Chapter Text
Yoongi felt his breath hitch as Jimin nipped at his neck. The omega closed his eyes and moaned as the alpha let his hands fall away and stepped back from where his boyfriend was pressed against the wall.
“I will be back for you in a week,” Jimin grinned, looking Yoongi up and down hungrily.
Yoongi pouted performatively at his boyfriend as Jimin smirked and grabbed his jacket to head out. Yoongi was excited to be heading to his hometown for a month. It’d been two years since he’d visited, and he was doing well enough with work now that he felt like he could finally return with an air of accomplishment.
No one expected Yoongi would actually leave. Their town was small, and people rarely got out. More than that though, it became obvious to everyone quite early in life that he and the boy down the street, Hoseok, were true mates. A fact that both of them hated.
They got paired together for everything. Sent to the same summer camp, partnered up for projects. Their mothers constantly disapproved of anyone they spent their time with outside of each other. Despite the belief that nature was supposed to bring them together, everyone constantly tried to force it, as if their lives were planned for them.
At one point in high school, after skipping a school dance together and drinking on top of Hoseok’s car watching the stars, they discussed it. They were always closely knit, the pair could just simply be together.
But Hoseok would never leave, and Yoongi wanted the city. It hurt both of them, each secretly comforted by knowing the other was there all along. They grew resentful of each other’s lives and relationships after that, and by the time college graduation came around no one wanted them in the same room together.
Soon after he graduated, Yoongi quit the diner they all worked in, in spectacular fashion. He hopped on a plane with his duffle and a wad of cash. Only to come back now, two years later.
Jimin had some things to wrap up in the city before joining Yoongi. He’d arrive just in time to start his rut. Yoongi was stable away from home. He had a nice place and a gorgeous boyfriend who was very successful and well known in the city. He took Yoongi to all the exclusive spots, his name always on the lists. Yoongi was so excited to show him off. Show everyone. To show Hoseok.
“You are glaring at the diner.” Seokjin, his very best friend in this town, rested his chin on Yoongi’s shoulder, taking it in with him. The omega sighed as the alpha’s scent filled his nose. The two remained friends primarily because Seokjin left their hometown too for a while as he studied to become a doctor.
Seokjin loved the town and wanted to serve the community that raised him, but at least he was aware of things beyond the four-way stop sign at the edge of town.
“Does it still smell like it used to?” The smaller omega scrunched his nose.
Seokjin sidestepped him and started walking ahead, aware that Yoongi would grumble the whole way. “You mean like newly presented, bitchy teens?” He called over his shoulder, “Not anymore.”
Yoongi half jogged across the quiet street and passed through the door his friend held open for him. He was right, it didn’t smell like the place was run by him and his high school friends anymore. And yet, it did.
“He’s still here?” Yoongi asked, noting the alpha scent that lingered in the dining room as the taller man sat at the counter. “What, no, let’s do a booth.”
“It’s the morning after a football game. Why make him walk? Also,” Seokjin winked at the agitation on his friend’s face, “I’m allowed to help myself to coffee.”
“Oh really?” Yoongi feigned excitement, sarcastically.
“Stick with me kid. I’ll get you all the benefits of being with the town doctor.”
An arm reached around Yoongi to drop a menu in front of him. The smell of familiar toffee now fully hitting Yoongi. “He’s full of shit. Jin gets zero leeway in this town.
Hoseok slapped Jin’s hand as he attempted to help himself to the bagel display. Hoseok grabbed two large coffee cups and their saucers down from above the counter to set in front of his patrons.
Yoongi felt a part of himself relax at the nostalgia as Hoseok’s toffee scent mixed with Seokjin’s mandarin. This diner really was everyone’s second home when they were in school.
Seokjin’s cup was filled with coffee first, and slid over. Yoongi eyed the man behind the counter suspiciously as he emptied two sugar packets into the cup before filling it halfway with vanilla cream followed by a top off of coffee.
“So let me get this straight,” Yoongi started, talking shit to the man still a habit, “you don’t think my coffee tastes have changed, but you’re sure I’ve forgotten the menu here?”
“Am I wrong about the coffee?” Hoseok raised an eyebrow.
Yoongi paused as he took in the alpha. For just a couple years of being away, Hoseok looked so much older, less baby faced. Handsome. And that look like Yoongi was testing him was one that made pissing him off more than just enjoyable. “No, just like I ha-“
“Just because you left for the city, doesn’t mean you changed.” Hoseok’s words grew slightly less friendly. Yoongi felt his posture straighten up at the insult, suddenly remembering they didn’t end things on good terms. “And just because this place is where you left it doesn’t mean that it hasn’t.” He gestured at the menu before putting the coffee pot back, “I updated the menu last year.”
