Archive of Our Own ^beta

Min Yoongi is a relatively simple guy. He has a day job as a piano teacher, and on weekends he takes up wildlife watching. Sometimes birds, sometimes farm animals, and sometimes he ends up at the aquarium watching the fish. Lately, however, he’s pretty keen on tracking down some crabs.

So, he finds himself on the bus early Saturday morning, just like last, with his headphones in his ears and a travel mug full of coffee in his hands, watching the trees rush by out the window. The sun is warm on his face, the clouds sit pink and pretty in the sky above. Yoongi watches through his eyelashes as a flock of birds cross above his path. Pigeons, he thinks. Not unusual. He’d prefer to see something more exciting. A hawk, perhaps. Those things always make his day.

Yoongi’s phone buzzes in his lap and he glances down.

[Hobah 8:43am]

bring me back a smoothie??

[Self 8:43am]

come get it yourself. it’ll melt

[Hobah 8:43am]

pleasee :(( i don’t mind a little melty banana

[Self 8:43am] 

ok, but only because you frowned

[Hobah 8:43am]

yay :) kookie said hes there!!

[Self 8:43am]

kookies always there he literally lives there

[Hobah 8:44am]

no!! his apartment is rlly nice!! i keep telling u to come with us when we go!!

Yoongi has been visiting the same beach twice a week for the past six months. He's become rather familiar with the people there. Jungkook practically lives on the beach, he's always sleeping near the water when Yoongi arrives. There's the owner of the smoothie bar on shore, too. Hoseok is crazy for those smoothies, he practically camps out there some days. 

Yoongi likes this beach because it's surrounded by trees. There are a few hiking trails around the beach, but he can still see the city skyline across the bay. It's his favourite time of year to visit, early autumn. It's brisk enough that he layers up, but once the sun warms up the sand he's happy to dip his feet in the water and wander, searching for any stranded baby turtles. One time he saved a whole family of them. He scooped them up and shielded them from the seagulls, and when the last one made it he had sat down in the sand and cried. He still wonders how they're doing.

The bus turns out of the city and Yoongi watches the houses become bigger and spread much further apart. He spots someone walking a dog and smiles to himself, he loves dogs. Him and Hoseok have discussed adopting one for years, they've just never gotten around to it. 

Yoongi listens to something light and classical in his headphones, and he taps his fingers against his coffee mug in time with it. When the bus finally pulls up he taps his metrocard and thanks the driver twice. He steps off the bus with his bag slung over his shoulder and his jacket zipped up tightly.

He wanders down the gravel pathway and stops when a squirrel scurries up one of the trees to his left. He watches it climb far up into the tree, where it perches on a branch and looks down at Yoongi. Yoongi continues on. The trees spread out at the end of the path, opening up into a secluded little area filled with various shops and cafes. There's a pier at the end of the road, and at this time of morning it's pretty empty. 

He kicks off his shoes when he reaches the sand, and he trails down to the water. 

As usual, Jungkook is sitting at the edge of the water, his pants rolled up to his knees and his feet in the sand. He looks like he just woke up. There's sand in his hair and it's sticking up in odd directions. Yoongi notices the clouds rolling in, and he figures it'll rain soon.

He greets Jungkook with a soft smile, and Jungkook enthusiastically tells him about the stray cats he saw on the beach the previous evening. He says it was a mother and a kitten. He's told the kitten was black and kept sinking into the sand near the water. Jungkook says he sat with them for almost an hour and the kitten found a home on his chest.

Jungkook says, "He reminded me of you."

Yoongi smiles all gummy and wide. Jungkook grins.

Yoongi trails along the beach, right at the water's edge. It's cold but he doesn't mind.

He finds a hermit crab and follows it all the way to the edge of the sand where it scurries under a rock, and Yoongi bids it farewell.

Yoongi counts the shells in the sand, he looks for closed ones. He picks up the broken pearly ones and puts them in his jacket pocket for safekeeping. 

Yoongi counts up to eighty-three when the sun finally disappears behind the clouds. He watches the rain fall into the ocean, disturbing the peaceful waves. 

There's a boat in the distance. Yoongi sits down in the sand and watches it for a while. 

Eventually, Jungkook appears beside him. He quietly hands Yoongi a ball of fur.

Yoongi starts when he realizes it's the kitten, and he sits with it in his lap. The kitten bats at his hood strings and does somersaults in the sand. Jungkook says he's named him Kosmo. It’s the same kitten from the night prior. Yoongi wonders where his mom went.

Kosmo waddles around on Yoongi’s criss-crossed legs and Yoongi only winces twice when his claws dig into Yoongi's thighs. Kosmo purrs and hops off Yoongi, wandering over to Jungkook, where he nuzzles at the crook of Jungkook’s elbow. Jungkook grins.

“He really likes you,” Yoongi says. Jungkook agrees.

They sit like that until the rain comes down. Jungkook puts Kosmo inside his hoodie like he’s protecting a baby, and Yoongi’s hair is soaked through.

