Work Text:
Yoongi did not understand how anyone could smile that brightly this early in the morning. Unnatural, Yoongi thought, as though the barista had actually gotten enough sleep.
“What was the name?” the beaming barista asked, holding a pen to the cup that would soon hold Yoongi’s will to live.
“Yoongi.”
The barista smiled, looking him up and down, “Great name.”
Yoongi frowned, too tired to focus on thinking of a correct response to whatever just happened. “Thank you?”
The barista winked, “Your coffee will be ready in a moment.”
***
Hoseok had never met someone so grumpy in the morning as Min Yoongi. It was kind of cute, that little pout he had as he sat down in the corner booth every Tuesday and Friday morning to wait for his coffee. After his first cup the pout would turn into a frown, his eyebrows bunched together as he poured over his books, scribbling notes along the way and tapping the end of his pencil on the table in perfect rhythm to whatever song was playing in the café.
After the second, you might be lucky enough to get hints of a smile, if whatever he was reading was worthy of it.
There was something about him that drew Hoseok’s gaze. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Yoongi was quiet and very withdrawn. Hoseok had seen him speak to barely three people outside of the staff, and even then, Yoongi was always the quiet one.
But somehow, Yoongi spoke without words. He was kind in ways like himself, quiet and small: offering water before someone asks during long sessions with other students, remembering coffee orders and actually listening when people spoke to him, no matter how uncomfortable with the exchange he was—Hoseok knew an introvert when he saw one.
Yoongi also remembered all the names of the staff that worked at the café, something even the regulars who came and went rarely did. It wasn’t the big bright personality that Hoseok usually fell for, and yet… Hoseok loved it when Yoongi said his name.
***
Yoongi didn’t know what drew him to this particular cafe. The coffee wasn’t the best, it was ten minutes further than the café closest to the music block on campus, and sure it wasn’t crowded, but there were plenty of places he could go to like that.
Yoongi didn’t know why he came to this one, and yet, three times a week he would turn right and walk across campus just to be greeted by Jung Hoseok’s brightest smile.
"Americano for my favourite customer!" Hoseok said in a sing-song voice as he placed the cup of coffee beside Yoongi's notebook. Even though logically, Yoongi knew that Hoseok probably said that to all his regulars, it still warmed his heart to be called Hoseok’s favourite.
Maybe he had some idea of what kept him coming back.
But those reasons didn’t matter, not when he had to compose this piece before the weekend, and currently, the only thing that could get the music to flow was the way Hoseok moved as he danced around the café, each step more graceful than any music Yoongi could write. But he tried anyway, tried to capture the way Hoseok floated through the room as though his feet didn’t need to even touch the ground.
Yoongi stared as Hoseok turned to him just as the clouds parted, pouring light through the windows of the café. Music filled his mind, the turn accompanied by a dynamic melody that no one could hear but him, and no one would understand but them.
"Wow, you really are smitten, aren't you?"
The music died and Yoongi turned back to Taehyung who was looking at him with that cheeky little smirk that Yoongi knew meant nothing good.
"I'm not smitten.”
"You've been staring at him for ten minutes."
"Taehyung," Yoongi deadpanned, not interested in hearing Taehyung’s probably accurate opinion on his crush on their barista.
"So you wouldn't mind if I just…" Taehyung got to his feet, much to Yoongi's distress, and walked up to the counter. He leaned forward on his elbows while casting a glance back at Yoongi. Yoongi refused to look directly at him, crossing his arms as he scoffed at Taehyung’s antics, watching only from the corner of his eyes as he pretended to go back to his sheet music. Taehyung didn't need the attention.
But Hoseok was there giving it to him anyway, taking Taehyung’s order with that smile and bubbly attitude that Yoongi hated but also didn’t. Taehyung was lapping it up, making small talk in that easy flirtatious way that Yoongi could never achieve.
Taehyung just smirked at him as he came and sat back down, his receipt in his hand.
“Shut up.” Yoongi slumped forward, pouting.
