Jin away from the bright blue van the car lot owner was trying to sell him and over to the black one that was in much better condition. They'd paid for it, plastered a Logo with the bakery number on it, and let Hoseok, Jimin and Taehyung drive it around for a little while so they could safely transport Jimin's things into their apartment.
This event is their first big one though, and Seokjin wasn't aware of how horribly understaffed they were until he had to have Namjoon act as a server instead of helping with the cooking with him and Yoongi. And now Seokjin just let the only other available baker here walk away. It's a wedding for fucks sake, baking is in the job description.
Seokjin's had the cake (four tiered, one chocolate, one vanilla, one strawberry, and one lemon, each with matching frosting and candied flowers, odd for a winter wedding, but who is Seokjin to judge) safely in the second van they'd gotten which has a nifty little cooler to keep things upright and safe and all that fun stuff that proved necessary even in winter. So he'd been prepared is the thing.
For cakes.
What he hadn't been prepared for was the bride to come up to him halfway through setting everything up with her makeup running down her face and only a bodice on in freezing temperatures and snow in the forecast.
“Hyuna, what are you doing? ” Seokjin had hissed, pulling off his suit coat and draping it over her shivering self. He'd nearly called for Hoseok before Hyuna stopped him with a lift of her hand, wrapping delicate fingers around his wrist. That's when he realized that she wasn't crying because she was sad, she was crying because she was pissed.
“Seokjinnie I'm really sorry,” Hyuna began, squeezing her fingers gently around his wrist. “I have a huge favor to ask of you.”
She hadn't been lying, either. Her husband to be, Hyojong, had signed them up for a fancy caterer that had essentially taken their money and now refused to call them back, and the wedding was about to start in three hours. Hyuna had been ready to plead, to beg with Seokjin for help, but he'd settled in and agreed to help her anyways. She was a good friend to Hoseok, had been kind to Taehyung and the rest of their group any time they saw each other.
So he had said yes, sent two groomsmen to the store and had whipped up a wedding worthy meal in under three hours. Then he had to bake again, which is why he's now currently sweating to death and covered in flour. This is harder than Seokjin thought it would be, harder than it was to keep The Last Epiphany running in the first place, but he couldn't back out now. He was so close to freedom.
With the last custard tart sent out on Namjoon's tray and delivered with no incidents, Seokjin dragged himself up the hotel stairs into the room that he, Namjoon and Yoongi rented this morning and headed for the bathroom. He was going to take a goddamn shower, and he'd like to see anyone try to stop him.
Nothing felt as good to Seokjin as the hot spray of water did then, leeching the tenseness from his shoulders, making him nearly sag in relief. He didn't take long, washed all the flour and sticky residue off his body before kicking his jeans out of his way on the floor and heading for the bedroom to pull his suit back on, but he couldn't bring himself to do it just yet. The other towel hanging meant that Yoongi had already showered, so Namjoon should be up here soon.
Seokjin sat on the bed in just his towel, crossed his legs and started rubbing his feet. They hurt , he'd been running himself ragged since he got here, and even though he's glad that he was able to help so much, he's still exhausted.
The bedroom door opens slowly, Namjoon sticking his head around the door and grinning when he catches sight of Seokjin.
“ There you are, Hyung.” Namjoon slips inside, shutting the door behind him before peeling off his serving vest. “I had stopped by the kitchen to tell you that everyone loved the desserts you made, but you were gone already.”
“Hyung was gross and sticky, Namjoon-ah.” Seokjin grumbles, shifting to lay flat on his back. It feels nice, he could use a nap even though he knows he can't, but it's getting more tempting by the second. “Now I'm just exhausted and ready to go home.”
“First dance is starting, they haven't even done cake yet. We have a while.” Namjoon steps out of black slacks that he'll end up having to put back on, starts unbuttoning his white shirt and heads for the bathroom in only his boxer shorts. “How's the shower?”
“Better than at home.” Seokjin admits, grinning stupidly when Namjoon cackles in the other room. The water kicks on, Namjoon hisses either from the chilled water or the pressure behind the nozzle.
“This is better than home.” Namjoon shouts, sounding much more pleased by the shower than Seokjin expected. “Wait, which place is home again?”
“Does it matter?” Seokjin shouts back, pulling himself off the bed with a groan to grab new underwear that he tugs on immediately. They've taken to calling both of the apartments home lately, simply stopping at whatever apartment they're closer to at the time. Neither of their showers are better than this one, but Seokjin's is better than Namjoon's.
Seokjin finishes pulling on his clothing while Namjoon starts singing some song that he doesn't recognize. It's comfortable, it eases the hurts and the stress he's been holding onto the whole time that the wedding has relied on him . It's Namjoon that brings him more comfort than the shower ever could, Namjoon who throws the door of the bathroom open and shimmies along to the music in his head. It's both hilarious and endearing, the way Namjoon shuffles from the room in nothing but a towel, occasionally throwing out a random generic disco move.
The affection he has for Namjoon bubbles and froths until there's a huge smile on Seokjin's face, even as he's shaking his head at his boyfriend. There have been plenty of moments for him to say what he's been thinking the last few months, moments that were sweet, moments that were sad, but it's this moment where Seokjin's ability to hold himself back fails.
“I love you.”
Namjoon freezes mid twirl, spinning around and meeting Seokjin's eyes. Seokjin tries not to look away, because even though it might be too early (is four months early? It doesn't feel like it.) he meant it. He nods and then so does Namjoon, who shuffles over to Seokjin excitedly.
