Chapter Text
Hoseok was tucked away into his small corner of the coffee shop sitting at the table by the window that he’d claimed as his own every Tuesday night.
He had his textbook out and open, an array of colorful highlighters and pens scattered across the wooden surface. But the text went unread as Hoseok sighed into the palm of his hand, watching the man who took up the coffee shop’s makeshift stage, sitting on a barstool in front of the microphone as he strummed his guitar in a melody that wrapped around Hoseok. Warming him more than the beige sweater that was drowning his figure.
Hoseok watched, lost in the moment as he wondered how it would feel to hold those hands that were strumming the guitar in such complex and soothing patterns, if his hands would feel rough and calloused against Hoseok’s smooth and dainty—
“Earth to Hoseok.” Jimin teased, chuckling as he waved his hand in front of Hoseok’s face, “You’re zoning out again hyung.”
“Oh, am I?” Hoseok asked, he sounded far away, he knew that. But he couldn’t help it, couldn’t tear his gaze away from the guitarist on stage.
“He’s going to notice you if you keep staring at him like that.”
Hoseok whipped his head around, “No he’s not! Don’t tease me like that Minie. Why in the world would The Min Yoongi notice some random fan like me?”
“Well, considering he’s playing a small gig at a coffee shop every Tuesday night. I’d go out on a limb and say he doesn’t have too many fans.” Jimin spoke, pushing his glasses further up the bridge of his nose.
Taehyung nodded from where he was highlighting something in his textbook, “Yeah, I think he just likes playing guitar. This is just a side thing for him, hyung. The fact that you’re a fan already makes you stand out.”
Hoseok scrunched up his nose, “You all have no faith.” He spoke before returning his gaze back to the man playing the guitar. If he listened closely enough, Hoseok could hear him humming softly into the microphone. “If he really doesn’t have any fans...then consider me his first one. His biggest fan.”
“Whipped.” Taehyung mumbled under his breath, earning an elbow to the ribs from Jimin. “ Anyway ,” Jimin started, “You should go up there and talk to him after his set is over Hobi hyung. You’ve been dragging our asses to this coffee shop every Tuesday night for at least two months now, he knows who you are whether you like it or not.”
Hoseok moved to take the coffee on the table and bring it up to his lips, a feign attempt to hide his bashful smile, “No he doesn’t.”
“You sure about that?” Taehyung grinned, looking at something beyond Hoseok. Jimin’s expression mirroring Taehyung’s own.
Hoseok raised a brow at that, noticing briefly that the music had stopped, “Yes…? Why would—”
“Hey—”
Hoseok yelped . Jumping at least a good foot up off of his chair as he spun around with wide eyes.
Min Yoongi.
The Min Yoongi was standing there before Hoseok, his guitar slung around his shoulder from behind. Ripped jeans and a fitted sweater, dark bangs falling just before his brows in a way that caused Hoseok’s heart to ache as he wondered what it would be like to run his fingers through those bangs—
“ Hyung !” Jimin was snapping in front of Hoseok’s eyes, bringing him back to reality.
Hoseok shook his head, refocusing on Yoongi in front of him. “Huh?”
Yoongi chuckled, and oh no, he was smiling . A big gum filled thing that had Hoseok melting into his sweater ocean—
“I asked for your name?”
“N— Name…?” Hoseok echoed, a little wide eyed, a lot caught off guard as he pointed to himself, looking back briefly before meeting Yoongi’s midnight gaze again, “ My name…?”
Yoongi was beaming, clearly amused by something Hoseok was doing as he leaned against the table, crossing his arms, “Yes, you . I’ve noticed you’re here every Tuesday night.”
“Oh…” Hoseok froze in his seat. Yoongi had noticed him—
“He’s a big fan.” Taehyung interrupted then, pointing towards Hoseok with the tip of his highlighter. “This is the highlight of his week getting to come here and watch you play.”
“We’re supposed to be studying, but I’m sure you can guess how much studying he actually gets done when you’re the one up on stage.” Jimin added much to Hoseok’s own embarrassment.
“Oh? So you really are a fan?” Yoongi asked, his gaze hadn’t left Hoseok’s own.
Hoseok felt like he was in a trance.
“Yeah…” Hoseok spoke softly, “You’re very talented.”
Yoongi grinned, something sweet, kind, “Do you play?”
“Play?” Hoseok raised his brow, his mind trailing to a million and one possible meanings as his cheeks flushed, “I— I mean, I don’t—”
“He means the guitar .” Jimin spoke from behind Hoseok. If Hoseok listened close enough he could hear the groan of frustration hidden under Taehyung’s breath.
“He doesn’t play the guitar. In fact he doesn’t do anything musically really, you should see his playlist. There’s no variety.” Taehyung spoke matter-of-factly.
“I can teach you.” Yoongi spoke, like he was trying to impress. An attempt to seem ‘cool’ as he shrugged his shoulder, but there was an excitement in his voice, something more shining in his gaze, “I can teach you how to play, if you want. It’s pretty easy once you get the hang of it. And besides,” Yoongi reasoned, leaning closer into Hoseok’s space, a hand on the back of Hoseok’s chair, “It’s the least I can do for my very first fan.”
“I—” Hoseok felt like a fish out of water and oddly enough, Yoongi was the sea he was yearning to fall into— but at the same time, Yoongi was the same sea that terrified Hoseok.
“Yah! Yoongi hyung!” Another voice came from behind them, Hoseok recognized it as Seokjin. The boy who played piano and sang soft tunes after Yoongi’s set.
