Archive of Our Own ^beta

Seokjin likes to think that he’s a pretty open minded person. 

Really, if you’re going to be openly gay and covered in tattos in Korea, you kind of have to be. He has never been one to judge others on their appearance or how they come off, a kindness that he’s never really been shown. Again, being openly gay and covered in tattoos in a more conservative - but slowly growing more open minded each day - place that's just how it is and it's something that for the most part he has grown accustomed to. 

So, again, he likes to think that he isn’t judgemental.

But, he’s also human. Which means he makes mistakes, even if he doesn’t necessarily mean to make them with any sort of malice. It’s just… he’s already had a bad day and he doesn’t particularly like when he has to walk Taehyung home from work when neither of his boyfriends can. It’s a rare occurrence since usually one of his two boyfriends is free but sometimes things line up just right and none of them really want Taehyung walking so far alone. So here he is, waiting for what feels like hours and he absolutely hates it. Not because he doesn’t love his brother - because he does, a lot actually but more so because of where he works. 

Taehyung managed to land a job in the heart of Seoul, a place teeming with well off people who look down on people like him. People who don’t take kindly to those who go down a different path than them or who aren’t born with the luxury of having daddy’s money funneled into their bank accounts at such a young age. Which is why it isn’t surprising when he’s met with just one too many stares pointed in his direction as he waits outside of the boujee looking coffee shops. 

Everyone that walks out of Cafe Pot are either wearing perfectly pressed suits or pretty dress skirts with not a hair out of place. 

Seokjin sticks out like a sore thumb in his ripped black jeans and oversized grey sweater with the thrasher logo written across the front in an obnoxious yellow. It also doesn’t help that his entire neck, along with both of his hands are covered in tattoos. He’s somewhat glad he decided to forgo his usual septum and nose ring combo since his septum piercing was causing his nose to run. 

He glances down at his phone and almost breathes a sigh of relief when he sees that it’s almost two, meaning Taehyung’s shift is about to end and he can get the hell out of the heart of Seoul and back to the outskirts where not everything has to be about where you come from and who you know or what you look like and how well you can conform to societal standards of what’s acceptable and what isn’t. 

The door to the shop opens and Seokjin looks up, hoping to see his younger brother walking down the steps of the coffee shop but is instead met with possibly one of the prettiest men that Seokjin has ever seen. The pretty stranger has fluffy blonde hair that Seokjin has an embarrassing urge to run his hands through. His soft blonde hair fits well with the strangers delicate features and Seokjin finally understands what people mean when they talk about some people having a button nose. But as Seokjin’s eyes travel past the pretty face, he comes to the realization that the pretty boy is dressed just as nice as the other snobs that excited the shop and gave him patronizing looks.

He’s wearing a light grey button down that’s tucked into a pair of black slacks and paired with a pair of black dress shoes. He has a Rolex watch on his right wrist which Seokjin catches sight of when the pretty stranger pulls out his iphone to look at the time, Seokjin presumes. The pretty stranger frowns down at his phone and pockets it before he’s looking up and making direct eye contact with Seokjin. His eyes widen a bit in shock and Seokjin does his best to swallow down a wave of bitterness. 

Of course the pretty stranger is judgemental. Just because someone is pretty on the outside in no way means that the inside of them matches. 

Seokjin hopes that the man will turn on his heel and ignore him, much like everyone else who had exited the shop. But things never happen like Seokjin hopes they will so of course the pretty stranger turns towards him and proceeds to walk up to him. 

Pretty boy opens his mouth to speak but is hardly even able to get the beginnings of a word out before Seokjin’s defenses are up. He just wanted to walk his baby brother home. That’s all.  

“What? You want me to leave?” He assumes wondering if the pretty boy has some sort of association with the coffee shop. Maybe the kid of the owner? “Don’t fit the aesthetic?”

Pretty boy pauses, letting the words die on his tongue and a look of confusion flickers across his delicate features. 

“What?” He finally says, tilting his head slightly and his eyes squint. He kind of looks like a cat when he does it and for a moment Seokjin forgets that he’s supposed to be angry. He decides to tell himself that the expression on the boy’s face isn’t cute. Really. Even if the gayer part of his mind screams in opposition.

Seokjin raises his board and glances down at himself. They are a complete contrast of each other, right down to the soles of their shoes.  “I know your type, so do you want me to leave?”

“My type?” He says slowly like he doesn’t quite understand what’s going on and Seokjin isn’t enamored by it. He’s annoyed by it. “What exactly is my type?” 

Seokjin withholds a condescending snort. He takes in the man's appearance again and wonders how he could even ask that, although he does notice that the pretty boy is wearing a pretty pale pink nail polish on his fingers. It’s just another contrast of theirs he thinks as he looks down at his plain nails and the black ink on his fingers.

“Rich? Stuck up? I can go on,” Seokjin says like it’s obvious. He’s used to his type and has had to deal with them countless times in the past. 

Pretty boy stares at him for a moment as if digesting the words before he speaks his piece. 

What Seokjin isn’t expecting is for pretty stranger to merely shake his head. 

“Interesting. You seem to be the one being judgmental here. I was just going to ask if you would mind giving my baby brother skating lessons — he’s always wanted to learn and I can’t skate… like at all but, nevermind.”

Seokjin clamps his mouth shut, immediately regretting his words. Sometimes he speaks without thinking and he really needs to work on that. He’s just used to having to be on the defensive all the time, especially when he’s on this side of town. Pretty boy doesn’t pay him anymore mind after that and Seokjin kind of wants to punch himself in the face for jumping the gun too quickly, especially at someone who didn’t deserve it.

“I—“ He tries but pretty boy is already walking away without so much as a second glance.

Just when Seokjin thinks all hope is lost, pretty boy stops, turning towards him. Seokjin is grateful at first, wanting to have the chance to apologize for being stupid. 

“Also if I was rich, why would I be working for minimum wage serving coffee?” He asks before turning back around and heading towards the bus stop and that’s when Seokjin finally notices the apron tucked into his arm. 

He doesn’t turn back as he boards the bus and Seokjin kind of hates himself.

🛹

He continues hating himself for the duration of the next week. He can’t really help it either. He at the very least thinks he’s doing a good job of hiding it but apparently he’s doing a very lousy job at it. 

“Can you stop moping for like one second?” Jungkook asks as they walk towards the skate park. “So he hates you? Wouldn’t be the first time someone has, so why are you so hung up on it?” 

Seokjin shoves Jungkook because one, no one hates him and two he’s not hung up on anything. He’s just… disgruntled. Honestly is he not allowed to have emotions now?

“You know you are one of the reasons men are not allowed to show their emotions,” Seokjin says and ignores Jungkook’s answering snort. “Let me feel things without judging me for it.”

“First of all don’t use actual important issues such as letting boys and men feel things without being perceived as less than to cover up the fact that you have an obnoxiously obvious crush on a boy that won’t give you the time of day because you’re an idiot.” 

Seokjin shoves Jungkook again just because he can and also because he hates when he’s right. 

It’s not that Seokjin has a crush on Yoongi because he doesn’t. Sure Yoongi is attractive, I mean anyone with functioning eyes would also attest to that. Yoongi is just a pretty person but that doesn’t mean Seokjin wants to maybe hold his hand. At all. He’s just upset at the fact that they got off onto such a bad start because he’s an idiot who sometimes says things without thinking them through. 