“Well thank fuck for that.” Namjoon breathes, his cheeks pink, his smiles wide. “Because I love you so much, Jin-Hyung.”
“Yeah?” Seokjin can't help the way his laughter bubbles up, or the way he wraps himself around a still damp Namjoon, his button up be damned. “That's the best news I've heard all day.”
Namjoon's arms wrap tightly around Seokjin's waist, and for a while they just cling to each other until Namjoon starts pressing gentle kisses against Seokjin's neck. They pull away from each other after sharing a longing look at the bed (they'd fooled around, but hadn't had sex yet.) and Namjoon chuckles before distancing himself.
“Jungkook is going to be sad he missed this.” Namjoon admits, shifting to his bag and pulling out clean underwear. He gets dressed quickly while Seokjin uses the hairdryer in the bathroom for his hair and the damp spots on his shirt.
“Missed what?” He has to shout over even the lowest setting, but it's at least easy enough to wrangle his hair into a decent style. Seokjin turns off the dryer and shrugs on his vest. Fuck the overcoat at this point, honestly. “The wedding?”
“Well, yeah , he loves weddings.” Namjoon chuckles from the other room, coming in and standing next to Seokjin in the bathroom, gesturing for the hair dryer. “But I meant that we finally said that we love each other.”
“Was he that worried?” Seokjin can't help but snort his laughter when Namjoon turns the dryer on and only succeeds in making his hair a puff ball.
“No, but before he left for Busan today, he told Yoongi-Hyung that he loved him.” Namjoon pauses, passing the dryer on to Seokjin when he makes grabby hands at it. “Hyung didn't get a chance to say it back. Jungkookie said he got called onto the bus right after.”
“Oh shit.” It explains why Yoongi has been so testy today, why every time he looked at his phone made him frown. “I'm sure he'll say it back, Yoongi just likes to do these things in person.”
“I'm not worried, Hyung.” Namjoon thanks Seokjin for fixing his hair with a gentle kiss. “Jungkookie can take care of himself, especially when it comes to Yoongi-Hyung.”
“Hmm.” Seokjin's leans back in and kisses Namjoon all over again until he finds himself backed up against the countertop, tempted to say fuck it to the rest of this wedding to stay here with Namjoon.
“We can't stay.” Namjoon says, like he can read Seokjin's mind. Pressing one last kiss to Seokjin's lips, Namjoon pulls back and tugs them both from the room. “You and I spent too much time candying those flowers and I am going to eat a piece of that fucking cake.”
Seokjin grumbles the whole way downstairs, stopping on the landing before the ballroom and pasting a smile on his face. Yoongi, who Seokjin spots surrounded by a group of wedding people, looks genuinely thankful that Seokjin and Namjoon have finally come downstairs, pulls himself away from the wedding group.
“Hyung, Hyuna-Noona is wondering if we could bring in the cake now.”
Seokjin sighs, nodding before making his way through the crowd with a huge grin on his face to try and find Hyuna. When he finds her, she's leaning against Hyojong and the two of them have huge smiles on his face. It takes Seokjin back, makes him pause. He's not sure he's ever seen Hyojong smile before.
“ Seokjin!” Hyuna practically throws herself at him, all smiles and relieved giggles, and Seokjin can't help but hug her back, just a little. She pulls back from him, her eyes thankfully clear of tears. “Thank you so much for everything you've done for us today. There'd be no wedding if it wasn't for you.”
“You don't have to thank me,” Seokjin waves off her insistence, relaxes a bit more when both Hyuna and her husband seem to be relieved at that. “Do you think you're up for cake?”
--
Yoongi
Seokjin and Namjoon clamber outside and head for the van, puffs of air trailing behind them while Yoongi himself stands by the door, ready to pull it open by the time they're back with the cake. It doesn't take them long, Namjoon hates the cold on a good day, and the frown he's sending up at the sky is not suitable for a wedding.
“Cheer up, Namjoon-ah.” Yoongi grumbles at the still frowning man, though Yoongi does end up shivering regardless. “After the cake we can all go home and sleep for the next three days.”
It makes Namjoon smile if nothing else, so Yoongi thinks that the burst of pride he feels at making his friend smile is totally justified.
They make their way inside, Yoongi stops to make sure that the door shuts behind them completely, and he can hear the crowd gasping at the size of the cake before he even gets to the room.
Hyuna and Hyojong look pretty amazed, as do the rest of the party goers, and Yoongi lingers behind the crowd, an ache in his chest when he spots almost everyone leaning against someone else. It's probably selfish to think while he's at a wedding, but here in this moment, Yoongi really wishes that Jungkook was with him.
He's broken from his misery by a peal of laughter, and when he lifts his head, he finds Hyojong with cake smeared across his lips and Hyuna mirroring him, cake and all. They laugh together and clean each other up, and the tender kisses that they share makes Yoongi’s heart ache.
He didn't even tell Jungkook-
“What do you put in your cakes, Seokjin-ssi?” A young woman asks, her cheeks flushed and her plate full of a thin sliced of each cake. “There's no way they taste this nice on their own, so what is it? What's the secret ingredient?”
Seokjin pauses where he'd been laughing with Hyuna's mother, he blinks at the girl and the crowd around them which has now gone hushed at the chance of hearing an actual secret. He looks at Namjoon and then at Yoongi, a slow smile crossing his lips.