The small omega chewed on his lip as he glanced down at the menu. It was different alright. He was surprised, both that this time capsule of a diner had improved anything or that the members of the community allowed him to do so.
Nothing was incredibly remarkable. The heart attack inducing items seemed to become slightly healthier variations now. The dinners sounded a bit more gourmet. And it looked like everything was more appropriately portioned.
Yoongi’s brow furrowed as he looked over the menu.
“For Christ’s sake.” Hoseok flipped the laminated sheet and pointed to the bottom labeled, ‘ The Classics ’.
Forgetting his attempt at looking as though he’d fully outgrown this town, he lit up at the thought of eating his favorite comfort food finally, after years.
“Can take the boy from the town, am I right?” Seokjin bantered loudly to the diner. A sole elderly couple seated near the entrance fully ignored him. Hoseok rolled his eyes and walked off.
“Gotta tell you, I’m surprised this town hasn’t started to be, at least mildly, gentrified yet.” Yoongi muttered before taking a sip of his coffee, his face twisting at it.
“Nah, not enough old people have died off for that.” Seokjin grabbed the edge of the counter so he could lean back and address the other diners. “Not that they’re appreciative!”
Yoongi hopped off the stool and walked behind the counter, helping himself to the espresso machine where he took to frothing some new creamer. “I’d give you shit, but the old doctor didn’t do a thing for people here.”
“I’m still convinced our parents just had the veterinarian giving us shots and setting bones.” Seokjin chuckled back, sipping his own coffee. “Hobi isn’t going to like you back there. I lied about myself being allowed.” He contradicted himself by finally grabbing a bagel and motioning to the mini fridge that Yoongi knew held the cream cheese.
The younger man placed his old cup in the bus bin before tossing packs of cream cheese over his shoulder and finished pouring his cup. Hoseok walked out of the kitchen with the other patron’s orders.
“If you need something, wait to be served,” he grumbled, side stepping the omega to get out of the aisle and deliver the food.
Yoongi walked over to the intercom and pressed the button, a horrible crackle amplifying through the restaurant. “Tom, Hobi is serving gross coffee.”
“Tom is dead,” Seokjin muttered awkwardly, not looking up from his spread.
“Fuck,” Yoongi replied. The old woman from the couple Hoseok was helping covered her mouth at the progressively worsening announcement.
“Hey,” Hoseok rounded the counter, his jaw set as Yoongi nervously withdrew his finger from the button. “Get the hell back in your seat. I don’t come into your job and fingerfuck everything.”
“Jesus,” Yoongi shot an incredulous look at Seokjin who instinctively shook his head to signal he was to be left out of it.
“Look, I know you think you’re better than everyone in this town.” Hoseok tossed a hand towel over his shoulder and rested both hands on the counter as his elder took a seat.
“He better not.” Seokjin muttered to himself, earning him the death glare from both parties. The doctor took his plate and cup and headed towards the occupied table, loudly harping to the elderly man about diabetes lifestyle instructions blatantly being ignored.
“This is not your place.” Hoseok continued.
“Okay, well in fairness, it’s not yours either.” Yoongi replied, purely to gain some footing.
“This is why people should appreciate the gossip I provide and not shut me down when I try to tell them about changes in our little town,” the pair could hear Seokjin carrying on. The trio, clearly eavesdropping.
“I take it, it is.” Yoongi sighed, making eye contact with the man in front of him.
“I was the only employee left when Tom died.”
“What? Senior staff you mean. You had the kids for help though, I’m sure.”
Hoseok shook his head. “The high school finally has more than just a football team. Which is great. But it means shit scheduling for the kids, and some of the moms our age started an errand/chore business, since there’s so many elderly. No one really needs to work here.” He glanced over at the occupied table and sighed. “I know it looks like shit right now, but you remember how slow it is after a game.” Yoongi nodded in response. “I get good rushes. And in the summers I do have staffing. Probably will get some part timers again once the community college kids get their schedules sorted.”
“Well, that’s good.” Yoongi muttered.
“As his doctor, I think he should sell,” Seokjin rounded the counter and disappeared into the kitchen. “You can make Yoongi’s but I have to get to the office in 45 minutes” he called out.
“Are you the cook too?” Yoongi looked wide eyed where Seokjin had gone.
“It’s all me. Which is kinda good, because Tom’s daughter charged me damn near my first born to get this place.”
“Fuck her, she doesn’t want the diner,” Yoongi drank his coffee, having missed the small town banter more than he realized.