Jungkook is giggling and shaking water from his hair, it drips over his shoulders and the sand in it is washed away. Yoongi helps him comb it out with his fingers and Jungkook sighs happily. Yoongi parts ways with him at a little stream within the sand, Jungkook says he’s going back to return Kosmo to his mother. Yoongi waves goodbye and follows the stream to where he spots a few crabs scuttling under the rocks. He squats down to get a closer look.

After a moment, a voice comes. “You know there’s a little cave a ways down where you can find the bigger crabs.”

Yoongi turns and is met with a view of the same man he’s watched distantly on the beach for the past few months. Yoongi doesn’t know his name, but he knows he loves collecting sand dollars and watching the crabs. He always has a smoothie, even in the cold, and he wears these awful green swim trunks, but Yoongi’s never once seen him step into the ocean. 

He stands tall enough that he’s almost looming over Yoongi. His hair is a sandy shade of blonde and Yoongi realizes that he’s changed it since last week. 

Yoongi tells him as much. “Your hair is different.” 

The man breaks into a grin, and he has these two deep dimples on either side of his smile that Yoongi thinks he might actually be able to fit into. He finds himself smiling along.

The man extends his hand and tells Yoongi his name is Namjoon. Yoongi grabs hold and Namjoon pulls him up so that they’re standing face to face.

Yoongi says, “Yoongi.” And Namjoon repeats it back, his mouth forming around the name, the letters pouring off his tongue. Yoongi thinks Namjoon makes his name look pretty.

Yoongi nods, and Namjoon ducks down to point out a starfish. He says, “Did you know they have no brain, and no blood?” Yoongi tells him he did know that, but it’s always very interesting to hear. It reminds him of Jungkook. He chuckles.

Namjoon asks if Yoongi would like to see the cave- he deems it the crab cave, and Yoongi nods. He hasn’t seen a snow crab in a while, it would be nice to cross that one off his list.

Namjoon leads the way down the beach until they reach a little area covered in big rocks. Namjoon navigates them quickly, like he’s done this a thousand times, but Yoongi walks slowly. He tries his best not to slip and fall on the wet rocks, and Namjoon has made his way past the rocks and onto the sand by the time Yoongi’s halfway.

Namjoon turns around and calls to him, his hands cupped around his mouth so that Yoongi can hear above the waves and the pitter patter of the rain. Yoongi shouts back that he’s just being careful, and he watches Namjoon cross back to meet Yoongi in the middle.

Namjoon reaches him quickly and he points to his shoes, saying something about good grip and that he’s only slipped once! Yoongi focuses on his own footing.

Namjoon reaches out and grabs Yoongi by the hand, which Yoongi blushes at because they hardly know each other and now he’s climbing rocks in the rain, hand-in-hand with a handsome stranger. Namjoon's hand looks huge around Yoongi’s, and his honey coloured skin makes Yoongi look all washed out and pale, like he hasn’t left the house in a while. 

Yoongi is forced to move quickly, and he sticks out his free hand every few seconds to steady himself. There’s one spot where he loses his balance completely and yelps as he tumbles down, but Namjoon is there to catch him and hoist him back up to his feet. 

He says, “Don’t worry, I’ve got you.” and Yoongi feels all warm and fuzzy for a moment.

They cross the rest of the rocks unscathed, and Yoongi pulls his coffee out of his bag. He offers it to Namjoon and tells him it’s one sugar, one milk. Namjoon takes a sip and hums appreciatively. 

Namjoon sits down on the sand with Yoongi’s coffee and Yoongi follows suit. They pass the travel mug back and forth and squint in the rain. Yoongi can’t see past the rocks, and there are no boats in the water within view. It seems to him like he and Namjoon are the only two people in the world. It’s odd.

They speak for a little while, Namjoon says it’s nice to finally speak to Yoongi, as he’s familiar with watching from a distance, and Yoongi agrees. Yoongi asks about the swim trunks and says, “Why green?”. Namjoon scoffs and says it compliments his skin. Yoongi doesn’t disagree.

Namjoon refers to Jungkook as the guy who lives on the beach and Yoongi laughs so hard he ends up laying on his back in the sand. Namjoon lifts a hand to cover Yoongi’s eyes from the rain and asks what’s so funny. Yoongi says he used to think the same. 

Yoongi asks about Namjoon‘s daily smoothie, and Namjoon says the owner of the shop, a man named Seokjin, gives them to him for free. They’ve apparently been friends for years. Yoongi asks if he can get one for free too and Namjoon assures him that he can convince Seokjin of anything if he tries hard enough. 

Eventually, they’ve become familiar with eachothers lives on the beach. Namjoon doesn’t ask about Yoongi’s home life, and Yoongi doesn’t ask about Namjoons. It’s like their own little bubble.

Namjoon gets up after a long time, Yoongi’s lost track of the day and he realizes quietly that he has no clue how long he’s been there. The rain has slowed to a light drizzle, but Yoongi’s dark hair is still plastered to his forehead. He runs a hand through his hair and chooses not to think about what he must look like right now. 