“I didn’t say anything!” Taehyung laughed, the sound of it carrying through the café.
Yoongi rolled his eyes again, turning back to his sheet music. He sighed, letting his mind wander, the world drifting away as his music filled in the space around him. Chords and melodies melding together in perfect harmony. Despite himself, his gaze fell back on Hoseok grooving to the café music, the only clear thing in his world of sound, as he made Taehyung’s coffee.
It was just so cute. And maybe Taehyung had a point, but Yoongi would never admit that to him.
***
Hoseok knew he shouldn’t be this nervous. He’d already asked most of the regulars, and it wasn’t as if Yoongi was intimidating with those cheeks and awkward half shrugs.
This was silly, Hoseok just needed to ask him. He grabbed one of the flyers he’d brought with him and marched to Yoongi’s table, where he was sitting with Tae.
“Would you like to come to my dance recital?” Hoseok asked with total confidence and an award-winning grin. Yoongi blinked up at him with his beautiful brown eyes and Hoseok had suddenly never been more scared of an answer. What would happen if he said no? Would it be awkward? What if Yoongi stopped coming to the café?
"I, uh…"
"He would love to!" Tae piped up beside him, wrapping his arm around Yoongi who was still looking owlishly at Hoseok, his mouth slightly open. Hoseok held his breath until Yoongi nodded and took the flyer.
***
Hoseok’s smile was symphonies in Yoongi's eyes.
***
In the months Yoongi had been coming to the café, he had never heard Hoseok so much as raise his voice. Now the whole café was silent as they listened to the muffled yelling as Hoseok ranted at some unimpressed student across the courtyard, who at the end of this unnerving act, just shrugged and walked away.
The crash of the café door as it was slammed open was louder in the silence of his rant. The occupants of the café turned back to what they were doing as Hoseok stormed silently into the room. Somehow, the silence was scarier than any yelling, and Yoongi wouldn't have been surprised to see a dark cloud hanging over Hoseok's head.
Everyone stayed seated, avoiding Hoseok’s gaze, except Yoongi, who stood and walked up Hoseok, holding out a cup of water and a silent offer to talk, that Hoseok accepted with an overcast expression in comparison to his usual sunshine smile .
Hoseok was still fuming as Yoongi led him to the table at the back of the room, a light hand on the small of his back. Yoongi didn't know what to say to make this better; so he said nothing at all. He watched as the fire in Hoseok's eyes trickled back to their regular glow and he stopped squeezing the life out of Yoongi's glass of water and instead brought it to his lips to drink.
“If you want to talk, I’m a good listener,” Yoongi said quietly, biting his lip as he looked at Hoseok’s glowering expression. Yoongi wasn’t afraid of Hoseok, but he didn’t want to push him in any way that would make him uncomfortable. Yoongi was patient, and he would wait until Hoseok was ready.
Hoseok hiccuped as he tried to breathe, tears welling in his eyes as he rolled his head back, looking up at the ceiling in an attempt to keep the tears in his eyes. Yoongi leaned forward and took his hands on instinct, the part of him crushing on Hoseok screeching in his head, but Yoongi ignored them as he squeezed Hoseok’s hand, hoping even in his awkward state of being, he could still be some kind of comfort to Hoseok.
He was about to pull away when Hoseok squeezed back.
***
Hoseok was fucked.
So completely and utterly fucked.
And here was Yoongi being the world’s biggest sweetheart with that cute smile and it was so overwhelming.
“My pianist for my recital pulled out.” Hoseok hated that he was crying. He hated it and he couldn’t stop it because he’d been working on this dance all year. His recital was in two damn days and his fucking pianist, who had sworn they would be available was fucking off to Jeju-Do for the week. Hoseok knew he shouldn't trust them. He knew their reputation to ditch. But he’d still given them a second chance.
And now he was paying for it.
He was so fucked.
And then Yoongi said the most beautiful words Hoseok had ever heard.
“Well, I can play piano.”
Hoseok pulled Yoongi forward by his hands, staring at him as his heart beat faster, hope growing uncertainly.
