Work Text:
The room is quite bland, all white walls and the only furniture in it are a table and two chairs, not a scary place. Even the fact that there will be a camera and a few people documenting what he says is not as intimidating as Yoongi thought it would be.
"If you look under the table you can see two switches," Park Jimin is wearing a white robe, which is hilarious because he's so not a person who should be wearing one; his major is sociology and he's still far from graduating. Yoongi laughs at the absurdity as he takes his seat and Jimin is too busy giving them instructions to notice he's being mocked, "If you switch them one of the lamps on the table will light up, please use the one on the right if your answer is yes and the one on the left if the answer is no"
Yoongi nods and promptly starts pressing on both playfully, the lamp on the table continuously switches from a red and green light. Seokjin is doing the same with his own lamp, they laugh when they realize that they had the same idea. One brain cell.
"Here are your questions" Jimin continues instructing, he sets a pile of cards in the middle of the table, "Take turns asking, please answer with the truth and elaborate after every question"
That makes Yoongi a tiny bit worried, but probably not as much as Seokjin should be; that boy acts like being honest about anything is going to kill him. Yet when Jimin went to the groupchat a few weeks ago and asked for help with a school project about a social experiment, promising a reward for anyone participating, Seokjin accepted enthusiastically.
Unluckily for Yoongi that meant he'd have to do it as well; the experiment required a pair of roommates to answer a few questions in the form of a game of "never have i ever". It sounded really lame, but ultimately harmless so Yoongi accepted in the end.
Jimin goes to help set up the camera or just talk to the kid that already did. Yoongi and Seokjin are left sitting on opposite sides of the table; Seokjin's still playing with the little switches and giggling when Jimin asks him to stop.
"Names and ages, please" Jimin has started the camera now, he reads from a clipboard that's just as unnecessarily theatrical as the robe.
"Min Yoongi, 27"
"Kim Seokjin, I'm twenty- twenty eight"
Yoongi doesn't miss the chance to make fun of the way Seokjin stuttered, "You're getting old" he says, which he knows is dumb because he's only a couple months younger, but Seokjin blushes and frowns, so Yoongi still feels like he won.
"How long have you known each other?"
"Five years?" Seokjin asks, Yoongi would be offended if he really didn't know that but Seokjin is just pretending to appear nonchalant in front of the camera; they celebrate an anniversary every year on a date that Seokjin carefully calculated himself.
Yoongi nods and confirms, "five years"
"Why did you decide to become roommates?"
"We were put in the same dorm sophomore year," Yoongi answers, he doesn't feel like acting nonchalant, so he just tells the story like he remembers it; just like it is, "when we graduated and had to move out we figured it'd be easier to stay together"
He's meant to say that financially it was more convenient, that they'd grown close after living together, that he was really comfortable with Seokjin and that he hated the idea of moving with anybody else.
"You can start with your questions now" Jimin instructs them. Yoongi and Seokjin reach for the first card at the same time, they laugh when their hands clash on top of the pile and Yoongi lets Seokjin have it.
"Never have I ever made you clean after me"
Yoongi goes to press the switch on the left, it makes the lamp on the table light up in red. He sees Seokjin's has turned green.
"That's a lie" Seokjin points to his red light, "You've made me clean after yourself many times"
Yoongi shakes his head, "I don't make you clean after me, you are just too impatient and won't wait for me to clean up my own stuff" He goes for the next card to avoid further confrontation, "Never have I ever taken your clothes"
Yoongi's light is green this time while Seokjin's switches to red.
"You're always taking my clothes" Seokjin shakes his head feigning annoyance, "It's not fair, because yours don't even fit me"
It's fun to be doing this with Seokjin, Yoongi can almost always predict which light he's going to switch, what kind of excuse he'll make or what sort of dig he'd try to make at him; they know each other fairly well by now.
"Never have I ever flirted with one of your friends"
Both their lights turn green almost immediately, none of them are shocked.
"Hoseok" Yoongi and Seokjin say in unison and nod.
"Never have I ever checked you out while you were changing"
Now this is a tricky question but Yoongi's been honest so far, he decides to keep that energy. He turns his light green.
Surprisingly, Seokjin's does too.