“Give me a second.” Yoongi called back, his cat-like eyes still on Hoseok, his voice gentle with him, “I don’t have to teach you how to play if you don’t want that. But maybe we could hang out sometime? Just you and me? I could get you a drink after one of your classes or—”
“ Yoongi !” Seokjin called again, tangled up in a mess of wires connecting to the keyboard.
Yoongi sighed in defeat, his eyes scrunching up cutely as he leaned back, backing away slowly but still facing Hoseok, he started grinning again, “Just think about it, yeah? It’s the least I can do for my very first fan.”
Hoseok felt his heart skip a beat. He was dreaming, he must be dreaming.
Hoseok only realized as Yoongi was turning around, that he hadn’t answered any of Yoongi’s questions.
“ Hoseok !” Hoseok yelled after Yoongi, perhaps a little too loud in the warm coffee shop, going by the sudden hush from the crowd and the eyes now boring into his figure.
Yoongi snapped back around, eyes wide as he met Hoseok’s own.
Hoseok had to keep going, but this time, in a much softer voice, “Jung— Jung Hoseok.” He started. Knowing full well that his cheeks were as red as an apple but he had to continue on, steadfast, “My name. My name is Jung Hoseok. Your...very first fan.”
And if Hoseok’s sudden outburst caused the world to stop, to pause, tilt slightly on its axis—
Then Yoongi’s smile was enough to set it back into motion.
“Hoseok.” Yoongi echoed softly, a smile growing against his cheeks and spilling into his eyes as he said it again, “ Hoseok .” Was the last thing Hoseok heard Yoongi say before he was whisked away by Seokjin.
Hoseok endured Jimin and Taehyung's teasing the rest of the night. They left shortly after Hoseok’s life changing encounter with the guitarist, a moment he was sure he’d be dreaming about until next Tuesday night.
“Do you think he goes to our school?” Hoseok asked quietly, lost in his own little world under the streetlights as the three of them made their way back to the dorms.
“I wouldn’t doubt it.” Jimin bumped shoulders with Hoseok, “He looks about our age. Why would he be going to play at the campus coffee shop if he didn’t go here?”
“Seconded. But it is strange that we haven’t seen him before. This is a small school, with an even smaller campus. I thought I knew everybody by now.” Taehyung spoke, kicking a rock as they walked.
“Maybe he just keeps to himself.” Hoseok hummed, still a little lost in the dream of it all.
Next Tuesday came by quickly enough. After a week of searching for Yoongi on campus, a week of dreaming of him, his dark eyes, his calming melodies, Hoseok finally found himself back in his usual cafe spot. Hands hidden in the sleeves of his sweater as the book on the table was left untouched.
Hoseok sighed as he watched Yoongi play guitar. The smell of pumpkin and cinnamon tickling his nose from Jimin and Taehyung’s drinks.
Hoseok was melting into his sweater when Yoongi started to sing softly into the microphone. A gentle tune, a low and melodic voice that gave Hoseok’s beating heart a place to rest. A place to feel safe.
He tried to ignore how quickly he was falling for the guitarist.
He tried to ignore how much he had already fallen.
“Hey, is he playing a new song today?” Taehyung asked, nudging Hoseok’s knee under the table with his own, “It sounds different?”
“Yeah.” Jimin’s attention perked up at that, looking behind him where Yoongi was singing to the guitar's soft drum. Jimin’s smile grew impossibly large, “He’s looking at you Hobi hyung.”
“No, he’s just looking in this direction.” Hoseok whispered, not wanting to disrupt the gentle song Yoongi was leading.
“Eyes brown
Sweet and dynamic—
And I’m going down,
Like the titanic”
“You’ve got brown eyes Hobi hyung.” Jimin stated excitedly, something new sparking to life in his gaze.
“Everyone in Korea has brown eyes.” Hoseok mumbled, unwilling to allow himself to distract from Yoongi’s gentle singing.
“He’s not looking at everyone in Korea right now though, is he?” Taehyung spoke, closing his book.
“You guys are just looking too much into this.” Hoseok couldn’t help but to smile. He knew that it wasn’t the case, but that didn’t stop himself from imagining that it was. That Yoongi was singing to him, for him.
He played another song shortly after, his voice so pretty it had Hoseok’s toes curling in his shoes.
“My sweet, pretty boy
You got a smile so bright
Your pearls— heart shaped, I’m going blind”
“Now I wonder who has a heart shaped smile?” Jimin started, giggling from his own giddiness as he closed his book too, sharing a look with Taehyung.
Hoseok brushed them off, “He never said a heart shaped smile . He probably just put some words together to make it rhyme.”
“It doesn’t rhyme.” Taehyung spoke flatly, yet his eyes held amusement.
“You guys are just trying to get my hopes up but it— wait, where are you guys going?” Hoseok asked, noticing Jimin and Taehyung moving to stand, their books already packed away, “Yoongi hasn’t finished his set yet, we can’t leave now!”
“We’ve got uh…” Taehyung started, looking towards Jimin for help.
“Errands.” Jimin supplied, “We’ve got some errands to run before we head back to the dorms. You stay here Hobi hyung, we’ll meet you back at the dorms tonight.”
“Wait— wait but what if—”
“You’ll be fine.” Jimin reassured Hoseok, his eyes lighting up at something just beyond Hoseok's shoulder. Jimin’s grin widened, “In fact, you’ll be more then fine. See you hyung!” He spoke before taking Taehyung’s hand and hurriedly escaping the warm cafe’s light.