“Alright. You want to know my secret ingredient?” There's humor all over Seokjin's face, but there's truth there too. Yoongi will berate himself later for the way he holds his breath and leans in with the crowd, but at least he's not the only one. Namjoon looks just as curious.
Seokjin pauses, waits until it's absolutely silent in the room, until all eyes are on him and then he drops the act immediately, flicks his eyes towards Namjoon and shrugs. “It's love.”
The crowd cheers, Hyuna and Hyojong share a look of devotion, but Yoongi?
Yoongi pulls back like he's been burned, his hand shifting to the phone in his pocket that still hasn't alerted him to a text from Jungkook. He should have been in Busan hours ago, but it's been silent all day. It should bother him as much as it does, even though he's worried it's not like he's Jungkook's keeper.
The crowd titters and teases Seokjin, thanking him for his food and baked goods, and they leave the venue ridiculously richer, with at least five business cards in their pockets.
By the time they make it back to The Last Epiphany , Seokjin has already made plans to follow Namjoon home instead of Yoongi, and he's not sure if he should be grateful for that or not. He still hasn't heard from Jungkook yet, but he does just kind of want to go home and sleep without being interrupted by Seokjin.
They part ways with hugs and promises to meet up for dinner the next day, the whole of them as a group, and Yoongi is hit with that bizarre feeling of loneliness again. He trudges his way home, feeling sorry for himself and barely able to keep his eyes open, but he makes his way slowly into the apartment. For a moment, Yoongi contemplates falling face first into the couch and never moving again, but he knows that he'd hate himself come morning if he did that.
With a groan, Yoongi heads down the hall to his room, pulling off his tie, and unbuttoning his shirt as he goes. He's exhausted and even though it's cold as fuck, Yoongi tugs off his pants and commits to sleeping in his boxers. Perching on the edge of the bed, Yoongi kicks his pants away from where they'd been caught around his ankle, feeling the bed jiggle when he does so.
It feels a little wobbly, now that Yoongi thinks about it, and he really doesn't want to have to go steal Seokjin's bed tonight, he's too tired to care if his mattress falls during the night-
“Hyung?”
Suddenly, he's wide awake and scrambling for a light source of some kind, but it seems as though Jungkook has that part covered. The light on his side ( his side) clicks on, bathes them both in an orangey glow.
“Jungkook-ah?” Yoongi breathes out his name reverently, softer than he'd meant to, but he can't find it in himself to care. “What are you doing here? I watched you get on the bus.”
“Didn't wanna go.” Jungkook is rubbing at his eyes, like he'd fallen asleep while waiting for Yoongi to get home. It makes him feel guilty, but also makes him feel seen. “Forgot about the wedding. Sorry for falling asleep, Hyung.”
Yoongi shivers on top of the blankets, cursing himself for not getting changed. Now that he's more awake, Yoongi pulls himself off the bed, ignoring the soft noise that Jungkook makes and snags the first pair of pajama pants he finds. He can keep his shirt off, Jungkook will keep him warm. It's easier to crawl into bed after that, to snuggle up against Jungkook who makes a small happy noise and nuzzles their noses together.
“I was worried about you, today.” Yoongi admits once Jungkook had settled them into a comfortable position. He busies himself by petting through Jungkook's hair. “You never let me know that you got to Busan safely, and obviously I know why now, but you had me worried for a while, there.”
“I'm sorry, Hyung. I didn't think, I just came home.” Jungkook shrugs, jostling Yoongi a little bit, but he isn't really thinking. He just hears what Jungkook says over and over again in his head.
I just came home.
“That's alright,” Yoongi whispers, tugging Jungkook close to him after he turns to shut off the light. “That's alright, Kook-ah. Let's just sleep. We can talk tomorrow, okay?”
Jungkook sags against him with a sigh, but nods all the same. They curl into one another, cling to each other, and Yoongi dreams of Jungkook grinning at him, kissing him, whispering welcome home, Hyung to him every day.
Yoongi wakes what feels like minutes later to the sun streaming in through his curtained windows, curled up in a ball on the edge of the bed while Jungkook is starfished right in the middle. He laughs quietly, pulls himself up and out of bed before heading for the kitchen.
He makes a pot of coffee, remembers Jungkook talking a few weeks ago about a quiche and grins when he finds the ingredients right there in the refrigerator. It's easy work getting the onions and everything else chopped and cooking in a skillet. Yoongi makes sure to have everything in the oven and baking before Jungkook even makes a single noise from the bedroom.
In fact, Yoongi is on his fourth cup of coffee before Jungkook even makes his way out of the bedroom. The quiche is cooling next to the oven, and Yoongi is texting Jimin, trying to gather his courage.
“G'morning, Hyung.” Jungkook rasps, shuffling into the kitchen and pressing a fleeting kiss on the top of Yoongi's head. He makes his way to the coffeepot and pours a cup, sipping from it happily.
Yoongi has the urge to see him like this all the time, wants to have Jungkook with him for as long they can make it and never let him go.
“I made you a quiche.” Yoongi says, completely forgetting to tell Jungkook good morning. It's worth it though, the way Jungkook smiles and seems more awake now.
“You did? You're the best , Hyung.” Jungkook heads back to Yoongi, dipping down and pressing their lips together before heading over to the food excitedly.