“She wanted to make it a bar.” Yoongi scoffed, thinking about how that made sense with who she was and who she ran with. “I’m not a bartender,” Hoseok continued, “and this place would never get business away from Kim’s. She was just trying to be petty cuz they barred her,” he motioned at Yoongi as he chuckled in response, “right? And so eventually I talked her out of it but she needed cash so… no labor and long hours is necessary.”
“I see why Jin worries about you.”
“Yeah, he has a bad habit of waiting tables once he’s done with his dinner. Even though I tell him not to. Jungkook pulls the same shit.”
Yoongi beamed at the thought of Hoseok’s little brother. “Oh man, how is he?”
“He runs activities down at the center. He does a great job. Bought it just like he said. Mom’s B&B is usually pretty booked thanks to it and he gets nice sized groups to go on treks and stuff.”
“Maybe I’ll try to get in on one when my boyfriend is here.” Yoongi smiled to himself, thinking of seeing his alpha exploring with him.
Hoseok stared intently on Yoongi’s face for a second too long before wiping at the countertop. “I’ll get started on your food. Just, if you go looking for Kook, don’t run into my mom.”
“Deal,” Yoongi chuckled knowingly as he glanced at his dwindling coffee. Yoongi’s return would surely get their moms’ circle murmuring and plotting. Despite what he’d been told, Yoongi waited for the alpha to return to the kitchen to head back behind the counter and start a fresh pot, the existing one nearly empty.
When it was decently full he grabbed the carafe and replaced it with an empty one to catch the remainder, before crossing the restaurant. “Did you two need more coffee?” Yoongi smiled as he filled the cups that were shakily slid towards him. He grabbed Seokjin's leftover dishes with an eye roll and turned to leave, “Yoongi?” The old man pointed at his plate as he glanced back. “Hoba forgot the extra sausage.”
Yoongi assured the man he’d properly harass the alpha and headed back towards the counter. Hoseok was starting a second fresh pot of coffee and filling small dishware with piles of creamer containers. “We’re too early for your food to be cooked.” Seokjin said as he handed Yoongi a warm breakfast sandwich wrapped in aluminum foil.
“That is not what I said,” Hoseok moved to filling carafes from the orange juice machine.
“You ordered food that’s only on the menu for you, and therefore there is nothing thawed at this early hour.” Seokjin corrected, biting into his sandwich as he handed Yoongi a to-go coffee cup.
“Sorry, Yoongs. It’s on me.Hoseok apologized. “The book club just called that they’re on their way and they always expect to banter and have my full attention. But they never fucking leave and I’m going to have the lunch crowd come through with them here.”
“Ah shit, yea that sounds right. Good luck,” Yoongi gathered his things and followed Seokjin outside.
They walked in silence for about half a mile, focused on eating their breakfast while balancing their beverages. It was nice out. Autumn had started but the days were still warm and sunny. A few leaves were starting to try and change thanks to nights cooling off. Their path was a quiet road that ran as more of a shortcut to some of the businesses at the north end of town. It’s where the medical and specialty buildings were.
“Did you think that went well?” Seokjin started as he shoved his food wrapper in his pocket.
“What?” Yoongi asked, tossing the rest of his sandwich into the woods lining the road and balled his own wrapper into the palm that held his coffee.
“You and Hobi.”
“I don’t really know how to answer that.” The shorter man glanced over. “That’s how we always are.”
Seokjin stopped, watching as Yoongi halted a few steps ahead, turning to look. “You threw a fit when you left. In that diner. Screaming at him.”
“So you brought me back to see if I’d do it again?” He was defensive. Embarrassed, if he was being honest with himself. If Seokjin remembered the event so intensely, despite not being present for it, other residents were sure to.
“I brought you somewhere you were bound to end up anyway, at a time of day I knew there wouldn’t be a scene.” The doctor replied, starting to walk again.
“You could have just brought it up to me.” Yoongi moved to follow the man. “Did Hobi know I was coming?”
“Of course not.”
“Jin, what the h-” Yoongi bit his tongue as they found themselves near the practice and therefore people who viewed Seokjin as a professional and not a peer.
“Honestly, I wanted you two to do well. And I thought if I gave you both a head’s up you’d be fake to each other and it would just lead to a blow up later.” Seokjin smiled apologetically as he unlocked the office doors.
“Hobi reamed you in the kitchen, didn't he?” Yoongi smirked.
Seokjin made a pained face, “I have to pay for my food again!” He hung his head as he entered the practice, leaving a chuckling Yoongi in the street.