Before Hoseok could say anything more, a new presence was making itself known from behind him.
“Hey—”
“ Ah —” Hoseok yelped, again, clutching his chest before meeting Yoongi’s more than amused eyes. “God...you gotta stop scaring me like that.” Hoseok mumbled before realizing who he was talking to. “I— I mean you can keep scaring me like that if you want! I don’t— it’s not like I mind that much when it’s you it’s just—”
“I’ll try not to sneak up on the jumpy bunny from now on, yeah?” Yoongi smiled, and it was sweet, it was kind. “Are you alone? May I have this seat?” He asked, gesturing to the seat next to Hoseok.
Hoseok nodded, a little numb that Min Yoongi would be asking to sit next to him, of all people.
“Did you like the show today?” Yoongi asked casually, as if they were friends. Maybe they were.
Hoseok nodded again, “I always enjoy your show.” He smiled a little, attempting to hide it with the warm cup of hot chocolate he brought up to his lips, “I am your fan after all.”
“My very first fan.” Yoongi echoed, gentle, “I’m glad you didn’t find it... strange . It’s just when I sing, I only care to sing the lyrics that I mean. If...that makes sense.”
Hoseok tried to ignore the way his heart dropped at that. Tried to ignore the voice in the back of his mind screaming to him that Yoongi has a crush on someone. The one who he was singing about.
“No, I get it. That makes complete sense, I don’t find it strange at all.” Hoseok answered honestly, “I think that makes you an even better musician, actually. Your music comes from your heart.”
Yoongi hummed, his smile showing his teeth and gums as he leaned closer towards Hoseok against the table, “So...I can keep going? I can keep writing those kinds of lyrics? You don’t mind?”
Hoseok raised a brow at that, “Why would I mind? They’re your lyrics. No matter what, if you sing the lyrics from your heart, then they are your lyrics. I’ll be your fan no matter what you sing Yoongi-ssi.”
“Hyung.” Yoongi quickly responded, easy, “Call me Yoongi hyung. You’re a second year, right?”
“How’d you know that?” Hoseok’s eyes grew wide. “I’ve never even seen you on campus before so how…?”
Yoongi chuckled, nodding down towards the un-opened book beside the mug in Hoseok’s sweater paw hands. “That’s a level two textbook. You’re an education major?”
Hoseok smiled brightly at that, a little bashful, “Ah, yeah. I’m studying to be a teacher. Sorry, I know that’s not the coolest thing in the world—”
“Actually, I think it is the coolest thing in the world.” Yoongi was quick to argue, his larger, calloused hands were dangerously close to Hoseok’s own hidden hands.
Hoseok wondered what it would be like to reach out the rest of the distance, and to hold his hand—
“What do you want to teach, Hoseok-ah?” Yoongi asked, there was a kindness in his voice that Hoseok wasn’t used to hearing. Like Yoongi was really, genuinely excited to learn more about Hoseok’s passions.
“Literature.” Hoseok smiled, indulging in the moment, in Yoongi, “I’ve...always been lost in my own world I guess you could say. And literature, books, stories they— they helped me find myself in this world. To be able to help the younger generations find themselves in this world, in story worlds...that’s what I want to do. I think that’s my calling, my purpose.” Hoseok shrugged, “That...probably sounds really cheesy though, huh?”
“Good thing I’m not lactose intolerant. I love cheese.” Yoongi grinned.
Hoseok barked out with unexpected laughter, shaking his head, “That was so silly.”
“Was it?” Yoongi laughed along, “Sorry, I’m still getting used to this. Forgive me if I say stupid things when I’m around such a pretty boy.”
Hoseok giggled, looking around them with confusion beginning to paint his brows, “And where is this pretty boy, hm? You’re easily the prettiest one here Yoongi hyung—”
“You.” Yoongi answered easily, in an exhale. “Wait you...you think I’m pretty?”
Hoseok pointed with his finger, “Wait no— no you think that...that I’m the pretty boy?”
Yoongi chuckled, moving his hand closer to Hoseok's. The back of his palm was touching Hoseok’s sweater now. “You’re the prettiest boy here, Seok-ah. But I’m honored you find me attractive as well.”
Hoseok knew his cheeks were flushed, beat red. There was no going back now as he nodded, attempting to engrave the way Yoongi had said his name, the way he had said Seok-ah in his low, dream like voice before Hoseok diverted the conversion. “So— So I take it you’re a music major?”
Yoongi nodded, taking the change in topic easily, “Yeah, I’m a piano major specifically.”
“But...you play…?”
“Guitar is just a side hobby. Something that I’ve picked up to keep me from overdoing it on piano.” Yoongi shrugged.
Hoseok looked towards Yoongi then with a newfound appreciation for the talented man before him.
“Did you mean it? When you asked if you could teach me guitar? Did you mean that?” Hoseok asked, a voice softer than Seokjin’s piano playing on the stage behind them.
Yoongi was grinning again, that same, million dollar smile as he reached for Hoseok's hand. Erasing the distance between them and holding Hoseok’s sweater paw in his own hand.
Hoseok held his hand back, feeling his heart beat rapidly in his chest as he cursed the fabric between their skin.
“I would do anything for my very first fan.”
___________
“So you’ve got a date.” Taehyung frowned, “And you didn’t tell us until now ?!”