Yoongi watches Jungkook fondly, shakes his head when Jungkook accidentally lightly burns his finger on the still hot pan and ignores it for the sake of food. He watches when Jungkook comes back with two plates of quiche instead of one and Yoongi's stomach growls at the thought of food. When Yoongi thanks him quietly, Jungkook looks triumphant for some reason, but he groans when he takes a mouthful of quiche.
“Oh my god , this is so good, loveyousomuch.” Jungkook continues to shovel food into his mouth, not noticing that Yoongi has frozen beside him.
This is it, this is what he's been waiting for since Jungkook had mumbled it the first time and then ran onto a bus. Yoongi reaches over, rests his hand on Jungkook's arm to get his attention, pleased when Jungkook smiles, covers Yoongi's hand with his own, and Yoongi allows himself to lean against him.
“I love you too, Jungkook-ah.”
Jungkook smiles again, slow and sweet, and leans over to press his lips to Yoongi's forehead. He lingers there, and Yoongi couldn't keep his eyes from closing if he tried. They sit like that for a while, long enough for their coffees to go cold, until Jungkook pulls back.
“I know you do, Hyung. That's one thing I'll never question.” Jungkook looks oddly serious, like all he wants in this moment is for Yoongi to believe him and he does .
“Good,” Yoongi mumbles, his cheeks red hot, while he turns and tucks back to the food. Beside him, Jungkook laughs softly, bumps his shoulder into Yoongi's and that's that.
Simple and clean.
--
Taehyung
Hoseok and Jimin are on another cleaning spree, getting rid of clothes that none of them wear, shoes no one remembers buying, food that's sat in the cupboards for God knows how long.
Taehyung is sifting through clothing he hasn't touched in years , back from before he and Hoseok got together and Taehyung had been young, stupid, and desperate for anyone to see him. There's the shirt he bled on after trusting an acquaintance to pierce his lip, the pants he was wearing when he got his first tattoo (a butterfly on his chest.) And his very first leather jacket.
Thinking of the past makes him nauseated, and if he's honest, a little bit frightened. He'd gotten lucky when Namjoon took an interest in him, when Jungkook accepted him like they'd been friends forever, when Hoseok came along and made a fire burn in Taehyung that he hadn't even known was possible.
And now he's here.
That's what he focuses on, the sound of Hoseok and Jimin teasing each other with a slight layer of seriousness. Hoseok, for having the idea to clean in the first place and then refusing to throw anything away, Jimin for not wanting to clean at all, and then suddenly finding no use for things that might seen useless, but have so many memories attached.
Sighing, Taehyung shoves the still bloodied shirt into a trash bag. He won't donate that, the shirt is too old, and the fact that it still has his blood on it kind of freaks him out if he's honest. He puts the pants in the donate pile and holds the leather jacket up to examine it. He's much too broad for it now, Taehyung isn't even sure that he'd be able to get it over his arms, but there's a certain fondness for it that makes him not want to throw it away. An idea strikes.
“Hey, Jiminie?” Taehyung calls before he can change his own mind. Besides, Jimin and Hoseok had been easing past teasing territory and into bickering, and Taehyung didn't want to hear it anymore, no matter how much he loves them. “Could you come here for a second?”
Jimin rounds the corner at a brisk walk, cheeks red with frustration and his hands clenched into fists. He sags into a chair gratefully, groaning and thunking his head against the table.
“I can't take this anymore.” Jimin groans, and Taehyung knows that he's joking, that he's just tired and cranky, but it still has a little zing of fear traveling up his spine.
“Jimin.” Taehyung makes his voice serious to hide his nerves, waits until Jimin looks at him to continue. “Hyung and I have lived here for a long time. There's years worth of memories we have to go through, and sometimes it's hard to think about where things came from. It might look like trash to you, but it might also mean everything to one of us. You just have to be patient with us, today.”
Looking properly scolded, Jimin pouts for a second before frowning and nodding
his head. “I didn't really think about it like that.” He shakes his head, like he's trying to relieve some lingering irritation and reaches a hand over and pats Taehyung's arm. “What did you call me in here for?”
“This.” Taehyung holds up his old jacket, offers it to Jimin who is currently frowning, but still takes it. “It's my very first leather jacket and I worked really hard to be able to pay for it. Do you want it?”
“It's beautiful.” Jimin murmurs, stroking a hand down the front. Taehyung is relieved that Jimin didn't ask why he wasn't throwing it away. It takes a moment, but Jimin finally shrugs out of his sweater and pulls the jacket on. They're both surprised by how well it fits him.
Taehyung takes a shaky breath, but smiles wider than he thought he would. “It looks really good on you, Jiminie.”
“It's feels really good.” Jimin admits softly, petting down his chest. He keeps looking from Taehyung to the jacket before grinning happily. “I'll put it in my room.”
Taehyung tries not to flinch, but he's not sure he's successful. Jimin had insisted that he was going to take the guest room when he moved in, claimed that he didn't want his stuff to take over Taehyung and Hoseok's, but Taehyung doesn't see how that would be possible here even though it's a really small apartment.
Jimin had arrived with a total of five cardboard boxes holding his entire life, and when Taehyung had peeked into Jimin's room, it looked like nothing had changed. The bedspread was the same, the walls were still uncovered, the desk still bare. It didn't look like anyone even lived there, Jimin didn't even leave a trace of clothing out, or earrings on his bureau. It was basically like Jimin didn't live there at all since he barely joined them to sleep at night or for… other nighttime activities. Taehyung couldn't help but wonder sometimes if they were really going to work, if Jimin was actually happy that he moved in or if he only did it because he and Hoseok had asked him to.