“What do you mean I have a crush on him?” Seokjin asks, choosing to not admit that Jungkook may have a point. He’s supposed to be older here — he doesn’t need to be getting lectured by someone he practically helped raise.

“You do know that Taehyung is my literal best friend right?” Jungkook responds and he turns to give Seokjin a rather unimpressed look. “Also I work at the shop too hyung, you think I don’t notice you coming back with coffee every single shift from the same coffee shop that you swore you would never give a dime because they are capitalist scum?”

“The coffee is good,” Seokjin mumbles half heartedly but by the way Jungkook laughs, he doesn’t think the younger believes him. 

And in a way he isn’t wrong. Seokjin has been going to the coffee shop a lot more than he wants to admit to. And while the coffee is good, he can at the very least admit that it’s not the only reason he’s started frequenting it. 

After Yoongi had walked away from him just a week ago, he had asked Taehyung about him on their short walk to the tattoo shop located also in the heart of Seoul. Taehyung had stopped walking, appraising Seokjin in a way only a brother can before he smiled mischievously. 

Seokjin had tried to explain that it wasn’t like that because he was just curious okay? Yoongi was not at all how he expected him to be - which makes sense seeing as Seokjin didn’t know him at all but it wasn’t like it meant anything at all. He just wanted to further know anything he could about Yoongi so next time they ran into each other it wouldn’t be as awkward as it had been. 

Taehyung thankfully hadn’t given him too much of a hard time. Instead he just nodded minutely and began going off about how wonderful Yoongi was. How he had never met someone nearly as hardworking as Yoongi because apparently Yoongi was working full time at the shitty coffee shop on top of basically raising his baby brother and going to school full time as well. Which made Seokjin feel like even more of an asshole. He’s always been one to preach about not judging a book by his cover and he did just that without even giving Yoongi a chance to defend himself from his onslaught of very wrong conclusions. 

Seokjin had at least tried to rectify his mistake after that but Taehyung had only laughed at him, placing a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. He told him Yoongi didn’t care much for people who judged without reason and he was also notoriously good at holding grudges. 

And boy did Seokjin realize that every time Yoongi blatantly ignored his presence every time he entered the small coffee shop. Which was an impressive feat seeing as Seokjin stuck out like a sore thumb everytime he walked into that place. It was always full of young executives or CEO’s from the myriad of work buildings that surrounded it and Seokjin was rarely out of his ripped jeans and band tee combo. He also never did much to hide the tattoos that painted his body because there were too many to even try. 

He had everyone’s attention when he walked into the coffee shop - save for the one person he was aiming to talk to. Or even get the time of day from. Taehyung had laughed at him, very obviously, any time he walked into the shop and he had been working.

“So he hates you,” Jungkook says as the park comes into view. “Why are you so hung up on it? If you don’t have a crush on him that is.”

Seokjin opens his mouth but closes it soon after. He thinks over his answer for a moment because even he isn’t kind of sure on why he cares so much.

“I don’t really know,” Seokjin answers honestly. “I was just… dumb. I’m not a judgemental person, you know that but I made myself sound like an ass in front of him for no reason.”

Jungkook hums. “I guess that makes sense but that’s how it happens sometimes. I’m sure he will eventually get over it, especially if you keep showing up to the shop like some sort of stalker.”

Seokjin shoves him again and Jungkook sticks out his tongue at him. They don’t talk about Seokjin’s problems after that - mostly because Seokjin is a master at deflection. As soon as he mentions the pretty boy with bubblegum pink hair that works at the flower shop right next to the tattoo parlor, Jungkook’s mind is somewhere else completely. 

They walk into the park and Seokjin is excited to be able to completely let go for a few hours. 

Luck seems to be on Seokjin’s side because as soon as they make it to the skate park, he runs into the one person he thought he would never see out of that damn boujee coffee shop. Sure he’s seen Yoongi a few times since the…. incident, as their friend group likes to dub it but he’s never gotten the chance to speak to him. Anytime he sees him there, which is quite often now that Seokjin is determined to win over his friendship and takes to going to get coffee at least twice a week. Yoongi pays him absolutely no mind every time he shows up there. He doesn’t even give him a second glance unless Seokjin goes up to him or when he’s working the counter. He’s professional of course, because he’s working but their conversation stays strictly about coffee and anytime Seokjin tries to talk about anything else, he’s promptly ignored. 

“What’s up?” Jungkook asks - confused to why they randomly stopped walking as soon as they entered the skate park. 

Jungkook’s eyes follow his and once they land on Yoongi, he shoves Seokjin gently. “Is that the love of your life?” 

Seokjin snaps out of it then. “Shut up. He isn’t the love of my life.” 

“Okay and you only look like a love struck idiot because you want him to be your pal.” Jungkook snorts when Seokjin shoves him. “Whatever. I’m going to go talk to him.”

Seokjin tries to grab Jungkook’s shirt before he goes but he’s always been annoyingly quick. Jungkook drops his board to the ground and quickly hops on it. Seokjin follows suit after him, really having no other choice. Jungkook still makes it to Yoongi first and they are in the middle of a conversation before Seokjin can even make it to him. 

Yoongi doesn’t look like he wants to kill Jungkook, which is at least a good thing. 

“Yeah Seokjin was too nervous to come up to talk to you so I-” Jungkook is in the middle of talking before Seokjin can shove him away. 

Thankfully Jungkook was still on his board so he ends up rolling away rather quickly. Jungkook is able to stop himself a few feet away but he’s laughing too hard at Seokjin’s misery to come back right away. Seokjin flicks him off before turning his attention to Yoongi. Who is staring at him- looking rather unimpressed, Seokjin notes. 

“I’m sorry about-” Seokjin starts but is swiftly cut off by Yoongi. 

“Fine. You can help him,” Yoongi says as he crosses his arms over his chest. “But I am going to go to every lesson.”

Seokjin’s lips part slightly in confusion. “Wait… what?”

Yoongi raises an eyebrow at him. “My brother,” He says slowly as if he’s talking to a small child. “You can give him skating lessons and maybe at some point I won’t hate you anymore. Your friend was telling me that you were too nervous to ask me yourself. I feel like you’ve been punished enough.” 

Seokjin can feel himself gaping and he hopes that Yoongi thinks it’s just from the shock of him actually talking to him. He looks over to Jungkook again, who is now giving him a thumbs up. Seokjin hates the kid, he really does but he also loves him more than anyone else on the planet. Maybe he can pay him back by helping him finally have the courage to talk to Jimin. 

“Of course,” Seokjin says quickly, once he realizes he still hasn’t answered. He doesn’t want this opportunity to pass him by because he doesn’t think he will get another one. “I would love to teach your brother how to skate.” 

Yoongi appraises him for a moment before nodding curtly. “Well then come here Joongie,” He says, motioning for the little boy who had been standing behind him to come forward. 

“This is…” Yoongi looks at him and Seokjin is mildly offended. 

He’s only been going to the coffee shop for two weeks now and Seokjin is almost positive that Yoongi knows Taehyung is his brother. But he really isn’t in any position to be upset right now when he is the reason Yoongi doesn’t like him. He can’t really blame it on anyone else. 

“Seokjin.” Joongie looks up at him with large brown eyes and Seokjin has never really been a kid person but god he’s cute. “You can call me hyung though.” 