“Because it just happened! Just now!” Hoseok defended, moving his arms around wildly as he fretted over his hair in front of the dorm mirror. “How did I know he’d want to meet up the next day and teach me guitar? Oh god...what if I suck? What if I’m terrible? He’s going to hate me. He’s—”
“And there he goes again.” Jimin rolled his eyes, catching Hoseok’s jittering shoulders, “Hobi hyung, it’s okay . It’s just Yoongi, yeah?”
“It's not just Yoongi it’s never just Yoongi.” Hoseok explained, “It’s...I…” He worked his teeth around his lip, “I just don’t want to mess this up. I want him to like me. To remember me…”
“I think he remembers you. He was singing about you last night.” Taehyung supplied.
Hoseok shook his head, “I’m going to be late, I should get going—”
“Oh no you don’t.” Jimin looked appalled by that as he pushed Hoseok down in front of the vanity chair, “At least let me fix your eyebrows, and some lipstick. Little bit of blush, yeah? We’ve gotta work on your confidence Hobi hyung, so let’s start with making you look confident.”
Hoseok looked down as Jimin started on his brows, tugging on the sleeves of his cream colored sweater, “I just...I want him to like me. I’ve never really— I’ve never felt this way with anyone before. We’ve only shared two conversations together and I still feel this way? He still makes me feel like there’s butterflies in my stomach.”
“Oh hyung, you have much to learn in the art of attraction.” Taehyung smiled towards Hoseok through the mirror, “Yoongi’s hot and you like him. That’s why you feel this way.”
Hoseok made a noise in disagreement, “No it’s...it’s more than that. It’s...not just how he looks. I mean he’s very attractive but he’s also—”
“Very muscular and his fitted sweaters fail to hide that very obvious fact?” Jimin smirked knowingly.
Hoseok groaned, “Alright so that is the one topic that we are not going to talk about —”
“Should we talk about your muscle kink instead?” Taehyung teased further.
“ As I was saying .” Hoseok cleared his throat, trying to ignore the way his blush gave himself away all too easily, “He’s just...his voice is attractive. The way he carries himself is attractive. How he sings, I feel like I know him just from hearing him play the guitar, is that weird? Am I weird for thinking that?”
“I think your muscle kink is weirder than that hyung.” Jimin frowned, deadpan.
Hoseok swatted at the younger's chest, “I’m trying to be serious here!”
Taehyung chuckled, “No we get it Hobi hyung. Music is an art, and sometimes people put their all into it. I get the vibe that Yoongi is a passionate player, but I never connected with his music like you have.”
Jimin nodded, humming in agreement as he applied a rose colored lip gloss to Hoseok’s lips, “And it’s the same for me. He’s good, and I admire his talent but I don’t necessarily feel anything different when he’s playing. It’s nice to hear, pretty to listen to, but it doesn’t set off any butterflies.”
“So it is weird.” Hoseok’s shoulders slumped.
“ No .” Taehyung shook his head, hands on the back of Hoseok’s shoulders, “It’s special . What you feel with Yoongi is special . And I know you don’t see it, but he is just as whipped for you as you are for him.”
“I find it hard to believe that someone as beautiful as him would spare a second thought for someone like me.” Hoseok pouted.
“And see,” Jimin added his finishing touches to the canvas of Hoseok’s features, “ that is where we start building up that confidence of yours Hyung.” He spoke, smiling proudly as he leaned back and moved out of the way for Hoseok to view into the mirror. “See? You’re pretty Hobi hyung, don’t you think so?”
Hoseok watched himself in the mirror, there was hardly any makeup on his face, just a little bit that accentuated his features and made him look— made him look pretty .
A small smile started to bloom across his cheeks, “Yeah I...maybe. Maybe I am a little bit pretty after some makeup.”
Taehyung nodded proudly as well, “Good. Now say that three more times into the mirror.”
“What?! Three more times?” Hoseok echoed, bewildered.
Jimin nodded in agreement, giving an encouraging smile, “Come on hyung, you can do it.”
Hoseok closed his eyes and exhaled, realizing he wasn’t getting out of this one. He opened his eyes and met his own gaze in the mirror.
“I am pretty.”
“I am—”
“Like you mean it hyung!” Taehyung nudged, fluffing Hoseok’s hair up a bit.
Hoseok pouted slightly, a deep breath. The sun was setting just outside their dorm room window, a golden hue spilling into the room and painting his skin in something warm, something lovely.
Maybe he was a little bit pretty.
“I am pretty.”
“I am pretty.”
“I am pretty.” Hoseok whispered to himself after he’d knocked on Yoongi’s door in a last minute attempt to psych himself up for his meeting with the attractive guitarist. He didn’t have to wait long before Yoongi was answering the door, a delighted smile melting quickly to one of awe.
And maybe Hoseok was starting to feel pretty.
“Hey.”
“Hi.”
Hoseok rubbed at his arms, rolling on the balls of his feet, “I...um, sorry I’m a little late—”
“Did you put lipstick on?” Yoongi asked suddenly. The question caught Hoseok off guard as he quickly raised a hand to cover his mouth.
“I— um, yes? It’s not lipstick, it's lip gloss— is that weird? It is, isn’t it? I’m sorry. That was really stupid of me to—”
Yoongi had his hand against Hoseok’s wrist then. Hoseok was right, Yoongi’s hands were rough, a little calosed, but so gentle. So gentle as he guided Hoseok’s hand down and away from his face. “I like it.” Yoongi spoke, a low voice, that goofy grin on his lips again. “I just— I like it alot. ”
Hoseok pouted, “You’re just being nice. I can wipe it off if it makes you uncomfortable.”