If only they hadn't insisted so hard, if only they had made him wait, if only the apartment wasn't too small, wasn't nearly falling apart-
“Taetae?”
Taehyung jolts out of his thoughts, blinking over at a suddenly concerned looking Jimin, who is biting his bottom lip, unsure. “You okay?”
Taehyung takes a few measured breaths before nodding, scolding himself internally. He hates thinking that Jimin might be unhappy, that they moved too fast into this.
“Yeah,” Taehyung eventually admits. “Yeah, I'm fine. Hyung isn't the only one with memories here, you know?”
Jimin doesn't look like he really believes Taehyung, but he doesn't exactly say otherwise, either. A few minutes pass before Jimin quietly excuses himself and heads for his room. The sound of the door shutting (quietly, so quiet) makes Taehyung flinch and rest his chin on the table.
That's how Hoseok finds him not too much later, staring at his unsorted pile of clothing and frowning.
“Yah, Taehyung-ah. Are you going to let your Hyung do all the work today?” Hoseok jokes, sitting down to the side of Taehyung like Jimin had. He frowns when Taehyung doesn't respond, bends down to try to catch Taehyung's eye. “Are you okay?”
“Do you think we moved too fast with him?” Taehyung asks, face carefully blank. It's hard not to flinch when Hoseok jolts like Taehyung slapped him. “He doesn't really seem happy here.”
“ He doesn't, or you don't?” Hoseok asks cautiously, raising a brow when Taehyung quickly sits up. “I know you don't really like it here anymore, Taehyung. You don't have to pretend that it's only Jimin that's unhappy.”
Taehyung stays quiet for a while, looks around at their small kitchen and doesn't stop the way his eyes fill with tears faster than he thought was possible. He hates this apartment so much now. It's small, there's mold on a part of the ceiling that won't come out no matter how much he and Hoseok clean, it's musty, and there was barely enough room for him and Hoseok on good days.
Mostly, it reminds him of how much he and Hoseok had to settle, to struggle together just to survive. It reminds him of days they went hungry, when Namjoon would lie about making too much food just so they could get a meal, when every cent went into the rent.
They've outgrown this apartment, and Taehyung can barely stand the sight of it anymore.
“We're too big for this place now.” Taehyung whispers, wiping at his face miserably. He lets Hoseok drag him over to their ratty old couch and burrows into him, crying as quietly as he can. “I love you, but we don't fit here anymore.”
It doesn't take long for the secondary bedroom door to open, for Jimin to come and plaster himself up against Taehyung wordlessly. They sit there until they have to brave the shower to get ready for the group dinner.
--
Hoseok
He's known for years that this apartment wasn't going to be enough for him and Taehyung, let alone when Jimin comes into the picture. Hoseok doesn't regret asking him to move in though, especially not after Jimin admits to him and Taehyung just how lonely it was in his own apartment.
Taehyung calms down pretty quickly, he always has, so Hoseok and Jimin insist that he takes the first shower.
“Is it because I moved in?” Jimin asks, no precursor or anything once they hear the shower turn on. Hoseok pulls him close, presses a kiss onto his hair and holds on tightly. Jimin's handling this really well, all things considered.
“We've wanted to leave the apartment for a long time.” Hoseok admits, mumbling into Jimin's hair. “I think having you move in just reminded him of how badly he wants to leave.”
Jimin nods, though he doesn't look any happier, and Hoseok sighs, burrowing into the couch and groaning. He'll have to get a better job, there's just no way around this anymore. Taehyung cried, and Hoseok promised him that they'd leave years ago. He knows that Namjoon is looking into a few new places too, places closer to Seokjin. Hoseok wonders if he'll mind sharing info on real estate.
Taehyung comes out of the shower with a smile but still a little withdrawn, so Hoseok and Jimin both speed through through their own showers before they all head out for the restaurant down past the The Last Epiphany . Everyone else is already there, so Jimin scoots in next to Yoongi, Taehyung sits next to Jimin, and Hoseok sits between Taehyung and Seokjin. It's a tight fit, but they all make it work.
It was a good idea for everyone to come out, Hoseok thinks. Taehyung is looking happier already, teasing Jungkook across the table, and Jimin is talking with Yoongi animatedly. Hoseok is the only one staying quiet, but he's not upset. He's thinking, wondering how he can do this so he and his boys can be happier, and he's so focused on his thoughts that Hoseok almost doesn't notice Seokjin elbowing him.
“Seok-ah, you have your thinking face on,” Seokjin teases, though his features are twisted with worry. “Is everything alright?”
Hoseok could lie.
Out of everyone here, he knows Seokjin the least, but he's always been kind to Hoseok, even when he himself was being rude.
“Not really.” Hoseok lowers his voice so he can't be overheard, leaning towards Seokjin. He sighs, suddenly exhausted. “The apartment was too small for me and Taehyung, and now with Jimin, we're all feeling a little tense. I want to look for another place, but that means I need a new job and no one is hiring. I'm a little stressed out, Hyung.”
He's panting by the end of his tirade, wiping a suddenly sweaty brow. Hoseok doesn't want to see pity on Seokjin's face, doesn't want to hear his condolences or that he should have thought of these things before asking Jimin to move in. None of that ends up happening.