“Are you being serious right now? You can learn the piece by Friday? You have time that afternoon?”
Yoongi nodded. “I’ve been learning most of my life. I am majoring in music productions. My last class was last week so I’m free whenever.”
“Yoongi I fucking love you, you’re my saviour. Are you able to rehearse tomorrow?”
Hoseok didn’t fail to notice the blush rising in Yoongi’s cheeks, or the way his eyes dilated as he nodded. “Yeah, I am.”
“Okay, okay, okay,” Hoseok was hyperventilating slightly but he felt lighter than he had all day. “Give me your phone so I can give you my number. I’ll text you details once I sort out a rehearsal room with the professor.”
“Yeah, okay,” Yoongi said, handing him his phone. Hoseok grinned as he set the contact as ‘Hobi’ with a heart beside it and texted himself so he had Yoongi’s number as well.
He had Min Yoongi’s number. Now that was as much of an achievement as finding a pianist this close to the recital.
Today had quickly gone from the worst day of his life, to one of the best.
***
In all his years as a student, Yoongi had never seen the inside of the dance hall. He’d been asked of course, to play for recitals, for students and for concerts, but he wasn’t the type to step into the spotlight. He didn’t enjoy having thousands of eyes on him as he played.
It had given him a reputation as someone who was uncooporative and unworkable, but it didn’t matter. Once he got his degree he would be able to join a company and produce songs like he’d always dreamed of doing, and without the need to be famous.
He’d never stepped foot inside this building for anyone. And yet, here he was, sitting behind the donated grand piano in the most prestigious dance hall in Seoul, looking over the sheet music Hoseok had given him with an earnest smile.
“I know it’s a tricky part, but if it’s too much I have a backup” Hobi said, bouncing on the balls of his feet. He was dressed in casual clothes, sweatpants and a loose white shirt. Yoongi had never seen Hobi in anything but his work uniform and he hadn’t been able to stop looking since he’d walked in.
“No, I can do this,” Yoongi said, after a few glances at the sheet music, smiling as he recognised it. It was a complicated piece, and it had seen many disastrous attempts, but if done right, it was one of the most captivating pieces of music ever written. It made sense that it was the piece that Hoseok had chosen.
“Okay, so I have a recording done from when I did it with my last pianist and so I thought we’d run through with that so you could get a feel for the tempo and my pauses and stuff?” Hobi held up a speaker, and Yoongi nodded, thankful that Hoseok came prepared.
The music started slow, and Hoseok mimicked the sound. His movements were low and smooth, in exact time with the rising melody, right up until the first verse, where the music stopped suddenly. Yoongi read along with the music, his gaze darting between the sheet music and Hoseok dancing. The tempo increased. It became snappier and louder and Hoseok did too, his movements sharp and precise. Every step was in perfect rhythm with the beat of the bass line. It was incredible, how he had shaped the classical music to make it his own.
Yoongi couldn’t even follow along the music anymore, his eyes glued on every movement, every step Hoseok took as he switched between contemporary and hip hop dance with ease. It was mesmerising. Hoseok was mesmerising.
Yoongi wasn’t sure he was breathing anymore, or if he knew how to breathe anymore, even as he recognised the final verse of the song, as Hoseok’s movements slipped back into the slow contemporary dance, retracing his first steps back into the position on the floor that he’d started in.
Yoongi knew that his applause was nothing compared to the praise that he wished to convey but there was nothing more that he could do until his words came back to him with the breath that Hoseok had stolen with his performance.
"So," Hoseok said, wiping the sweat off his forehead, "What do you think?"
Yoongi wasn’t thinking straight as his mouth ran away from him and said, “You are beautiful.”
Hoseok giggled, beaming at Yoongi. “Do you think you can handle it?”
Yoongi didn’t know if he meant Hoseok or the piece, and Yoongi was only sure about one.
***
Hoseok had never been more nervous in his life than in this exact moment. Everything depended on this dance—his grades, his career as a dancer. Today was the difference between the front and back row of the stage. Between a career of dancing for a company or one of teaching others to do it instead.