Much to Hoseok’s surprise, Yoongi brought his hand up to his own lips, pressing a kiss to Hoseok’s knuckles.
Hoseok felt his knees buckle from under him.
“Personally, I would be incredibly sad if you were to wipe off your pretty lip gloss.” Yoongi spoke, his voice still that low, comforting tune, “But more importantly, it makes you feel good, doesn’t it? It makes you feel pretty? That’s why you put it on?”
“Well...technically Jimin— my friend— he put it on for me. But...yeah, it does make me feel a little pretty.” Hoseok answered, feeling shy, small, under Yoongi’s gaze.
“Then I will fight anyone who tries to come and tell you anything negative about your pretty lips then.” Yoongi spoke, determination swarming in his eyes. It was a new sight for Hoseok. One that he didn’t particularly mind. It made him feel...safe.
So safe, that he started giggling, “You sound like my knight and shining armor Yoongi hyung.”
“I’ll be your knight.” Yoongi smiled, moving his hand to hold Hoseok’s own and leading them into his dorm room, “I’ll be your prince, your king, your emperor. Whatever you’d like me to be.”
Hoseok hadn’t stopped giggling as he looked around Yoongi’s dorm, it was similar to his own with a living space in the middle, two bedroom doors on either side and a small open spaced kitchen. “My singer.”
“Hm?” Yoongi hummed, a little distracted as he moved music sheets and books off of the couch and made room for the two of them.
“My singer.” Hoseok restated, moving to sit down next to Yoongi on the couch, “That’s all I would ask you to be, to just be my singer.”
Yoongi paused a little at that before looking down and shaking his head, his bangs bouncing with the motion as he reached over for his guitar on the coffee table. “I’ll always be your singer if you’ll always be my fan.”
“Is that a promise?” Hoseok found that he liked playing with Yoongi like this, that he felt comfortable around the guitarist. That that feeling of safety didn't come from just his gaze alone, but his presence itself.
“Yeah.” Yoongi grinned, pulling the guitar into his lap and strumming, “It’s a promise.” Yoongi ducked his head as if to hide his smile as he strummed the guitar, fumbling with a guitar pick in his hand. “So...I’ve been working on this new song…”
Hoseok’s eyes illuminated , “Really? Can I hear it? Is it new?”
Yoongi chuckled, “Yeah, it’s new. I was going to play it at the cafe, but since you’re here now…” Yoongi trailed off as he started to strum the guitar.
Hoseok was confused as to what he meant by that, but he wasn’t going to interrupt the guitarist to ask. Instead, he leaned the side of his head against the back of the couch, a gentle smile on his lips as he watched Yoongi play, as he listened to his song.
“But I can't help it I'm falling for you
And I can't quit it
Cause I'm stuck on you
And it might be pathetic and you might be sceptical
But I just want to be with you”
That same sinking feeling overcame Hoseok then, as he realized that the song was a love song. One that he would never be on the receiving end of. He felt like the titanic, like a ship sinking in the ocean of this beautiful guitarist. He’d already hit the iceberg, there was no going back, but the least he could do was support Yoongi.
He was his fan, after all.
When the song came to an end, the last chord rang in the air like a water's ripple before quieting down to just them again. And Yoongi grew flustered, “It— I hope it’s okay? I’m still working on it, so it’s okay if it’s not that great. But I just wanted you to hear it.”
“Hyung.” Hoseok reached out to rest his hand on Yoongi’s arm, a gentle touch. “It’s beautiful .”
“You think so? You like it?” Yoongi asked, “I mean, like, it’s okay ? It’s okay for me to say that? To be thinking that? Singing it?”
Hoseok raised his brow, “Of course it is. I would never want to stop you from writing the lyrics that you want to write. You are always allowed to feel the way that you feel and express that through your music. That’s what makes your music so special, hyung.”
Yoongi sighed in relief, “Good. Great. I’m glad.” He nodded, moving the guitar off of his lap and into Hoseok’s own.
The movement startled Hoseok, “Wait you...you want me to learn on your guitar?” Hoseok asked, eyes wide. He felt awkward with the large instrument in his lap.
Yoongi nodded, guiding Hoseok’s hands to lay correctly on the guitar, a fleeting touch that left Hoseok wanting for more. “Of course, here, hold your hand like this and— yes, perfect. And, ah, here.” Yoongi started, pushing Hoseok forward slightly so that he could slide behind him. Yoongi’s arms came around Hoseok’s own, broad shoulders pressed up against Hoseok’s back as Yoongi’s chin hooked around Hoseok’s shoulder. Yoongi’s arms and hands resting gently atop Hoseok’s own on the guitar, guiding.
Hoseok stopped breathing .
“There, see? It’s not so hard to strum, just takes a second to get used to the hand motion of it all.” Yoongi spoke gently, guiding Hoseok’s hand across the strings gently. A calming sound vibrating from the guitar's drum.
If Hoseok moved his head ever so slightly, their lips would be mere centimeters apart.
Hoseok tried not to think about that.
Key word: Tried.
“There you go, now try placing your other hand here on the fret and…” Yoongi helped guide.
Hoseok’s eyes lit up as soon as he made a pretty sound, “Wow did— did you hear that hyung? Help me play that again!”
Yoongi chuckled, a low, soft rumble against Hoseok’s back as he helped Hoseok recreate the sound, “That’s a ‘C’ chord Seok-ah.”
Hoseok hummed, leaning back further against Yoongi, allowing the elder's arms to wrap around him. It felt like a hug, like an embrace with the song. With Yoongi.