"You have?" Yoongi asks him, in the time they've lived together they have seen each other in various stages of undress, but Yoongi never thought there was anything in him that Seokjin would think to be worth checking out.
Seokjin shrugs his shoulders, "You have checked me out too" he points to Yoongi's light defensively, his ears tint red like they always do when he feels embarrassed.
Yoongi is not accusing him, he's genuinely surprised, "Yeah, but you are-"
Hot
He stops himself before he can say it because he's not trying to make it weird but Seokjin's ears turn a deeper red so maybe he did catch it anyway.
"I mean, I can appreciate when someone is- it's not like you don't know it" Yoongi huffs, of course Seokjin is aware that he is attractive; he's heard him boast about it, he shouldn't be looking at Yoongi with wide eyes like he's blindsided by brand new information. "Just ask the next question, come on"
Seokjin opens his mouth like he wants to say something else, but Yoongi nudges his hand closer to the question cards and he takes the one on top of the pile, "Never have I ever been jealous of you"
Yoongi's been honest enough so far but he's afraid that if he answers this one question like he should, this is going to become less fun and much more awkward, he doesn't want to add more fuel to the fire.
He turns his light red.
Seokjin's remains green.
"What?" Yoongi asks, at this point he's suspecting Seokjin is messing with him, he looks to where Jimin and the camera boy are standing;
are they in on this as well? Maybe this is a staged joke. Jimin is taking notes on his clipboard, once again looking like he's taking this with unnecessary seriousness, and the boy on the camera is so well hidden behind it Yoongi can't even see his face.
He turns back to Seokjin, there's no playful smirk, no giggle or glint on his eye to show that he's playing.
If this is Seokjin being honest then Yoongi has to honor that, so he flips the switch to turn his light green.
He doesn't expect Seokjin to ask him why,
"I mean," Yoongi can feel his face heating up, this is not something that he would tell Seokjin out loud very often, despite how long they've known each other Yoongi is still not very comfortable talking about his feelings openly. "You are like- everybody likes you, sometimes I wish I'd have that confidence…"
It's hard to put it on words; Seokjin makes friends so easily, it doesn't bother him if he embarrasses himself sometimes, he is fun, and magnetic, and people love him almost instantly. Yoongi was one of those people too.
He doesn't have the same social abilities, he's not outgoing or talks to people first, not because he doesn't like to meet new people, it's just always been hard for him and growing up he had to learn to be self sufficient and independent to make up for it. A lot of people tend to think of him as cold, and not very often he meets someone who tries to see beyond that.
Yoongi is curious too, and he feels like he has the right to ask since Seokjin already did, "When were you jealous of me?"
"All the time!" Seokjin answers, startling him. He doesn't offer further detail though, so Yoongi takes the next card instead of asking again.
The next few questions are lame, Yoongi is relieved they've changed the subject and he only has to admit that he's sometimes used Seokjin's expensive skin care and hair products or that he hid his bluetooth speaker once so he would stop playing loud music in the apartment.
"Is there anything you'd like to add?" Jimin asks when they've run out of question cards.
Yoongi shrugs his shoulders, Jin has a tiny smile on his face leftover from laughing so much during the question rounds, a soft look that radiates only good vibes. Yoongi is certain that he wouldn't be able to do this with anyone else, he wouldn't open up like this if he didn't have the calming presence of Seokjin.
"I'm glad we live together," Yoongi admits easily.
That seems to take Seokjin by surprise, probably was not expecting that Yoongi would say anything but they've already gone through a bunch of personal questions so saying this isn't that hard.
"Me too" Seokjin agrees.
Jimin makes a sign, yells "Cut!" and Yoongi laughs again.
---
Things have become weird, Yoongi can feel it so clearly, something has changed and it started the day they went through with that stupid experiment that wasn't even worth the reward (a discount coupon for a sashimi restaurant). Even when it would seem like they're following their usual routine, Yoongi can recognize when Seokjin is not being his usual self.
It's on the small things, like Seokjin not trying to feed Yoongi when they have meals together, or the way he seems to avoid looking him in the eye. Yoongi is trying to give it a few days, hoping that with enough time things will get back to normal, but by the second week he decides to confront Seokjin.
"Is there something wrong?"