Joongie considers this. “I’m Hongjoong. Can you really teach me how to skateboard hyung? I’m not very good and I fall a lot! I have lots of boo boo’s too! Yoonie hyungie isn’t very good at skating either, he falls almost as much as me!”

Seokjin takes the onslaught of information gracefully and smiles at all the right times. He for sure doesn’t want Hongjoong to start off with a bad impression of him - he can only work for forgiveness from one person at a time. When Hongjoong tells him about Yoongi, he looks up at said person to find his cheeks a light shade of pink. He looks gorgeous like that and Seokjin has to physically restrain himself from saying something that would make Yoongi hate him even more. 

Hongjoong goes on for about ten minutes more, straying away from the subject of skateboarding to tell him about his school and how he loves playing the piano and collecting minions. Seokjin doesn’t even care that his skate time is being cut into because of how adorable the eight year old is when he talks about things that he loves. Yoongi doesn’t interrupt his brother either - he only looks down at him with an unbelievably fond expression on his face. 

Once Hongjoong derails again, his attention turning towards a few bugs that are crawling the other way does he stop talking about his life. He follows the bugs curiously. 

“Well I don’t think any skating will be done today,” Yoongi says, making sure to keep his eyes on his little brother. “But maybe we can get together sometime and discuss times that work for us?”

Seokjin’s brain short circuits for a moment because spending time alone with Yoongi is exactly what he wants. But of course, he’s a dumbass sometimes and the wrong words end up coming out of his mouth. He means to just agree - like… you know… a normal person but that’s not what he says. 

Instead he says. 

“Like a date?” 

Yoongi stares at him and Seokjin wants to curl into a very small ball and just die on the asphalt.

“It’s not a date,” Yoongi says, no trace of a smile on his face. 

He crosses his arms over his chest and Seokjin can hear Jungkook try to smother a laugh in the palm of his hands. Hongjoong, who had at some point wondered back from following the bugs, looks up at his older brother and upon seeing his expression mimics him. His eyebrows pinch slightly and his lips turn downwards while he also crosses his arms. It’s quite an adorable sight but Seokjin values living so he doesn’t comment on it. 

“Well then how about just a super special hangout between friends?” Seokjin finally says, trying to lighten the mood once again. Even though he is the reason the mood got weird again. 

Yoongi levels him with an unimpressed look and gives him a curt nod. Hongjoong does the same and Yoongi appraises him one more time before he deems their interaction to be over. He turns on his heel, grabbing Hongjoong’s hand while he does so and the younger follows his elder brother easily. 

Seokjin watches them go, his mouth ajar slightly and reeling from what just happened. He never got Yoongi’s number but that doesn’t really matter since he knows his schedule already… which is a bit creepy now that he thinks about it. Even though they actually talked today, he doesn’t really feel like any real progress has been made other than the fact that Yoongi actually spoke words to him.  Yoongi still doesn’t seem to care for him much and Hongjoong seems like he will feel whatever his brother feels towards him. 

But it’s a start. 

“Well that was embarrassing,” Jungkook says once Yoongi is completely out of sight. “But I kind of fell in love with Yoongi just now. Do you think he would say yes if I asked him on a date?” 

Seokjin turns to Jungkook and without missing a beat retorts. “Is that Jimin over there?” 

If Jungkook wasn’t a love struck idiot, he would probably have realized what Seokjin was doing but he, of course did not. The younger immediately whips around in search of the pretty boy with the bubblegum pink hair who most likely didn’t frequent skateparks on the other side of town. When Jungkook realizes that he’s been duped, he turns back to Seokjin with a threatening glare. 

“I hate you.” 

Seokjin pats Jungkook placatingly on the shoulder. “Feelings mutual. Now wanna skate?” 

🛹

“Okay don’t think about it too hard, just slowly let- Joongie I promise I won’t let you fall, but you have to trust in yourself as well as me,” Seokjin says gently to the eight year old who currently has a death grip on his hand. 

Hongjoong nods, promising that he will let go this time if they try it one more time. Seokjin agrees, walking both of them back up to one of the many child ramps in the skatepark. Yoongi is watching from the bottom with his hand pressed against his lips. It’s hard to tell from up here but Seokjin is almost positive that Yoongi is biting his nails from the nerves. Which Seokjin understands because Yoongi is Hongjoong’s older brother but at the same time Hongjoong has shown tremendous hidden talent for skating. 

Yoongi had texted him the day after he got his number and at first Seokjin had been over the moon about finally being able to speak to the blonde without being directly ignored. That excitement had been rather short lived after Yoongi kept their conversation strictly business with absolutely no pleasure. Yoongi had only wanted to see if he was free that upcoming thursday so he could teach his baby brother how to skate. Seokjin was free most nights, save for friday and saturday, seeing as that was when his band played at a few of the local clubs so he agreed easily. 

When Yoongi and Hongjoong walked into the skatepark a few hours ago, Seokjin had to swallow down a laugh when he saw the amount of protective gear that Yoongi had forced his younger brother into. Hongjoong was practically waddling over to Seokjin due to the amount of pads he was wearing on his legs. Yoongi had acted dumb when Seokjin gave him a pointed look. Eventually Seokjin had been able to talk Yoongi down to only knee pads and elbow pads, along with a helmet of course. Yoongi hadn’t been too happy about the idea at first but after one pout from Hongjoong he conceded easily enough. 

All of Yoongi’s initial worries were for naught because Hongjoong was a natural. He took to the board easily and was even able to complete an ollie after only an hour. Seokjin made him perfect it before they moved onto anything else and after another two hours of making sure Hongjoong knew how to stop himself, brace himself when he knew he was going to fall and how to steer correctly, he deemed Hongjoong ready to try something a bit more daring. 

Which is what led them to where they are now. 

“Are you sure I won’t hurt myself?” Hongjoong asks, peering down at the ramp in front of them. He keeps Seokjin’s hand tightly in his own as he does so, making sure he won’t accidentally fall over the edge.

They are standing at the smallest ramp in the park, one reserved for people just learning how to skate. It’s hardly even off the ground but he understands Hongjoong’s initial fears. He had them to when he was first learning to skate. He honestly can’t even count the amount of times that he ate it when he was first learning, but he also didn’t have someone that was willing to help him learn. 

Seokjin squeezes Hongjoong’s hand gently. “I can’t promise you that you won’t get hurt.” At Hongjoong’s fearful expression, Seokjin is quick to reassure him. “But that’s what learning is, isn’t it?” 

Hongjoong looks back down over the ramp. “But I’m scared.” 

Seokjin kneels down, wanting to be eye level with Hongjoong. “I understand that and that’s completely normal but we can’t let fear win over us right?”

Hongjoong shakes his head and the motion is so unbelievably endearing. It’s almost as if Hongjoong does everything in a tiny font. Seokjin offers the younger boy a warm smile and he waits until Hongjoong gives him one back. It’s a bit strained due to the fear but Seokjin doesn’t comment on it. 

“You know you’re already really brave right?” Seokjin continues on. 

Hongjoong looks up at him, his face looking unsure. “No I’m not. I’m too scared to go down.”

“But you were brave enough to want to try. Sometimes things are scary, especially when they are things we have never done before but you know what the hardest part always is?” 

“What is it?” Hongjoong asks. 