And they kept going like that, until Hoseok could successfully play at least three different chords with minimal help from Yoongi behind him.
As much as Hoseok had learned in that short time span, there was still much more that he needed to learn, Yoongi insisted.
Which is how Hoseok found himself in a routine of sorts, after the busy and grueling day of classes and assignments, meetings with friends and club activities, he’d find himself outside of Yoongi’s door. Every night, Hoseok ended up in Yoongi’s music, his embrace, his warmth.
It made their Tuesday nights that much more exciting for Hoseok as he heard Yoongi perform the songs he’d practice throughout the week. As they’d share glances and Yoongi would find his way to Hoseok’s small table in the corner, by the window.
It was getting easier to be around Yoongi, Hoseok realized.
And he wasn’t the only one.
“You’re going over to Yoongi hyung’s again tonight?” Jimin questioned from where he sat in the living room.
Hoseok nodded from where he sat by the door, slipping his boots on, “Yep, he’s going to teach me a full song on guitar! I think he’s been working on a new song for next Tuesday too, so maybe he’ll give me a sneak peek.”
“I’m sure he’d give you more then just that if you asked.” Taehyung mumbled from beside Jimin, earning an elbow to his ribs.
“You’ve been going to see him alot lately.” Jimin started, and Hoseok knew he was trying to open a conversation that Hoseok was decidedly not ready for.
“I guess.” He shrugged.
“Almost like you two are dating or something.” Taehyung hummed from the couch, a little bit like a song.
“We’re just friends!” Hoseok was quick to reassure, moving to stand on his feet, “He’s just teaching me how to play guitar because I’m his fan, that’s all. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“Hobi hyung.” Jimin spoke, a knowing tone, a knowing smile.
Hoseok sighed, “I’m not going to get out of this, am I?”
“Well, considering we’re nearing a month of these nightly visits with your crush, I think we’re bound to talk about it at some point.” Jimin answered easily.
Hoseok didn’t deny the crush part. Hiding his blushing cheeks as he called back over his shoulder, “We can talk when I get home? I don’t want to be late.”
“Okay, we’ll wait up for you hyung, have fun!” The two chirped from inside the dorm room.
The days were getting colder and colder. Luckily Yoongi’s dorm wasn’t all the way across campus from Hoseok’s own.
But it was still a walk.
Hoseok tried not to think about what he would tell Taehyung and Jimin. Tried not to think about what they might ask. And it got easier once he was in Yoongi’s space again, once Yoongi had his arms around him. Showing him a chord that Hoseok had already mastered, but Yoongi didn’t have to know that.
“You seem distracted today Seok-ah, everything alright?” Yoongi asked once he’d deemed their lesson to be over, helping Hoseok place the guitar back into its case on the coffee table.
“Hm? Oh, yeah. Everything's fine.” Hoseok shrugged, leaning back onto Yoongi’s worn couch, “I’m just...tired. Jimin and Taehyung want to hang out later tonight, I think.”
Yoongi hummed, a pause, something brief, before he was patting his shoulder, “You can rest here if you want. I’ve been told I have good shoulders, or— or you could go back to your dorm and sleep. You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.” Yoongi quickly corrected.
Hoseok smiled sweetly, moving closer to Yoongi’s side, “I’d rather stay here with you, hyung. I always want to stay where you are.”
“Really…?” Yoongi asked gently, grinning.
Hoseok nodded, hummed. He was about to rest his head on Yoongi’s shoulder and never wake up when he noticed— “Your sweater!”
“Hm?”
Hoseok pointed to the small tear in Yoongi’s ocean blue sweater, just a little thing around the collar. Not big, but enough to justify a few stitches. “What happened? It’s ripped.” Hoseok pouted, “This is your favorite sweater…”
Yoongi chuckled, looking down to the small rip Hoseok was fretting over, “Ah, yeah. I just wear this sweater a lot I guess and it must have torn when I put it in the wash. It’s fine though, I’ll be more careful next time.”
Hoseok shook his head, “No, that’s not how tears work Yoongi hyung, if you don’t sew it up now then it’ll just get bigger. Give it to me before I leave and I can sew it up for you, I used to sew all the time when I was a kid.”
“Really? You’d do that for me?”
“Of course I wou— Wait what! What are you doing!” Hoseok covered his eyes, looking away as Yoongi slipped the sweater off of his body.
“What? You said you’d fix it for me? I’m wearing an undershirt.”
“You’re wearing a white, see-through tank top !” Hoseok almost yelped as he sneaked a peak through his fingers. And it was tight on Yoongi’s form.
Hoseok was only so strong of a man.
“Does that make you uncomfortable?” Yoongi asked, there was hesitance in his voice.
“No it’s not— I’m not uncomfortable it’s just...I—” Hoseok started but Yoongi brought him close, leading Hoseok’s head down onto his chest, the sweater falling into Hoseok’s hands.
“You can still rest, if you want. You don’t have to look.” Yoongi whispered, hummed.
Hoseok exhaled, holding the sweater closer to his chest and nuzzling into Yoongi’s near bear shoulder, into his side. “It’s not that I don’t want to look.” He whispered, feeling Yoongi’s arm wrap around him from behind. He felt warm . He felt safe.
“I know.” Yoongi whispered into Hoseok’s bushy brown hair, burying his nose there, “I know, Seok-ah.”