This was it.
Yoongi smiled at him from across the stage, that small smile that Hoseok had never seen him give to anyone else. The one he liked to think was just for him.
They had practised for hours the day before, gone over the music, again and again, mastering the pauses and the dynamics of each section, learning how to be in rhythm with one another.
Yoongi played the piano like the world was ending after the final note. He poured his soul into every stroke of the keys, every movement as precise as any dance Hoseok could perform. Hoseok had never seen anyone play like Yoongi played, and he knew he never would. Yoongi was born to play, just as Hoseok was born to dance.
Hoseok knew he danced better with Yoongi behind the keys than he had ever done with his old pianist. He could feel it, the way they worked in perfect harmony, even with their limited practise. Yoongi understood the music, the dance better than anyone else, and it showed. Hoseok felt that connection with each chord, each spin, each landing, he knew that they were connected, and that connection was growing stronger with every passing note.
In this moment they were one. Hoseok never wanted to let the moment go.
As he spun to Yoongi’s held note, one of the one’s Yoongi had suggested holding longer in their practise session the day before, he couldn’t help but use Yoongi as his grounding point so he wouldn’t fall. Yoongi looked so solemn as he played, his face barely moving, unlike many passionate pianists. But it made sense, all of his energy, his passion, his soul, was going into his fingers and the way they danced across the keys. It went into the music.
Hoseok moved into his final position, holding it for three seconds after Yoongi’s final note had faded before standing to the uproar of applause from the audience of his peers and family.
***
Hoseok bowed gracefully to his audience, the cheers only growing in volume as he lifted his head. Yoongi couldn’t help but smile, watching Hoseok gain the praise he deserved.
His heart skipped a beat when Hoseok turned from his audience to look at him, his smile brighter than the sun. And despite the audience, despite the hundreds of people cheering for him, Yoongi knew that smile was just for him.
Hoseok gestured to him, motioning him to stand. Hoseok clapped for him, directing the applause to Yoongi, and he stood and waved, smiling vaguely at the audience. He didn’t really care for the applause, he had all he needed in Hoseok.
Yoongi walked off stage as the applause died and waited for Hoseok in the hallway. He leaned against the wall, thinking about the performance, the way Hoseok had smiled at him.
He couldn’t get it out of his head. That look. The way he’d reacted to it. The connection they had shared. It was different than friends, and more than anything they could share with just words. It was something deeper than that.
Hoseok opened the doors to the hallway with unnecessary dramatics, but he smiled again and ran towards Yoongi, jumping on him, causing Yoongi to stagger backwards, trying to keep them both upright.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Hoseok sang, laughing as he pulled Yoongi closer, his arms tight around Yoongi’s waist.
It felt right.
Yoongi pushed Hoseok away just enough to make room between them. He lifted himself up onto his toes and pressed his lips to Hoseok’s.
The kiss was made of music. Yoongi’s hands moved to either side of Hoseok’s neck, cupping his chin as he pushed against him, as Hoseok pushed back, his hands tight around Yoongi’s waist, lifting him off the ground as they spun. Yoongi could feel Hoseok’s smile against his mouth as his feet touched back on the ground. He could see it as their foreheads pressed together and Yoongi looked up into Hoseok’s warm eyes. He was so beautiful.
A soft blush was faint across Hoseok’s cheeks, his breathing staggered as he laughed, the sound music to Yoongi’s ears.
“What?” Yoongi asked, his own grin impossible to contain.
“It took you long enough,” Hoseok teased, laughing again as Yoongi huffed, rolling his eyes. Hoseok’s hold on him didn’t let him escape though, not that Yoongi wanted to go anywhere.
“You’re awful,” Yoongi pouted slightly, attempting to look offended. Hoseok just laughed again, and it was entirely unfair, how easily Yoongi’s frown disappeared when he heard that sound, greater than any song. Yoongi sighed, accepting his fate as he said:
“Kiss me again.”