“It’s finding the nerve to want to do it. We can look at new things, or things we don’t understand from a distance because it’s safer that way. It takes a lot of bravery to be able to decide that you even want to give it a try and you’ve already accomplished the hardest part Joongie.” 

Hongjoong considers this for a moment and Seokjin gives him the time to process his words. Eventually the younger speaks again. “So if I don’t go down I’m not a fraidy cat?”

Seokjin squeezes Hongjoong’s shoulder with his free hand. “Of course not but how about I make you a deal?”

Honngjoong looks intrigued. “What deal?”

“If you go down with me, I’ll get you ice cream. How does that sound?”

Hongjoong’s eyes widen slightly. “Can I get two scoops of ice cream?”

Seokjin hums as if he’s thinking about it. “Yes, two scoops can happen.”

“And whip cream?” Hongjoong challenges further. 

Seokjin narrows his eyes slightly. “How about one scoop of ice cream with whipped cream and I’ll even throw in sprinkles on top.”

Hongjoong contemplates this for only a few seconds before he nods and pulls out his hand from Seokjins. He moves it forward and Seokjin glances down at it before he realizes what the younger wants. Seokjin shakes his hand and they seem to have closed their deal. Hongjoong sure does drive a hard bargain and Seokjin has a feeling he knows exactly where he gets it from. 

“You won’t let go of my hand right?” Hongjoong asks once they are set up a few steps away from the end of the ramp. 

“I promise but I do have to for right now so I can get on the side of the ramp.” 

Once his hand is free from the eight year olds, Seokjin makes his way to the side of the ramp so he will be able to guide Hongjoong down it. The ramp itself is a halfpipe but the top of it is hardly tall enough to warrant any issues with Seokjin grabbing Hongjoong’s hand. Hongjoong moves to the edge of the ramp and once his hand is securely in Seokjin's, the younger gulps lightly. Seokjin waits for him to initiate the drop and after only a few seconds Hongjoong pushes forward. 

Since the ramp is small, it doesn’t provide a lot of momentum, meaning Hongjoong doesn’t fly down the ramp at a fast speed. It’s a gradual descent and it’s slow enough that Seokjin is able to practically walk him down the ramp until he reaches the middle. When he does so, he opens his eyes and looks around. When he realizes he’s on the ground he smiles the brightest smile that Seokjin has ever seen on anyone. His eyes crinkle around the corners with how wide he is smiling and suddenly he’s running full speed at Seokjin. 

Seokjin thankfully catches him easily and Hongjoong proceeds to wrap his arms around his torso tightly. 

“Thank you! Thank you,” Hongjoong chants into his stomach. “I’m not scared! I’m super brave!” 

“You are Joongie.” Seokjin hears Yoongi say as he also steps onto the ramp. 

As soon as Hongjoong hears his brother, he catapults himself at him. Yoongi, much like himself, catches the eight year old easily. His catch comes with a practiced ease that Seokjin has not yet mastered but he assumes he will get there. Hongjoong seems to be a very bright person that expresses his emotions through physical touch. 

“Did you see that?” Hongjoong practically squeals into Yoongi’s right ear. Yoongi cringes slightly, probably from his ear drum bursting at the sound of Hongjoong but he doesn’t show it. “I went down the ramp! I was flying!” 

Yoongi smiles at his brother and taps his nose gently. “I did see that. You’re so brave you know that right Joongie?” 

Hongjoong nods enthusiastically. “I am! That’s what Jinnie hyung said! He said I was super duper brave. And you know brave boys get rewarded right?” 

That catches Yoongi’s attention immediately. He turns his piercing black eyes onto Seokjin and he hates to admit it but he shrinks under his gaze just a bit. Just because Yoongi has now resigned himself to his existence, that doesn’t mean he likes him. In fact Seokjin knows that Yoongi is only tolerating him because of his brother. 

“Oh they do now? Do they?” Yoongi asks. His eyes stay focused on Seokjin. “And what reward is that?”

“Ice cream!” Hongjoong exclaims giddily. “I get one scoop with whip cream and sprinkles!” 

Yoongi raises an eyebrow at him and Seokjin is just about ready to disappear into the asphalt. Maybe he should have asked before promising his brother sweets. 

“Uh well… if that is okay with your brother of course,” Seokjin tries to save himself even though the damage has already been done. 

Yoongi considers it for a moment and Seokjin can feel himself practically shrinking under his gaze. But then the most beautiful thing that Seokjin has ever seen happens. 

Yoongi smiles. 

And it’s not the first time that he’s seen him smile. He’s seen him smile quite a few times actually. Taehyung always makes him smile when they work the same shift and Yoongi is quite friendly with the customers that frequent the shop, save for Seokjin of course. So yeah, Seokjin has seen him smile more than a handful of times but this is the first time his smile has ever been directed at him. 

If Seokjin thought Yoongi was beautiful before - well, now he is breathtaking. Ethereal. Dazzling. Any other synonym for beautiful there is. That’s exactly what Yoongi looks like in this very moment of time. 

“Okay Joongie then let's go get some ice cream,” Yoongi says, turning his attention away from him and back to his brother, which is a devastating loss in Seokjin’s opinion. 

Seokjin doesn’t really move as Yoongi gets his brother's knee pads and elbow pads off and packs them into his bright yellow minions backpack. He watches as Yoongi cleans the sweat off of Hongjoong’s forehead and upper lip before telling him to go wash his hands before they go eat. Hongjoong hugs his brother around his waist before running off towards the bathrooms, leaving just them two. 

“I’m sorry I didn’t ask about the ice cream thing-” 

Yoongi shakes his head and Seokjin stops talking immediately. He’s glad Jungkook wasn’t around to witness it because it’s kind of embarrassing how much Yoongi has him wrapped around his long fingers. 

“Don’t apologize. I heard what you were telling him and…” Yoongi glances down at his shoes. Seokjin waits patiently for the words that Yoongi is so obviously trying to find. “He didn’t have the best start growing up so it means a lot to him to have someone believe in him like you do. So thank you for that.”

Seokjin wants to ask what he means by that but he also knows better than to press a subject that is personal, especially with someone who is just starting to warm up to him. 

“He’s a talented little dude and he’s also the most adorable kid I’ve ever met,” Seokjin says, moving on to something else entirely. “I don’t mind teaching him at all.” 

Yoongi nods at that, offering a small smile that isn’t nearly as bright as the one he had given him only a few minutes ago. They descend into silence after that. It’s not necessarily uncomfortable but Seokjin itches to talk about something else with Yoongi, which is odd. He’s a naturally shy person so he normally doesn’t mind silence when it comes to people he hardly knows but with Yoongi he wants nothing more than to talk. 

“I also want to say sorry about what I said when we first met,” Seokjin says, deciding now is probably the only time he will be able to actually apologize for being a dumbass. “I was having a bad day and I am so used to people taking one look at this-” He gestures to his general appearance. “And judging me for it. But that’s no excuse for taking it out on you and acting like I knew who you were as a person.” 

Yoongi listens to him as he speaks, his eyes never leaving his own. When Seokjin finishes, he doesn’t say anything at first. After a beat of silence, Yoongi smiles again and this time it’s remnant of the one he had shared with him early. Seokjin’s heart embarrassingly skips a beat in his chest and he knows that can mean absolutely nothing good. 

“You’re forgiven but on one condition,” Yoongi says. 

It’s Seokjin’s turn to raise an eyebrow at him. “And what’s that?” 