“No I— I have to explain myself better.” Hoseok mumbled, his voice muffled by Yoongi’s shoulder, “I...I like it, I just, I get nervous. Because you’re The MIn Yoongi and you’re beautiful and talented and kind and I’m just your fan. I’m scared that...that one day you’re going to just forget about me because why would you want to keep someone like me around—”
“I won’t hear any more of that.” Yoongi shook his head, his other arm was coming around now to wrap around Hoseok, pulling him to sit in Yoongi’s lap, encased by the musician. “I won’t allow you to put yourself down like that, Seok-ah, you call me that but to me you are The Jung Hoseok . The prettiest, loveliest, most amazing boy in school. I think of it as an honor to even be around you, let alone call you my fan.”
“You’re just teasing me.” Hoseok pouted, pulling the sweater closer to himself.
“As much as I love to tease you, right now I am only speaking the truth.” Yoongi spoke gently, “I am your fan, Seok-ah.”
A flutter of hope was beginning to bloom inside of Hoseok. A little bit of light shining through between the cloudy sky.
“Seok-ah,” Yoongi started again, after a moment, “I have a song that I’ve been working on. One that I want you to hear, it’s not finished yet...but when it is, will you listen?”
“Of course I’ll listen, Yoongi hyung. What kind of song is it? Is it another guitar song?” Hoseok asked, a smile blooming across his lips.
“It’s a love song.” Yoongi whispered. Quiet.
And that little bit of hope that had sparked to life in Hoseok’s chest was washed out by an ocean of reality.
Because oh, that’s right.
Yoongi sang love songs every Tuesday night at the cafe. At their cafe.
Yoongi would sing and meet Hoseok’s gaze, Hoseok would feel lost in the little world they’d create.
But those lyrics were never meant for him.
But Hoseok was his fan. He would always be Yoongi’s fan.
And it never hurt to dream a little bit...
“Of course.” Hoseok nodded into Yoongi’s shoulder, squeezing his eyes shut and forcing his voice not to waver, “I’ll listen to your love song, Yoongi hyung.”
Hoseok tried to ignore that. He forced the image of Yoongi singing a love song for somebody else, a mystery person, to the back of his head as he stitched up Yoongi’s sweater later that night.
Hoseok allowed himself to imagine a world where Yoongi liked him back.
It didn’t hurt to imagine, right? Hoseok thought as he finished the last stitch. He’d added a little red heart design after fixing the tear. Nothing too fancy, just a little something. Just something to remind Yoongi of Hoseok. To remind him not to forget.
Hoseok was in the middle of slipping Yoongi’s sweater on over his shoulders when Taehyung and Jimin came crashing into his dorm room, nearly startling him off the bed, “What—”
“Hyung, is that Yoongi hyung’s favorite sweater?!” Taehyung’s eyes grew wide as he moved to sit beside Hoseok on his bed.
Jimin was invading Hoseok’s space immediately, taking inventory of the sweater, “Oh it absolutely is, he’s giving you his clothes? Is it official then?”
Hoseok blushed furiously, shaking his head and waving his hands widely, “No! No, it’s not like that he just had a tear in his sweater and so I stitched it up is all—”
“With a heart!” Taehyung almost yelled, pointing towards the small stitch.
Jimin leaned back, crossing his arms, “And you’re wearing his sweater.”
Hoseok’s gaze dropped down to his lap. The sweater was big on him, not long, just, the shoulders were big, the sleeves. Hoseok fumbled with his hands through his sweater paws, “It smells like him. Is that bad?” He looked up, eyes a little vulnerable, “Should I take it off? Is this weird?”
Taehyung brought Hoseok into a side hug, rustling his hair, “It’s not weird at all hyung. It just means that you like Yoongi hyung.”
“But we’ve already been over that, so stop second guessing yourself all the time Hobi hyung, alright?” Jimin started gently from the other side of Hoseok, “You’re okay. It’s okay to feel like this. To want to wear Yoongi hyungs sweater because it smells like him, you like him, and that’s okay .”
“But he doesn’t like me.” Hoseok sighed into Taehyung’s shoulder, “I’m just setting myself up for heartbreak, aren’t I?”
“I don’t think that Yoongi hyung doesn’t like you Hobi hyung.” Taehyung spoke then, a low rumble against Hoseok’s ear, “I would even venture out to say that he likes you very, very much. Maybe even love.”
Hoseok groaned, curling into himself, “Stop. Don’t do this to my heart.”
“It’s a risk, Hobi hyung.” Jimin ran a comforting hand up and down Hoseok’s arm, “It’s a risk falling in love, isn’t it?”
“What do you mean?”
“You can never be completely sure that the other person likes you until you say something. You just have to trust the signs, trust that person, trust yourself that it’s real. That you won’t get hurt in the end.” Jimin spoke softly, a comforting tune.
“What do you think I should do then?” Hoseok asked, lost.
“You should confess to Yoongi hyung how you feel.” Jimin answered simply, as if it was as easy as that.
Hoseok was quiet for a moment, he wanted to react, to immediately shoot Jimin’s suggestion down but another part of him, a deeper part of him wanted to wonder. Wonder how Yoongi would react if Hoseok did confess.
What he might say.
“He likes someone else.” Hoseok whispered.
“Do you know that for sure?” Taehyung asked.
“Maybe.”
“No, you don’t.” Jimin answered instead, “You like Yoongi hyung, don’t you hyung?”
“More than anything.” Hoseok answered easily. “I like the way he sings, I like how he smiles, how he laughs. I like the way he looks at me, how he makes me feel.”
“Then don’t you think he’s worth that risk?” Taehyung nudged Hoseok on.