They're together on the living room couch, because Yoongi asked Seokjin to watch a movie tonight, but they're sitting abnormally far from each other.
Of course Seokjin tries to pretend he doesn't know what this is about, eyes wide and questioning; he might be a good actor but Yoongi knows him better.
"No," Seokjin says, tries to put an amused and reassuring smile, "Why do you ask?"
Yoongi takes a deep breath to gather his patience; he already knows this type of defensive act and he wishes he didn't have to weed through it to get to Seokjin. "You've been acting weird for weeks" he has to stop Seokjin with a little gesture of his hand when it looks like he wants to fight back, "I know when you're being weird and right now you are, what's happening?"
Seokjin shrugs his shoulders, "I don't know what you're talking about"
But his eyes have strayed away from Yoongi and he is now staring at the tv screen like this movie is the most important thing at the moment. It is not, Yoongi switches the television off.
"Look!" Yoongi points at the space between them, "That's weird, since when do we sit on opposite ends of this couch?"
There's a beat, then Seokjin moves closer to Yoongi, "Is that it?"
Yoongi looks down at the couch, there's still some space between them, "No, we usually sit closer"
Seokjin rolls his eyes but he still shuffles until their thighs are touching, opens his arms when Yoongi leans down his head against his chest. It is still not the same though, Yoongi can feel how tense Seokjin is.
He rubs against his chest, "Stop being weird, we do this all the time"
But Seokjin won't relax, Yoongi has to sit up to look at him properly.
"What?" Seokjin feigns ignorance again and Yoongi has to hold on to the last of his patience.
"Hold me," he sits back down and pulls Seokjin's arms around his shoulders. It is still a bit stiff, a little awkward for a while but Yoongi turns on the television again and when they've been watching the movie for a couple of minutes, they fall comfortably on the couch, snuggled together like they've done so many times before.
"It's because of that stupid question, right?"
Maybe Yoongi should have waited until the movie was over to ask because he feels Seokjin tense once again and whatever normalcy and comfort they've achieved is gone once more.
Yoongi sighs, a bit annoyed "Fine, I admit I've checked you out sometimes, is that why you're being so weird?"
Seokjin's eyes are wide with bewilderment, but he doesn't try to act like he doesn't know what Yoongi is talking about, doesn't interrupt to answer. At least not verbally because Yoongi understands when his eyes shift away, the answer is there.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," Yoongi continues after taking a deep, calming breath and untangling himself from Seokjin; now that he thinks about it, it had been a terrible idea to try to cuddle during this movie.
Yoongi believed that what Seokjin needed was just a tiny push, to see that nothing had changed, and it didn't have to but it seems like what Seokjin really needs is something completely different.
"Do you want me to move out?"
It is then that Seokjin finally speaks, "What?"
Yoongi knows he heard well though, and won't repeat himself.
"I don't want you to move out," Seokjin says in a tone that suggests he just heard something incredibly ridiculous.
"What's wrong then?"
Seokjin looks funny while all the gears in his head are working real fast, but Yoongi can't laugh right now if he doesn't want the moment to be ruined so he just waits for Seokjin to gather his thoughts.
"It's not that" he says after a while "I said I checked you out too, right? I thought you'd be uncomfortable"
"Well, I am not" Yoongi shrugs his shoulders "We're friends, I don't understand why you'd check me out but I don't think you meant anything by it, so it's alright"
Seokjin averts his eyes again "Yeah"
The movie is still playing, some sort of explosion going on in the background as Yoongi watches Seokjin shut in again. It's more worrying than it is frustrating; what is it that Seokjin is having such a hard time talking about it? They still have to, but maybe it's enough for today.
Yoongi turns his eyes back to the movie and leans on the couch, this time keeping his distance from Seokjin. They'll just finish watching the movie and when it ends they will go each to their room and maybe things will remain weird for a couple of days until Yoongi finds another chance to talk it out with Seokjin.
That's what he thought, until Seokjin says, "I meant something"
It takes Yoongi a couple of seconds to understand what he just said, going back to the conversation they were having minutes earlier, and when it hits he turns to Seokjin but he's got his eyes fixed on the movie, still sitting in the same stiff position, waiting for Yoongi to react.