“You buy me two scoops of ice cream.”

Seokjin agrees without hesitation.

🛹

“How could that be wrong?” Seokjin asks miserably as he falls back onto Yoongi’s pillows. 

Yoongi snorts from his place next to him. “Seokjin you really haven’t studied for this test at all have you?” 

Seokjin groans and grabs a pillow from Yoongi’s bed, trying to smother himself with it. Yoongi laughs and slaps his thigh, telling him that he will not call the cops if he dies in his bed and he’ll just throw him out of the house. Seokjin retaliates to that by stealing the eraser from the top of Yoongi’s pencil and throwing it off the bed. 

Yoongi ignores him after that - not maliciously but in a way that good friends do. Which is truly a development if you ask him. In only a week Seokjin went from being Yoongi’s public enemy number one to being… well, his friend. Friend in probably the most basic sense of the word. 

After they went to get ice cream together, they agreed to try to start over from their initial disaster of a meeting and Seokjin jumped on the chance. After they worked out Hongjoong’s skating schedule - every Tuesday and Thursday after he gets out of class, they have been in contact much more. The constant contact even led to them figuring out they share their music composition course together and are in the same year and attend the same university. Which somehow led to Yoongi asking him if he wanted to study together when they had any free time. 

Seokjin maintains he played it cool when Yoongi asked but Jungkook argues that there is no way that’s true. He also argues that Seokjin blushes anytime Yoongi texts him… which isn’t true at all. Not even a little bit. 

“I can’t stare at this book anymore,” Yoongi says, shoving his econ book away from him. “Why do I even need economics? I want to be a music producer.” 

Seokjin gives him a deadpan look. “You are double majoring in business.” 

Yoongi huffs. “Well econ can suck my dick.” 

Seokjin tries not to imagine Yoongi’s dick because that would totally go against bro code. Which is what they are. Bro’s. Seokjin looks at Yoongi like a bro. A bro with very pretty cheekbones and a button nose but a bro regardless. 

“How about no dick sucking when eomma is home?” A new voice startles Seokjin who had been doing his best to not think about his bro. He looks up to see a rather short woman with short jet black hair and a warm expression on her face. “You can only do that in your own apartment.” 

“Eomma,” Yoongi almost squeaks. “Please don’t ever talk about that again.” 

Yoongi’s mother levels him with a rather unimpressed look. “You’re one to talk.” 

Seokjin snorts, even though he doesn’t mean to but he can’t help it when he catches sight of Yoongi’s absolutely scandalized expression. His mother turns her attention on him and Seokjin stops laughing immediately. It’s his first time seeing her… well, in person at least - he’s seen her in pictures around Yoongi’s apartment. It’s not surprising that she’s here though, which he should have thought about in hindsight when he agreed to study with Yoongi at his mother’s apartment instead of his own. He needed to babysit Hongjoong tonight and it was either join him in babysitting duties or not see Yoongi. 

The decision was easy to make.

“And you are?” She asks. She doesn’t say it unkindly - just curiously but it still makes Seokjin sit just a bit straighter. 

He ends up standing, bowing towards her. “Kim Seokjin. I’m a friend of Yoongi’s.” 

She examines him - her sharp black eyes, reminiscent of her son’s, trailing up and down at him with a look of contemplation. Seokjin is practically squirming under gaze but he doesn’t move. 

Eventually she smiles and it’s the same gummy smile that he’s seen on Yoongi countless times. “Well it’s wonderful to finally meet you. Are you going to stay for dinner?”

Seokjin doesn’t question the finally - mostly because he can feel his blood rushing through his ears. He doesn’t know why he feels so nervous but he does. He just wants to make a good impression on her. 

“Are you sure?” Seokjin asks, feeling slightly uncomfortable at the position he’s just been put in. “I wouldn’t want to intrude.” 

Yoongi’s eomma waves his words away. She places a comforting hand on his forearm and gives it a gentle squeeze. “I wouldn’t invite you if I didn’t want to. You look like you could use a nice home cooked meal and I really want to get to know more about the boy that has both my son’s talking non stop.”

She throws a very pointed look at Yoongi whose ears are now a bright shade of red. Yoongi refuses to look at her, pretending to be completely engrossed in the homework in front of him, which Seokjin knows isn’t the case. They have been studying for the better part of the last three hours and Yoongi had just finished telling him how he was ready to call it quits. Seokjin doesn’t comment on Yoongi’s mother's words, not wanting to make the situation even more awkward. 

“Only if you are sure,” He says as he gives her a small bow. “I would love to stay for dinner.” 

She smiles warmly at him. “Well then boys' dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes. You can get back to studying now.” 

Seokjin watches her go before turning to Yoongi, who looks like he is trying to disappear into the floor of his childhood bedroom. 

“Sorry about her.” Yoongi still isn’t looking at him and Seokjin finds it unbelievably endearing.

He moves to join Yoongi back on the somewhat small bed. “She’s sweet. I’m honored that she wanted me to stay for dinner.” 

“She’s abrasive is what she is.” This time Yoongi does look up at him and Seokjin sees an emotion flicker across his face, one that is laced with concern. “Are you okay?” 

It takes Seokjin a moment to realize that question is directed at him. “Oh? I’m fine. Why do you ask?

Yoongi studies him for a moment. “You had this far off look on your face. Like you were thinking of something rather unpleasant.”

Seokjin frowns because he hadn’t even realized he had been doing that.

“Ah, nothing really,” Seokjin says but as he thinks about it a bit more he has a feeling he knows why he was making a face without meaning to. “Your eomma seems nice. You’re lucky to have someone like her.”

Yoongi doesn’t say anything at first but Seokjin can feel his gaze on him. If there is one thing Seokjin has learned about Yoongi in the week since they became more than people passing each other, it is that he is quite smart. That and he picks up on people and their feelings easily. 

“How about this,” Yoongi begins and Seokjin turns towards him. “Tragic backstory for a tragic backstory?” 

Seokjin blinks. “Excuse me?” 

Yoongi shrugs. “That’s like the first level of friendship right? We get to slowly unlock each other’s childhood trauma so we can bond.”

Seokjin blinks again and then he’s laughing. He’s laughing hard enough that his eyes slip closed and his stomach begins aching after a moment. Yoongi joins in with him and soon they are just spurring each other on further. 

Once they have calmed down, Seokjin looks at Yoongi and finds that his eyes are already on him. Normally Seokjin isn’t one to trust someone so easily but… there is something about Yoongi that makes him feel like he can. There is a sincerity in Yoongi’s eyes when he looks at him and Seokjin finds that he isn’t scared that Yoongi is only asking because he’s nosey. No, Seokjin feels that he’s asking because he genuinely cares. 

“So trauma for trauma is what you’re offering me?” Seokjin asks playfully. “And so soon into this?” 

Yoongi snorts. “Well I am gay. I like accelerating past all the lame pretenses.” 

Seokjin files away that bit of information for a later date - even though he already had his inklings. He’s still not one to assume. 

“Well you are in luck.” Seokjin lays back down against the pillows on the bed. “As a fellow gay I accept your invitation. So… It all started when I was a child…” 

Yoongi grabs a notepad from the random school supplies spread across his childhood bed and grabs a pen as well, pretending to be his therapist. 

“Okay, tell me more.” 

Seokjin plays along until it slowly stops becoming a joking matter. It’s been a long time since he’s been able to talk about his past and Yoongi, just like he thought is an incredible listener. 