What does happen, is this:
Seokjin gets this look on his face, like it's Christmas morning and he's just gotten the gift he'd wanted most, and he sits up straight. Then, he's reaching for his bag on the floor that's full of papers and thrusting one at Hoseok, who scrambles to take it. He sees the words Server Needed for Catering Job and freezes.
“Hyung.” Hoseok can barely breathe, skims through the information available and practically gapes at the wage offering. “Jesus- I can't take this job.”
Seokjin waves his hand, catching Namjoon's attention who observed them like they're the most interesting thing he's ever seen. When his eyes land on the papers in Hoseok's hands, Namjoon grins, winks at Hoseok and mouths Take the job at him.
“Don't be stupid, Seok-ah.” Seokjin snorts inelegantly, taking a massive sip from his water glass and nearly choking from it. “I'd rather have someone I know on my team, and I was going to ask you three if you'd be willing to help out some of the time anyways.”
Hoseok is ready to turn him down immediately, he can't take money from friends and he plans on telling Seokjin exactly that, but a hand on his arm has him pausing.
“Hoseok, I wouldn't have offered the job to you if I didn't think you deserve it.” Seokjin looks more serious than Hoseok has ever seen him before. “ The Last Epiphany is doing more than well enough for us to pay you that amount without it causing issues. A lot of the time Yoongi is going to be Manning the store with Jungkook around to help when he can, and I'll need you when we do catering, Hoseok. You'll be worked hard, it'll be exhausting, but it'll be worth it, I can promise you that.”
How could he say no?
“Can I try a shift and let you know after?” Hoseok practically pleads, feeling a little overwhelmed. It seems Seokjin can tell because he's clearly got something else to say, but is holding himself back. “What, what is it, Hyung?”
“About your apartment issue,” Seokjin begins, running a hand through his hair. He looks nervous, which is the only reason Hoseok is able to relax. “There's a couple of places that just opened on our floor. Namjoon has eyes on one, but I can put in a good word with the landlord for the other if you want me to.”
So not only is Seokjin offering him a job, but he's also offering a potential place to stay. The job would make it so that they could actually afford the apartment (and more) if he wanted. Can he do that, though? Can he take all that from a Hyung he doesn't know that well? Better yet, can he take it from a Hyung he wants to know better?
Hoseok glances at Taehyung, who is still laughing, but looks a little bit weary, a little dull, and Hoseok's heart aches to soothe him. He looks back at Seokjin whose face is carefully blank, and sighs.
“How soon could we look at the apartment?”
Seokjin beams, and Hoseok gives in.
-
They leave right after dinner, the four of them heading to Seokjin's apartment building. Hoseok is nervous , because he's seen Seokjin's immaculate apartment and lack of smoke stained walls, he's seen the pictures in the hallway and the lovely peach color of Seokjin's bedroom.
He's also seen the “Pets Allowed” sign down in the lobby which they did not have at their own apartment that Taehyung pointed out immediately.
Taehyung and Seokjin are walking hand in hand down the hallway while Jimin and Hoseok follow at a much more sedate pace. Seokjin pauses outside of an apartment two doors down from his own, pushes the door open and let's the three of them inside before following after, himself.
The place is beautiful , there's open space everywhere and it comes partially furnished which is a plus Hoseok hadn't been counting on. The kitchen is at least twist the size of their own, with a counter island in the middle and enough space in-between the kitchen and living room for a table to be put in if they wanted one. Hoseok pushes past a silent Taehyung down the hallway and peers onto the bathroom, gaping at the two bowl sink, the showerhead hanging from the ceiling and heads for the bedrooms instead.
The main bedroom is massive, easily double if not triple the size of their current one, big enough for a king sized mattress and to still have room enough for a bureau and end tables. Not to mention the closet, which is a fucking walk-in. Even the secondary bedroom is large enough for at least a queen sized bed, so Jimin could have his own space, and still have more than enough room if he ever decided to move into Hoseok and Taehyung's room.
He sits down in the middle of the floor of the second bedroom, thinks of their dingy old apartment, of how the only person tying them there was Halmeoni, and she finally just accepted her daughter's offer to move in. There's literally nothing holding him back from just saying Yes, fuck yes, thank you to everything.
It's all he can think about, especially when Taehyung comes into the room, sits next to him and bumps Hoseok's shoulder gently.
“What are we doing here?” Taehyung asks, disappointment in his voice that Hoseok absolutely loathes to hear. It hurts him to know that Taehyung is miserable.
“Is this the kind of place that you want?” Hoseok wonders, keeping his voice light and curious, and he feels a vague sense of victory when all Taehyung does is nod sadly. It cements the thought he'd had before Taehyung came in. They all deserve the freedom and the open air this apartment could offer, so Hoseok whispers his next words. “I want to give this place to you. To both you and Jimin.”
Taehyung just smiles sadly, nods again and looks around at the space.
“No, you're not hearing me.” Hoseok grabs Taehyung by the shoulders, shakes him gently and gestures around himself. “I am giving this place to you. To us. ”
“I don't understand.” It's Jimin that speaks, peering inside the room from the hallway with a tilt of his head. “How can we afford this?”
“Seok-ah is going to try working for Epiphany Catering with this Seok and Namjoonie.” Seokjin calls down the hallway, and when no one answers, snickers and shouts “2Seok for life, bitches.”
It breaks the tension that had been building, and Hoseok gets the pleasure of watching Taehyung smile for real for the first time in days. Jimin rushes them both, drapes over their laps and looks up at the ceiling.
Hoseok has a good feeling about this.