Hoseok took a deep breath, an inhale, and exhale.
“Yeah. Maybe.”
Jimin clapped his hands together happily, “Great! Glad we got that taken care of, so how are you going to confess, hm?”
“You could get him flowers? Or make him a music playlist?” Taehyung suggested before immediately shaking his head, “Actually no, those are terrible ideas.”
“Maybe I could sing him a song…?” Hoseok started softly, “Maybe I could learn something on guitar and sing it for him?”
“I think that is a great idea Hobi hyung!” Jimin nodded encouragingly, “Do you know enough on guitar to do that?”
Hoseok looked down, playing with the ends of Yoongi’s sweater, “Maybe I need a little bit more practice? He’s a music major after all...he’d know if I messed up or something.”
Taehyung smirked, “Something tells me that you could bang pots together and Yoongi hyung would think it’s the sweetest melody.”
They chuckled, Hoseok rolling his eyes and shoving at Taehyung’s chest playfully as Jimin smiled, brushing Hoseok’s bangs back, “I’ve got an idea.”
Hoseok wore Yoongi’s sweater to bed that night, waking up and loving the way it smelled like the combination of his and Yoongi’s scents. Loving how soft it was against his skin, how much it reminded him of Yoongi.
Hoseok never wanted to give it back, but it was Tuesday and Hoseok knew that he shouldn’t be stealing Yoongi’s clothes. Hoseok sighed, holding the clothing close to his chest as Yoongi played the final song in his set. Something new.
Another love song.
“I have faith in what I see
Now I know I have met an angel in person
And he looks perfect
No, I don't deserve this
You look perfect tonight”
Hoseok again, allowed himself to imagine Yoongi singing to him, as the elder sang the last line, gaze lingering on Hoseok’s form.
That flutter of hope illuminating back to life again in Hoseok’s chest. Blooming to life a little bit longer. A little bit brighter every time.
“Hey.” Yoongi smiled as he walked over after packing up his guitar, taking a seat next to Hoseok. Jimin and Taehyung hadn’t come that night. Something about wanting to give Hoseok ‘alone time’ with Yoongi.
“Hi.” Hoseok beamed back.
“Did you like the song? I mean— it’s just, it’s true, you know?” Yoongi nodded towards his guitar, hands fumbling around the drink that Hoseok had waiting for him.
“The song? I loved it. Of course I loved it.” Hoseok hummed, “You always write the sweetest love songs Hyung.”
Yoongi met Hoseok’s gaze then, something vibrant in his gaze that had Hoseok’s toes curling, “Then I’ll write a thousand more love songs, Seok-ah.” Yoongi reached for Hoseok's hand, holding it in his own, “Whenever you want to hear a love song, I’ll sing you one. I’d write albums of them if that’s what you wanted.”
Hoseok giggled, “Hyung! You tease too much. Oh,” Hoseok suddenly remembered the sweater in his arms, “Here, your sweater. I fixed it up and added a little extra stitch. I hope that’s okay? If it’s not then I can take it out. Promise. I just...I wanted to leave something for you to remember me by...if that’s okay…?”
Hoseok watched as Yoongi took the sweater into his hands, his gum filled smile glowing as he found the small heart stitch. “You stitched a little heart here?”
Hoseok hummed, unsure.
“This used to be my favorite sweater. But now, it’s my treasure. ” Yoongi hurriedly slipped on the sweater over his own.
Hoseok chuckled, giggling as he helped Yoongi fit the sweater on, he looked two times his normal size with all the fabric on his shoulders, “Hyung you’re going to be too hot like that with two sweaters.”
“A small price to pay.” Yoongi chirped, his hand resting lightly over the new stitch.
It had been a few days since Hoseok had given Yoongi his sweater back when he received a text,
Min Yoongi:
Seok-ah, you coming over tonight?
Min Yoongi:
I’ll order us some dinner, your favorites?
Hoseok’s heart was fluttering at how domestic the messages sounded. It was something so casual, something that a friend would text to another friend. But it was also something that a boyfriend would text to his boyfriend.
Hoseok allowed himself to dream.
Jung Hoseok:
Yoongi hyungie! i would love that sm u3u
Jung Hoseok:
but can we reschedule for tomorrow ? :(( i have to study tonight for something…
Min Yoongi:
Of course.
Min Yoongi:
I’ll see you tomorrow then.
Hoseok smiled a little as he walked down campus and into the music building when he got another text—
Min Yoongi:
I’ll miss you, Seok-ah. Let me know if you need help studying.
Hoseok bit his lip, trying to hide his smile in the tan scarf around his neck as he texted back,
Jung Hoseok:
I’ll miss you more, hyungie~
“Are you Jung Hoseok?” An unfamiliar voice called towards him.
Hoseok whipped his gaze away from the phone and up towards the man before him. “Hi! Yes, that’s me, I’m here for the guitar lesson with…” Hoseok trailed off as he realized what the man was wearing.
“Great. I’m Jeon Jungkook, I’ll be your guitar teacher.” Jungkook spoke, wearing the same sweater that Hoseok had sewn together for Yoongi. The red heart stitch standing out against the deep blue fabric.
And Hoseok realized all too suddenly, all too quickly, all too painfully that the man who Yoongi was singing all of those love songs too was not some mysterious stranger to Hoseok anymore.
A wave of reality crashed into him with enough force to leave Hoseok gasping for air.
Because he was standing right in front of the man who wore the very sweater that Hoseok loved so much.
Jungkook was wearing Yoongi’s sweater.