Yoongi listens as Seokjin tells him about his father and how he could never stray too far from the bottle. He listens as he tells him about his mother who ran away after Taehyung turned two because it became too much. He listens as he tells him about how he had to work three jobs in order to save enough money to steal Taehyung away when Seokjin finally turned eighteen. He listens as his voice cracks at the memories of never being good enough for his mother to stay or how his father died not even a year after they escaped the hell they lived in. 

And in turn Seokjin listens. 

He listens as Yoongi tells him about how he never knew his father beyond him being a sperm donor to both him and Hongjoong. He listens as Yoongi talks about how much his mother loved them and how she practically killed herself when they were younger by working almost eighty hour weeks in order to provide for them. He listens as Yoongi talks about the love he has for both his mother and Hongjoong and how he turned away a scholarship in the United States without telling his mother because he knew she would try to force him out the door and he couldn’t leave them. 

They continue on after that - just learning everything they can about each other. They don’t just learn the ugly parts of their past but also their dreams and what they aspire to be one day. They learn each other’s favorite color and their deepest fears. 

They just… listen. 

And for the first time in a very long time they both feel heard. 

At some point Yoongi’s mother calls them for dinner and Seokjin helps Yoongi set the table while Hongjoong sits on the counter and talks his mother’s ear off. She listens intently to him, even if it’s just random ramblings and engages with him every so often. It’s a heartwarming sight and Seokjin is glad he gets to witness it. 

Yoongi’s eomma is a lot like him, which isn’t surprising seeing as they practically look like twins. She has the same button nose as Yoongi and the same delicate features but there is fierceness to her that is apparent to the naked eye. Seokjin finds it easy to immerse himself in the family dynamic and all three of them never let him feel left out. His eomma force feeds him seconds and also demands that he stays for their famous movie night that they try and have every friday night since she is off saturdays. 

Seokjin doesn’t have it in him to say no to her and that’s how he ends up sandwiched between the end of the couch and Yoongi - which he isn’t complaining about at all. Hongjoong is sprawled out in his mother’s lap as he sucks on a carton of banana milk and asks her questions about the movie and why bees are talking when that’s not possible. His eomma - who Seokjin learned at dinner is named Jihyun - replies to every question he has and even asks a few of her own. 

Eventually Hongjoong knocks out and Jihyun excuses herself, saying she wants to sleep as well and puts him down before he wakes back up and causes chaos. Seokjin doesn’t miss the wink she sends their way after she presses a kiss to both of their foreheads and exits the room. 

“Do you want to finish the movie?” Yoongi asks, once they are alone in the room. “I’m kinda invested at this point.” 

Seokjin feels like he’s asking for more reasons beyond that but he can’t really say he minds. The thought of leaving the apartment doesn’t really sound all that appealing. 

“I would love to finish the movie.”

Yoongi beams at him and they continue on like that. Neither of them move from each other, even though the rest of the couch is now open for them to spread out on.

When Yoongi falls asleep on his shoulder, Seokjin lets him because he is a good friend. 

Not because Yoongi looks adorable when he sleeps. 

But because that’s what bro’s do. 

🛹

Yoongi laughs loudly as Seokjin tries to figure out how to work the coffee press. The machine makes a loud sound and Seokjin visibly flinches. Hongjoong is watching from the table as he colors and he even looks concerned. 

“You give up yet?” Yoongi asks, swinging his legs as he sits on the counter. He’s been watching Seokjin try and fail to make a simple cup of coffee for the better part of ten minutes now. 

Seokjin huffs and turns towards Yoongi. “This thing is possessed.”

Yoongi rolls his eyes. “How about you stick to skateboarding and I stick to making coffee?” 

He hops off the counter and hip checks Seokjin who falls away dramatically. He throws himself against the counter and holds a hand over his forehead while he gasps loudly. Hongjoong giggles as he watches him. Yoongi has the coffee made without much hassle and hops back up onto the counter. 

Seokjin takes his mug only looking ever so slightly annoyed. The annoyance isn’t genuine though and by the way Yoongi is smiling at him as he swings his legs above the ground is indication that he knows that. They’ve gotten a lot more comfortable around each other the past month since their fateful meeting and Seokjin is happy that he didn’t lose the chance of meeting someone as amazing as Yoongi.

“Joongie can you believe your brother is being mean to me?” Seokjin asks, turning his attention to the eight year old who is coloring on a piece of paper. “This is why you’re my favorite brother.”

Hongjoong looks up at him with a dazzling smile and Yoongi makes an affronted noise from his place on the counter. Seokjin pointedly ignores him, focusing all of his attention on Hongjoong instead. 

Yoongi eventually gets him to talk to him again and it has nothing to do with Yoongi being absolutely adorable and Seokjin being unbelievably enamored by him. All three of them wind up on the coach - alternating between helping Hongjoong with his homework and watching haikyuu. When Jihyun comes home with takeout she passes Seokjin his favorite ramen from the place just down the road like it’s the most normal thing in the world to do. 

Seokjin realizes that being a part of Yoongi’s life - being a part of all three of their lives has become his new normal. 

He wonders if he should be terrified.

But then Yoongi catches his eye as he slurps up his noodles and his eyes crinkle slightly at the corners as he smiles at him. 

And he realizes he isn’t terrified… not even a little bit.

🛹

“Can you stop pining for like two seconds and maybe actually study?” 

“I am not pining,” Seokjin defends, throwing an eraser at Taehyung who openly laughs at him. He doesn’t seem at all bothered by Seokjin’s words. 

“Okay and I am straight,” Taehyung practically sings from his place on the couch. 

Seokjin glares at the back of his head and opens his mouth to further defend himself but he’s cut off by his phone beeping, alerting him of a new text message. 

Yoongles [02:06]: Can you please do me a favor? 

Seokjin checks the time again, confused. Yoongi is usually on his way to pick up Hongjoong from school by now. He doesn’t use his phone at all while driving, only making phone calls if absolutely necessary so Seokjin knows there is no way in hell that Yoongi has suddenly picked up the habit of texting and driving. 

Just to be safe though, Seokjin presses the call button instead of replying to the text with one of his own. 

“Seokjin hi,” Yoongi whispers into the phone. 

Seokjin sits a bit straighter in his chair. “Yoongi? You okay?”

“Yeah I’m fine,” Yoongi promises and Seokjin hears some rustling on the other end of the line followed by what sounds like Yoongi rolling away from his desk with his rolling chair. 

After a few seconds of muffled noises coming from Yoongi’s end, he starts talking again. This time his voice isn’t a light whisper. 

“I was just wondering if you could pick up Hongjoong from school today? I’ll owe you my life.”

Seokjin glances at the time and stands when he realizes Hongjoon will be getting out in less than fifteen minutes. 

“Yeah of course,” Seokjin says as he looks around for his keys and wallet. “Everything okay?” 

He can practically hear Yoongi nod through the phone. “Everything is fine I just…” Yoongi inhales. “Well a producer for Cypher entertainment emailed me today about one of the demos I sent in and he wants to meet in person but the only time he is free is in like twenty minutes. There is no way I will be able to pick up Hongjoong and make it back on time and my mom is busy right now and I don’t want to bother her unless absolutely necessary. I can ask Jimin if you aren’t able to-”

“Yoongichi breathe,” Seokjin interrupts him, not wanting Yoongi to ramble himself into a panic. 