And he reacts in the worst way possible, a single word blurting out, "No"
He sees Seokjin flinch.
That is not what he wanted to say, he doesn't mean to say no to Seokjin. It was just so unexpected, it doesn't seem real; Seokjin is his best friend, they've lived together for years, Yoongi trusts him with everything. Seokjin is also one of the most attractive men Yoongi's met, and he's seen him go out with an amount of equally good looking people; he just went on a date with some guy last week and apparently it had gone well enough that Seokjin had decided not to ghost him.
Yoongi should probably say something else, maybe apologize, but he can't get any words out before Seokjin stands up from the couch, stiff as ever, and leaves to his bedroom.
The stupid movie is still playing, Yoongi feels like throwing the remote at the tv screen but doesn't follow, lets the movie play instead, until the end. He remains on the couch, almost in the same position he was when Seokjin left, or maybe he moved, he doesn't know, he hasn't paid attention to anything since.
He knows he should go to Seokjin and say something , something other than "no". But he is not completely sure he's not going to mess up further, still doesn't know where he stands, he doesn't even know where Seokjin stands.
He knocks on his door anyway, it doesn't surprise him that Seokjin won't answer. Yoongi doesn't insist and he leaves to his room silently, but he knows he won't sleep much tonight.
--
"Hyung!"
Yoongi's urgency makes him forget for a second that Seokjin is very easily startled. He apologizes for making him reel back a few steps while he holds up his hands in feeble defense and screams, but what Yoongi has to say is important.
He spent most of the night, if not all of it, thinking about what he wanted to say to Seokjin and he can't wait for another day.
"Listen, I am so sorry"
Seokjin changes his expression from startled to a smile, so fast that Yoongi can be sure he's faking it, "Don't worry about it"
That's the dumbest thing he could've said, Yoongi is worried about it, spent the night awake worrying about it.
"No, I am sorry" He insists, Seokjin might want to avoid it but Yoongi won't let him; it's early enough, he has time to do this before any of them need to leave for work. "I didn't react the way I should have, and I think I hurt you"
"I'm fine"
He looks fine, of course, big smile and shiny eyes, handsome from the moment he wakes, that's Seokjin; Yoongi's best friend that frustrates and marvells him in equal amounts. He looks fine.
"You're beautiful"
That's not what Yoongi was meant to say at all, but it is out just like the blush in Seokjin's ears so he's just going to roll with it, "I knew that from the day we were put together, and I was a useless gay who would so easily fall for it"
Seokjin starts laughing really loud, if Yoongi didn't know him like he does he'd think he's being rude, but this is his nervous laugh; a knee jerk reaction when he wants to dissipate tension, "I'm sorry" He says though Yoongi is laughing with him now. It takes him a couple of minutes to calm down, but when he does, he keeps a little smile, a real one this time.
Yoongi is allowed to continue, finding good fuel on Seokjin's switch of mood; "I like you, I just didn't expect you to like me like that"
"Why not?"
"Did you hear the part about the useless gay?"
Seokjin laughs again, fully and freely, all tension gone and Yoongi can't help if he smiles back at him.
--
"How long have you known?"
That weekend Yoongi takes Seokjin out on their first official date; he was quick to demand to be taken out for dinner and Yoongi had pretended to be annoyed by that, but he'd still called to reserve a table at Seokjin's favorite restaurant and dressed up.
"Not very long" Seokjin shrugs, he's not as invested on eating as he usually is, instead giving at least an eighty percent of his attention to Yoongi, "After Jimin's experiment, I guess"
Yoongi nods, "Yeah, you were acting weird"
Seokjin decides to shut him up by feeding him; Yoongi used to hate that, years ago he'd complain that he was old enough and capable to feed himself, but Seokjin never listened and just kept waving the food in front of Yoongi until he'd take it. Now, he opens his mouth almost automatically every time Seokjin approaches with food ready for him, and lets himself be fed so calmly he's even let Seokjin feed him empty shells before.
"Well, how was I supposed to act? I had just figured out I had a crush on my best friend"
Yoongi's still not used to this, the certainty that Seokjin likes him, being reminded of it makes him want to squirm. He can help that, but what he can't help is the dumb smile.