--
Jimin
Jimin and Taehyung are moving their stuff around in the new place, waiting for Hoseok to come home from his weekend of catering parties with Seokjin and Namjoon Hyungs. Taehyung has been much more happy the last few weeks that they've been in the new place more, and even Hoseok was surprised by how much the apartment helped his own worries, not to mention that he actually loved the job with Epiphany Catering.
( The first time Hoseok got a check from Seokjin and Namjoon, he'd nearly cried all night from how thankful he was. Taehyung had cried with him while Jimin cooked dinner and fretted over the two of them for hours. They'd explained later that they never expected to be somewhere as nice as here, knowing the kindness that they've been given. Jimin had cried then, and they'd all climbed into the king sized bed together and fell asleep in a tangle of limbs.)
Taehyung is humming, carrying the last of his newly washed clothes into his and Hoseok's room. It had taken them a lot longer than they anticipated to fully move into the place, and now Jimin was the only one whose meager belongings were still packed away in boxes.
If he was honest with his boyfriends, he would have told them that he'd simply never un packed at the old place, had just left his boxes piled under the bed instead.
The thing is, Jimin doesn't want the second bedroom, he never wanted the second bedroom, he'd only ever insisted on staying there because there just wasn't enough room for him in their old place no matter how much Taehyung and Hoseok insisted there was, and now? Now Jimin has more space than he knows what to do with and he doesn't even want it.
He's not stupid. He knows that Taehyung and Hoseok wonder if he really wants this, if he regrets moving in too fast or something else equally as silly, but now Jimin doesn't know how to tell them, how to ask if he can just-
Stay.
Jimin is pulled from his head by the front door opening, and a tired but blessedly happy looking Hoseok steps into the apartment. Taehyung, who genuinely has an alert set on his phone for when Hoseok comes home from jobs that take him away (he has one for himself and Jimin too on the rare occasion they join Seokjin on traveling jobs), zooms past Jimin and practically leaps onto Hoseok, who wraps arms around him and swings him around. Jimin loves watching them like this, when they're both so happy, but what he loves most is what happens next.
Without even looking at him, Hoseok and Taehyung hold out one of their hands at the same time, sharing a kiss and beckoning Jimin over. He pulls himself up, takes their hands in each of his and gets pulled right between them, plastered between two chests and feeling more at home than he ever had on his own.
Jimin tilts his head, capturing Hoseok's lips against his own, humming happily. Taehyung is stroking gently down Jimin's back, practically vibrating with how happy he is. Jimin feels much of the same, wriggles once Hoseok pulls back and buries his face in the crook of Hoseok's neck.
It's now or never, he figures, so he takes a few calming breaths and tries to think of something profound to say, but ends up blurting: “Do I have to stay in the second room, because honestly, all I want is to fall asleep and wake up with you both, since you happen to be the loves of my life and all that.”
There's no pause, no questioning, no disbelief. There is however, palpable relief.
“Oh thank God, if you chose that room over us I was gonna move my stuff in there anyways, giant room be damned.” Taehyung breathes heavily, the warm air tickling the back of Jimin's neck, making him chuckle.
“Fuck yes, finally. I can't wait to wake up with my loves every morning.” Hoseok sighs, effectively squishing Jimin in a bone crushing hug. “I love you too by the way, but if I don't sit down, I'm gonna fall down and no one wants that.”
“I love you more.” Taehyung insists, shuffling them over to the couch where they collapse into a pile on the couch. “I'm also not cooking. Fuck cooking. Can we get Takeout?”
“I fucking love takeout.” Jimin groans, partially at the joy of not having to cook, but mostly from being squished between two grown men. “And I love you most.”
They playfully bicker until the food comes, and then Hoseok and Taehyung help Jimin move his stuff into their room, all of them in the same room with plenty of space.
That night, Jimin falls asleep murmuring words of love, surrounded by the men he chose, the men who will always love him back.
--
Jungkook
There's something bothering Namjoon, and Jungkook knows it. He's known ever since Hoseok, Taehyung and Jimin moved out of their building and into Seokjin's. It got worse when Halmeoni left for good, especially after she cried after a chat with only Namjoon. It all comes to a head when Namjoon settles next to Jungkook on the couch the next time they have a day off together.
“I don't want to live here anymore, Jungkook.” Namjoon begins, wriggling in his seat nervously. “And I don't want you to live here anymore either. Do you want to move to Hyungs building with everyone else?”
They've got the money, is the thing.
The catering business took off, and Jungkook decided to take a semester out of school so he could pull his own weight finally, so he's been helping Yoongi down at the bakery when Seokjin, Hoseok and Namjoon have to travel for catering. He's made enough money to rent the apartment by himself, so renting it with Namjoon isn't an issue.
Sure, he's grown up here, but there's room to grow as a person in the other building too, and he wants that more than anything.
“I think it's a good idea,” Jungkook settles on saying, trying not to notice the way Namjoon sags in apparent relief. “Home is wherever you and my Hyungs are.”
Namjoon settles at that, ruffling Jungkook's hair and hurrying off to his room to call Seokjin. Jungkook wonders if he should call Yoongi, but he gets a text from him before Jungkook can even pick up his phone. He snorts at the text, grinning at the thought of being so close to Yoongi all the time.
Yoongi: Well, hello there, neighbor.
--
Jungkook has gotten better at the whole baking thing, he basically had to, to help Yoongi in any way, and most of the time, he's proud of his work. They work well together, he and Yoongi.