“Sorry.” Yoongi exhales. “Sorry. I’m just a bit nervous and I don’t want Hongjoong to have to take the bus or walk home alone-”

“I’m already headed out the door,” Seokjin promises as he skips a few steps in his haste to get down the stairs. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll pick up Hongjoong.” 

Seokjin hears Yoongi release what he assumes is a sigh of relief. “Thank you so much Jinnie. He adores you so I figured he would feel safest going home with you.” 

Seokjin pretends he doesn’t feel inexplicably warmer at those words. He can blame his blush on the warm spring heat. “I adore him as well so it’s no problem really. What time do you think you will be done?”

“I don’t know. If all goes well I would assume about an hour to two. If it all goes bad well…. probably a lot less.” 

“Well then I’ll see you in an hour or two okay?” Seokjin says, not wanting Yoongi to go into this amazing opportunity already doubting himself. “I’ve heard your stuff remember? I know how amazing it is and he would be an idiot to not offer you a job right on the spot. Don’t worry about Joongie okay? Just worry about making the producer fall in love with you.”

Yoongi laughs and the sound is always like a beautiful ballad to his ears. Yoongi’s laugh is probably one of his favorite sounds in the world. 

“Well Joongie, looks like it’s just you and me,” Seokjin says to the eight year old. “What did you want to do?” 

Hongjoong keeps his hand in Seokjin’s, completely unbothered by the fact that he’s picking him up from school instead of his brother. Seokjin should probably warn him of stranger danger and all that but he guesses Hongjoong trusts him since Yoongi does. Well that and Hongjoong literally demanded to talk to Yoongi on the phone as well. He’s a smart kid.

“Can we get pizza?” Hongjoong asks. They are walking towards Seokjin’s car and Hongjoong looks up at him, his lips forming a perfect pout. 

It’s an unfair tactic — one he’s probably picked up from Yoongi because he uses the same tactic on him anytime he wants anything. 

“Joongie I don’t-”

Hongjoong’s pout grows a bit more and he leans forward to nuzzle his head against Seokjin’s hipbone. “Please? I had a bad day and pizza always makes me feel better.” 

Seokjin pauses at that, looking down at Hongjoong. It’s the first time he’s really looked at him and it’s then that he realizes that he isn’t wearing the bright smile he usually is. Hongjoong isn’t one to pout or frown that often and he also isn’t one to be upset for an extended period of time. He’s a very free willing soul who doesn’t see the sense in staying angry or sad when being happy makes him feel better. 

Which is why the prospect of him being genuinely upset is absolutely heartbreaking. 

Seokjin kneels, pulling Hongjoong away from him in the midst of it so he is able to get a better look at him. Hongjoong’s eyes are red rimmed and slightly puffy and Seokjin feels a sudden urge to protect him. On top of growing closer to Yoongi - he has also grown closer to Hongjoong. It’s nearly impossible to not develop fondness for the sweet boy who is constantly covered in paint splatters and scrapes from skateboarding. 

“What happened?” Seokjin asks gently, not wanting to upset Joongie anymore than he already has. “Did something happen at school?”

Hongjoong doesn’t look at him at first and for a moment Seokjin is scared that he might lie to him or just withhold all information from him period. But on top of being a gentle soul - Hongjoong also isn’t a liar by any means. 

“Does painting your nails make you a girl?” He asks sullenly as he looks down at his green nails. 

Yoongi had painted them for him just yesterday after Hongjoong saw him painting his own the usual pale pink he liked. Seokjin had watched the entire exchange feeling nothing but utter fondness as he took in the scene. Never did he think that it would lead to a sad Hongjoong the next day. 

“Well,” Seokjin starts and he takes Hongjoong’s small hands into his own. “That depends really. Are you a girl? Is that who you feel like you are?” 

Hongjoong’s brow pinches slightly. “No. I’m a boy.” 

Seokjin nods. “Then you are a boy.”

Hongjoong’s frown deepens at that. “But Jiwon said that I was like a girl because I paint my nails. Everyone laughed at me when they heard him and everyone kept calling me a pretty princess all day.”

Seokjin fumes as Hongjoong explains the situation and he wonders how long he would go to jail for punching an eight year old in the face. Or maybe he can get Namjoon’s younger sister to do it. She is a feisty seven year old that strikes fear in almost everyone she meets. 

“Joongie just because you paint your nails doesn’t mean you’re a girl.” Hongjoong looks up at him skeptically, so Seokjin continues. “Painting your nails has nothing to do with how you identify and neither do clothes. You could wear a skirt and high heels for all I care but that wouldn’t change who you are.” 

Hongjoong sniffles slightly and pulls Seokjin forward, hugging him around the waist. “People are meanies for no reason.” 

Seokjin rakes his hand through Hongjoong’s brown hair. “They are but how about this… what if you paint my nails?” 

Hongjoong pulls back immediately and looks at him with large eyes. “Really?” 

“Of course Joongie. I want them a very bright pink okay?” Seokjin has never painted his nails before but he doesn’t care. 

When Hongjoong starts beaming at him, he knows that he would let Hongjoong paint his entire body pink if it meant he would be happy and feel better about who he is. 

“But first pizza okay?”

After they each have a slice of pizza and some strawberry mochi that Hongjoong asked for, they end up back at Yoongi’s mother’s apartment. Seokjin texts Jinhyun and asks if she has any nailpolish she wouldn’t mind him using - to which she tells him yes and doesn’t even question it. That woman is a saint if Seokjin has ever met one. 

About time Yoongi walks in the front door Seokjin has a set of freshly painted neon pink nails and Hongjoong no longer looks sad or has puffy eyes, which is all that Seokjin cares about. When Yoongi catches sight of his nails, he raises an eyebrow at him but before Seokjin can explain the situation Hongjoong is flinging himself at his brother. It’s not an uncommon occurrence so Yoongi catches him easily. 

“Hyungie! I missed you!” Hongjoong says as he wraps his arms around Yoongi’s neck. “I was sad but now I’m not anymore!”

Yoongi immediately frowns at that. “What? Why were you sad?”

“Because Jiwon said I was a girl for painting my nails! But I’m not. I’m a boy and boys can like pretty things too and even if I was a girl that would be okay because it doesn’t matter as long as people are happy. We shouldn’t be mean to people even if we don’t understand them. That’s what Jinnie hyung said and he even let me paint his nails because he said boys can like whatever they want!” Hongjoong rambles on, hardly breathing as he bombards Yoongi with how his day went. “He said his favorite color is pink and that’s okay and that no matter who I choose to be he will love me!” 

When Yoongi looks at him - he’s wearing an expression Seokjin has never seen on him before. He can’t quite read it but it makes Seokjin warm all over having it directed at him. 

“Yeah I called your mom and asked her if I could use her nail polish-”

Yoongi sets Hongjoong down on the ground and steps forward, completely disregarding what Seokjin was just telling him, Seokjin stops talking, mostly because he’s caught off guard by the sudden attention on him. 

“Ask again,” Yoongi says and he’s completely in his space now. 

Seokjin’s brow furrows slightly in confusion. “Ask what?”

Yoongi reaches forward, grabbing one of Seokjin’s tattooed hands in his own. “Ask me what you asked me that day at the skatepark. When we first saw each other after you made an ass of yourself.”

