Chapter Text
“But it’s free publicity,” Seokjin wheedles for the sixteen hundredth time, “it’s an interview right from your bedroom, you won’t even need to leave your house. You won’t even need to change out of your PJs!”
It would be an appealing idea, if not for the fact that Seokjin’s client is one Jeon Jungkook.
A notoriously introverted, ridiculously talented pro-gaming genius.
Jungkook likes spending his time at home, in the comfort of his room, surrounded by all the latest electronic gadgets and recording his Overwatch games on Twitch. On the weekends, Jungkook trades his gaming laptop for a Macbook where he works on his photography and video edits.
All of the things Jungkook loves have one thing in common - that he gets to be at home.
Alone.
Away from nosy strangers.
It had taken six months for Seokjin to convince Jungkook to begin providing audio commentary to go along with his Youtube videos.
It had taken a full year after that for Jungkook to start livestreaming on Twitch. And even then Jungkook had only grudgingly agreed because Canon had launched a brand new portrait lens that he desperately wanted.
Jungkook on livestream, his hair pulled back in a stubby little ponytail, yelling “night apple is poison apple” at his subscribers had turned out to be Seokjin’s best business idea yet.
Overnight, Jungkook’s subscriber count doubled, and the stream brought in enough revenue for Jungkook to buy the new lens and camera body and Seokjin’s weekend holiday to Jeju Island.
“I don’t know hyung,” Jungkook sighs, “I’m a gamer, not an entertainer. I don’t really get why they’d want to interview me.”
“Because you’re hot,” Seokjin says bluntly, “and you never do publicity. It makes you seem extra mysterious.”
Jungkook pulls a face. “I’m literally the least mysterious person ever.”
“I know that,” Seokjin says, “and you know that, but the world doesn’t, so we can keep pretending that you are. Think about how many sponsors you could get out of this. That new video camera you’re eyeing? Done.”
“Let me think about it,” Jungkook says which is a firm ‘no thanks’ in JK speak.
Seokjin who has known Jungkook a long time, doesn’t hesitate to pull out his winning card. “I can have them vet the questions ahead of time. You can literally read the answers off a cue card.”
There’s a pause, and Seokjin waits, heart in his throat as Jungkook deliberates.
“Fine,” Jungkook says, grumpily, “but only because Nvidia’s releasing a new chip next month and I want an upgrade.”
On the day of the interview, Jungkook fusses around his room, rearranging his desk and making his bed. He checks the lighting and then does a second scan of the room again to make sure he hasn’t left anything incriminating lying around like Seokjin’s gag gift of XXL condoms or the pink unicorn dildo Taehyung had sent Jimin last Christmas.
By the time the news anchor has him on standby, Jungkook’s knee is bouncing against the desk, his palms sweaty against his black joggers.
He glances down when his phone beeps.
You’re gonna kill it baby, the message reads, simply. Jungkook smiles, feeling the tension slowly seep out of him. Remember to keep breathing!
Jungkook sighs as the counter turns from ‘Stand-by’ to ‘Live’ and smiles brightly.
3, 2, 1.
“And now we’re on with Jungkook Jeon, live from Seoul, or as his fans call him JK! He’s the youngest Overwatch team captain in the world and led his team to a devastating victory at the world championships for three straight years. His channel jjk97 set up just 8 months ago now boasts over 10M subscribers. Everyone, please welcome JK!”
“Hey guys,” Jungkook says, offering a shy wave to the camera, “it’s JK. Nice to meet you."
The interviewer assigned, Gayle, is an older matronly woman who sets him at ease right away. It's hard to believe she would be an Overwatch fan, but it's clear she knows her stuff when she plows right into her interview questions. They talk briefly about why Jungkook mains on Widowmaker, before delving straight into how he decided to turn pro, and then his experience at the Overwatch World Finals. This is familiar ground and once they settle into comfortable banter, Jungkook even begins to lighten up.
They’re just wrapping up the first segment of the interview with Jungkook revealing some of the more interesting DMs he's received, when the door to his work room opens a crack. Jungkook knows he’s on a video call, but he can’t help the way his eyes flick to the door right away, can’t help the silly goofy smile that spreads across his face when Jimin pokes his head in, his pink hair swept stylishly off his forehead.