Yoongi loves the actual part of baking, loves measuring and separating ingredients, loves seeing his creations come to completion, but he doesn't have the patience for decoration. That's where Jungkook comes in, making roses from fondant, decorating cookies with royal icing, and making intricate patterns with frosting.
He loves his work, and more often than not finds himself with Seokjin putting the final touches on wedding or anniversary cakes. He's proud of himself, and it's not hard to tell that his Hyungs feel the same way. In fact, there's been a thought running through his head lately, and he's been too afraid to tell Namjoon, even if he's already told Yoongi who thinks it's a good idea.
So tonight, Jungkook makes dinner the way that Yoongi showed him, has everything set up by the time his Hyung comes home. He doesn't tell Namjoon that he's the one that made the food until he's finished eating, and then he has to explain why he made the meal.
“I think I want to minor in culinary, Hyung.” Jungkook blurts, hunching in on himself and awaiting the potential of Namjoon being disappointed. When the silence gets to be too much, he lifts his head and sees his brother smiling. “I really started to love doing this.”
“I'm proud of you, Jungkook-ah. If you think it won't be too much stress and it's really what you want to do, then I'll support you.” Namjoon reassures him easily, tugging Jungkook into his lap like he used to when Jungkook was small. He still fits in his big brothers lap, can still curl up into a ball and let himself be held, so that's what Jungkook does.
He texts Yoongi later, and sends in his application to the culinary arts center of his school and falls asleep with a smile on his face, basking in the feeling of his brothers love and support.
--
Namjoon
It's a quiet day at home for once, even though he's waiting for Seokjin to get home. He can't believe it's been nearly an entire year since he met his boyfriend and Yoongi, can't even fathom where he'd be without any of his current friends. He doesn't like thinking about it, if he's honest.
Namjoon is waiting in Seokjin's apartment, what could very well end up being their apartment, if the talk Namjoon heard between Jungkook and Yoongi was to be believed. He's not sure he's ready to leave his brother yet, but he also wants to spend his time with Seokjin, even though they're pretty much together all the time anyways.
The door opens with a bang, Seokjin stumbles through the doorway carrying a box of something that's making a terrible amount of noise.
“Hyung?” Namjoon asks slowly, watching the careful way Seokjin sets the box down, the way he darts back into the hall and brings in- “Is that a litterbox? Are there cats in that box?”
“Some asshole left kittens right outside in the dumpster, Namjoon.” Seokjin hisses, undoing the flaps on the box and cooing down into it. Namjoon makes his way over slowly, expecting one or two cats, and finding four.
“Hyung-”
“ Don't. ” Voice on the verge of pleading, Seokjin reaches into the box and cradles a shivering kitten close to his chest, reaching in for another. Autumn has been rough this year, bitter and cold. “Just help me, Joon. Please?”
Namjoon rubs his hands together and reaches into the box, his irritation melting when the two remaining kittens absolutely burrow into the warmth of his hands. How could someone do this, leave such innocent creatures alone in the cold? Who could be so cold-hearted?
Wait, wait. Fuck.
They're going to end up keeping at least one kitten, Namjoon just knows it. He knows it when the little things fall asleep curled in a ball on his chest, he knows when he looks over at Seokjin and finds him in almost the same exact situation.
He also knows they'll all be close by when Jungkook stops by and snags the little gray kitten, disappearing down the hall where Namjoon knows Yoongi is waiting eagerly. Jimin shows up not too long after, gently lifts the still sleeping orange tabby, passing by Taehyung who chooses the only all black kitten.
Their kitten, a brown striped little thing, is curled between Namjoon and Seokjin on the couch, while they quietly debate names together. Jungkook texts soon after and lets them know that their kitten is named Gull, closely followed by Taehyung who enlightens them to his, Jimin and Hoseok's own kittens names, Cricket (the orange one) and Ink (the black one). That just left him and Seokjin.
“I have no idea what to call him.” Seokjin sighs, sinking down onto the floor to stare at the kitten from that level. It's endearing as hell, and suddenly Namjoon knows exactly what to call him.
“Let's call him Epiphany.” He offers, grinning when Seokjin raises an unimpressed brow. Namjoon sticks his tongue out. “We'll call him Pip for short.”
“Huh.” Seokjin blinks a few times, turning to look at the little bundle of fur that's beginning to stir. When the kitten opens his eyes and lets out the tiniest little mrrp noise, Seokjin softens, strokes down the kittens back. “Hello, Pip.”
There are all kinds of love in the world that he could have found here, Namjoon thinks as he watches Seokjin play with Pip, his heart full as he watches his boyfriend boop the little kittens nose.
There's familial love, like the kind he gets from Jungkook, friendly love from Hoseok, Taehyung and Jimin. Competitive love that he gets from Yoongi, unconditional love that will (hopefully) come from Pip, and the most unexpected love that he's gotten so far.
An honest love.
“Hey, Jin-Hyung.” Namjoon calls, pleased when Seokjin turns to him immediately, even though Pip is currently gnawing on his finger. “I love you.”
Barely a second passes before Seokjin is grinning, wild and beautiful at Namjoon and only Namjoon, scooting next to him with Pip still attached to his finger and pressing a fleeting kiss against Namjoon's lips. When Seokjin pulls back, he's grinning, and Namjoon's insides flutter because he knows exactly what Seokjin is going to say next.
“I love you too, Namjoon-ah.”
And it's true, he does.