Seokjin considers that for a moment, running through the conversation they had that day. Yoongi hardly really said anything to him now that he’s thinking about it. Well, that’s not fair. He hardly said anything to him that wasn’t a direct insult. And then it hits Seokjin like a ton of bricks and he looks down at Yoongi in disbelief. 

Yoongi just nods and Seokjin swears he feels his heart threaten to beat out of his chest. Yoongi doesn’t say anything though. Instead he just waits silently for Seokjin to gather the words he needs to use. There is a gentle smile on his face, one that Seokjin has seen many times before. It’s not the smile Yoongi has when he’s beaming or laughing hard. No, this smile is only used in softer moments, when the world around them seems to be at peace. It’s saved for the nights he spends reading a goodnight story to Joongie in bed or late night talks with his mother as they both sit on the balcony of her second story apartment. It’s even been directed at Seokjin a select few times when they had a rare moment alone. 

“Will you go on a date with me?” Seokjin finally asks.

Yoongi pauses, pretending to consider the offer for a moment before he smiles at Seokjin.

“It’s not a date,” He finally says and his smile grows marginally larger when Seokjin starts smiling himself. 

“Well then how about just a super special hangout between friends?” Seokjin replies, a mirror answer to the one he had given all those months ago. 

Who knew they would end up back in this place once again? Asking the same question but in a different place. Seokjin finds he prefers this setting just a bit more because…. Well, because it’s more intimate. Seokjin isn’t standing in the middle of a skatepark with Jungkook pretending not to listen to his conversation while Yoongi looked at him rather unimpressed. Instead Yoongi is looking at him with what could only be described as utter fondness as they stand in Yoongi’s childhood bedroom with his baby brother asleep in the other room. 

“I guess we could do that.”

🛹

“We are coming to the skate park? Seriously?” Yoongi asks and Seokjin almost trips over his own feet because how the fuck did he know. 

Yoongi must realize this because he laughs. “I might have peeked.” 

Seokjin rolls his eyes, dropping his hands from Yoongi’s eyes. He pinches the younger on his side and Yoongi giggles while batting his hands away good naturedly. 

“Not what I thought our first date would be,” Yoongi says as they walk further into the skate park. 

Seokjin does end up tripping this time. “Date?” 

Yoongi turns to him, leveling him with a rather unimpressed stare. “You knew this was a date the moment I agreed to coming.” 

Seokjin ducks his head bashfully. “Well I didn’t know for sure, but I can’t say I wasn’t hoping I could convince you to actually give me a chance.”

“Why wouldn’t I give you a chance?” Yoongi asks as they venture deeper into the park. “You’re cute and you have made up for being a raging asshole the day we first met. Also Joongie and my eomma love you and would probably kill me if I let you slip through my fingers.” 

Seokjin can feel his heart constrict slightly at that because god does he love them too. He’s never really had a good family life. He has Taehyung and that’s all he’s ever really needed. He grew up without knowing what a mother's love felt like and he was positive that he could have gone his whole life without needing it… but that doesn’t mean it’s not nice to have. Especially when said love comes from someone like Yoongi’s eomma. She’s everything you think a mother should be - but mostly she accepts him without conditions. 

“Well I love them too,” Seokjin says softly. Yoongi turns to look at him and his expression softens. “But I also hope that’s not the only reason you agreed to go out with me.” 

Yoongi reaches over and interlocks their pinkies like it’s the most natural thing to do. They haven’t been too physically intimate with each other, mostly because neither of them are very touchy like Jimin or Taehyung and also because Yoongi just stopped hating him. Well maybe not just , but Seokjin can be dumb sometimes, especially when it comes to cute boys with button noses and didn’t realize that sooner. 

“I also did it because you make some bomb spicy kimchi stew and how could I ever give that up?” 

It’s an obvious joke and Seokjin is glad they have progressed past the awkward part. But if he’s being completely honest with himself, it’s never truly been awkward between the both of them, save for the time that Yoongi hated him and refused to even spare him a glance. Once Seokjin established that he wasn’t, in fact, an asshole, it’s been easy between the both of them. Sometimes it’s even felt too easy. Like it does right now. 

“So why here?” Yoongi asks as he comes to a stop in the middle of the park. Their pinkies are still interlocked and Seokjin would be a stupid man to draw attention to it. 

He stops himself, turning to face Yoongi. The moment he sees him, it feels as if his lungs are struggling to let him breathe. Because Yoongi is beautiful. Sure, he’s also been beautiful. That was something that Seokjin noticed the first time they met but right now? It’s almost incomparable. Yoongi on the surface doesn’t look any different. He still has almost delicate looking features, kind of like a porcelain doll, paired with the sharpness of his eyes and button nose. He still looks up from under his lashes without necessarily meaning to. But the light from the moon above them is bouncing off his features, giving him a softer glow. 

“Because we would have never spoken if it wasn’t for skating,” Seokjin says after a moment and once he’s collected himself. He doesn’t want to accidentally say something stupid. “I know it’s not like a downtown restaurant where we wear fancy clothes and make a reservation but…” 

He tugs their intertwined fingers gently, motioning for Yoongi to follow. Yoongi does just that and Seokjin leads them to one of the taller ramps. It’s the ramp that Yoongi and he stood on the first time they were teaching Hongjoong to skate. Yoongi had told him in the past that he would love to learn to skate down it one day, or even watch Joongie do it himself.

When they finally make it up the ramp - after some gentle swaying from Seokjin because Yoongi seemed a bit petrified of actually going up the rather small ramp - Yoongi stops short. Seokjin watches his face, wanting to see his genuine reaction to the little moonlight picnic he’s set up. It was Taehyung’s idea, one he gave him after Seokjin crawled into his bed and almost had an anxiety attack from agonizing over what to do. He’s never really been on a date before and he wanted this one to be special. 

Yoongi deserves special. 

“You… made us a picnic?” He asks in what sounds like disbelief. 

Seokjin nods, scratching the back of his neck bashfully. “Yeah I mean I figured why not? And this way we get to actually talk to each other instead of sitting in a noisy restaurant.”

Yoongi turns to him and he’s looking at him with that expression again. The same expression he had when he asked Seokjin to ask him on a date. It’s warm - a very clear mixture of happiness and fondness along with an emotion that he still can’t quite decipher. 

“What?” Seokjin asks because Yoongi still hasn’t said anything. 

“I’m sorry,” Yoongi replies. 

Seokjin frowns. “For what?”

“Because I judged you too harshly after we first met,” Yoongi says and he reaches out to grab one of Seokjin’s tattooed hands. “After we first met I swore I would hate you forever. You made me so angry and I figured you were a terrible person but… you aren’t. You are probably the most wonderful person I’ve ever met.” 

Seokjin opens his mouth to tell Yoongi that he had every right to judge him the first time they met but Yoongi steps closer and it has him pausing. 

“I’m glad you proved me wrong,” Yoongi practically whispers but the words still sound loud in the gentleness of the night. 

Seokjin swallows slightly. “I’m glad you gave me a second chance.” 

Yoongi smiles but instead of saying anything he just pulls Seokjin gently until he’s stumbling forward. Their lips meet almost clumsily but it’s perfect.

When Seokjin pulls away, he smiles and rests his forehead against Yoongi’s. “So this is a date?” 

Yoongi laughs. “Actually it’s just a super special hangout between boyfriends .”