Since he's being filmed Jungkook holds out his right hand in an ‘ILY’ sign offscreen, and Jimin giggles as Jungkook takes another question, his gaze directed firmly on the camera.
Jungkook is looking at Gayle and he’s paying attention, or well, he’s really trying to, but it’s hard when he can feel Jimin’s soft gaze on him from the door, can hear the soft huffs of amusement he lets out as he eavesdrops on the interview. It makes Jungkook want to look over, to know what’s making Jimin sound like that.
“And—uh,” Jungkook says stupidly, when he catches himself staring at Jimin, who waves his sweater paws at him. Jungkook’s eyes glaze over and his smile grows before a quiet cough by Gayle has him smoothly glancing back to the camera, “that’s how I got started, yeah.”
That probably wasn't even the question.
Gayle throws him a knowing smile and Jungkook crosses his arms and leans back in his chair, like moving away from the blinking red light on his laptop will make his feelings more invisible or something.
“Thanks JK,” Gayle chirps, “that wraps up part one of our interview. We’ll be taking a short break but stay tuned for more after these words from our sponsors.”
The screen cuts away into a car commercial, and once Gayle shoots him the thumbs up, Jungkook tugs off his headphones, beckoning at Jimin to come in.
“Hey baby,” Jungkook says and Jimin smiles at him, like he can’t help himself, his eyes crinkling into those moon like crescents that Jungkook loves so much
“Aren't you busy?” Jimin whispers, his eyes darting back to the screen.
“Always got time for you,” Jungkook says for the pleasure of seeing Jimin’s cheeks flush pink.
Jimin shuffles into Jungkook’s outstretched arms and Jungkook scoots his chair over so they’re slightly off screen and pulls Jimin into his lap.
"Hi," Jimin says breathlessly, cupping his face as Jungkook leans in to rub their noses together.
"Hi yourself."
“I gotta go for practice, but I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye." He runs his fingers through Jungkook’s hair, his fingernails gently scratching at Jungkook's roots and Jungkook lets out a contented purr.
“When will you be back?”
Jimin’s huge sweater slips down his shoulder and Jungkook nuzzles his neck, pressing a kiss to the warm peach scented skin there before he tugs it back into place again.
“Eight? I can get us takeout on the way home.”
Jungkook sighs.
“Wish you didn’t have to go. Wish you could just sit here on my lap and hold my hand until the interview was over.”
“Me too, Kookie,” Jimin laughs, tweaking Jungkook’s nose. “But you’re doing perfect without me. I was watching it on my phone. Tae’s recording the whole segment right now, so we can watch it when I’m home.”
Jungkook sighs again, his hands sliding down from Jimin’s waist to rest on Jimin’s hips. “Do you really have to go?”
“You know I do,” Jimin says but he softens the words by kissing Jungkook on the nose one last time before he stands.
Jungkook lets out a grumpy huff. “Love you.”
Jimin laughs, his thumb lingering on Jungkook’s lower lip. “Love you more.”
Jungkook watches him go, staring at Jimin as he disappears around the door until he notices the faint tinny noises coming from his headphones.
“JK?”
His eyes snap back to the screen and he tugs his headphones back on again, smoothing out any stray flyaways. “Uh, hi.”
“Looks like we have you back with us,” Gayle says, smiling at him in that sort-of amused, exasperated way which means she’s probably repeated herself a few times now. “Shall we continue?”
Jungkook clears his throat. “Yes, yeah of course.”
The clip blows up on Twitter. Jungkook sees it on the nine o’clock news; Jimin kissing him sweetly on the nose before sliding off his lap, Jungkook watching unwaveringly, with watery doe eyes as Jimin exits offscreen. Someone’s spliced it next to a video of a puppy which is whining, burrowing its head in its paws after its owner leaves for work.
Same energy, the caption reads. It has a hundred thousand retweets and half a million likes.
“Well,” Seokjin singsongs as #JK begins trending on Twitter alongside the hashtags #whipped #lostpuppyjk and #whoisjkscuteafboyfriend, “I told you it would be good publicity.”