Namjoon leads Yoongi a little ways down and they duck into a little cave. Yoongi watches the rocks on the floor, little crabs scurry back and forth and Yoongi apologizes to them when he accidentally kicks one of their rocks to the side. He’s just nearly capsized their home. How rude.

Namjoon leads him through the cave and they crouch at the edge of the water where a snow crab walks out, right in front of Yoongi's feet. Yoongi makes an excited noise and Namjoon starts listing facts about it. It scuttles away from them, retreating into the darkness below a rock. Yoongi makes a mental note to cross that one off his list like he'd planned.

They stay there for a while, pointing out different creatures and Namjoon seems to have a vast knowledge about sea life. They find another starfish that has a limb missing and Yoongi gets all sad. Namjoon reassures him that not only will it grow back, but the limb is busy growing a starfish elsewhere. Yoongi says that’s neat, but he hopes the limb wasn’t eaten by a seagull. 

When they duck out of the cave and back onto the beach the rain has subsided. The clouds still hang heavy in the sky but Yoongi spots a tiny patch of blue far off in the distance. 

He finds a sand dollar as they walk back and bends down to pass it off to Namjoon, who puts it in his pocket.

He says, “It’ll serve me well when the mermaids recruit me for their mermaid army.” He’s very serious about it.

Yoongi asks why he’d be recruited if he’s not a mermaid, and Namjoon claims he could be, he just hasn’t shown Yoongi yet. Yoongi is well aware that he’s never seen Namjoon go swimming, he says out loud that perhaps he believes him, but if he’s recruited Yoongi expects to be informed before he goes off on a dangerous mission. Namjoon promises Yoongi will be. He swears on it with his pinky finger and everything.

They successfully cross the rocky area once again, and Namjoon holds Yoongi’s hand the entire time. He doesn’t drop it when they’re back on the sand, and Yoongi doesn’t complain.

Jungkook greets them when they cross the stream and end up back in front of the shops. He complains that his spot was taken by the same two guys that always take his spot, and Yoongi comments that he’s surprised they showed up in the rain.

The three of them look off in the direction behind Jungkook and they spot the two guys as mentioned. They frequent the beach almost as much as Yoongi does, and he loves to watch them. They’re very entertaining.

One of them is probably close to Yoongi’s height. He has platinum blonde hair and he always has these dangly earrings that catch the light and make shapes all over the sand. The other is taller, he’s got fluffy brown hair and he always has his dog with him. A little brown fluffy thing that yaps at passerbys and digs enthusiastically in the sand. The taller boy always has to pull him out and shake him off to get the sand out of his fur, but he looks so pleased when he does it that Yoongi knows he truly doesn’t mind.

The platinum one is bundled up in about a thousand jackets and is shoving an umbrella into the sand. The other is holding his dog tightly in his arms and pointing out at a surfer among the waves. 

Yoongi has watched them a number of times, he’s pretty keen on the story he’s created of them in his head.

Yoongi tells Jungkook not to pout but Jungkook does it anyway, and he mumbles something about getting a snack. 

Namjoon and Yoongi stand watching the two boys distantly for a few minutes. Namjoon says, “Why are they setting up a beach umbrella when it was just raining?”

Yoongi explains that the taller one is quite sensitive to the weather. He has a theory that he’d moved from a different climate, because he always seems either way too cold or way too hot. He’s never dressed quite right. 

Namjoon hums his agreement and points out that the platinum one looks frustrated and suddenly they’re launching into dialogue about these two. 

Yoongi notes that the taller one refuses to put his dog down, and he keeps shaking his head when the shorter boy gestures at the ground. Namjoon says it’s because the dog just got a pedicure and his dad doesn’t want him messing up his brand new nails. 

Yoongi says that seems like a thing they would do, based on what he’s seen, the couple seem to like designer things and they even had to dog in a Gucci sweater once, a few months back. 

When the dog is finally let down onto the ground they’ve spread out a blanket and it looks like they have a picnic basket. 

The platinum boy sits between the others legs and the taller boy wraps his arms around the smaller. They smile as the dog runs circles around them and chases after a seagull.

Eventually, Yoongi checks the time and finds they’ve fallen into the afternoon. He tells Namjoon he’s got grocery shopping to do this evening, and that his roommate is forcing him to bring a smoothie back home.

Namjoon tells him he’ll get the smoothie for free, and he leads Yoongi across the beach toward the little smoothie bar.

They catch a brief snippet of conversation from the two guys with the dog. One of them is asking “What did I say yesterday, Taetae?” The other says “Unfortunately I don’t remember.” The first one follows up with, “You’ll have to bathe Tan if you let him in the water today. It’s salty and it mats his fur together.” Yoongi chuckles when the other responds, “He just got his toes done! He doesn’t need a groom for another month!” 

Namjoon and Yoongi share a wide eyed glance and Namjoon says, “I told you!” Yoongi wonders if he’s psychic.

When they reach the smoothie bar Namjoon greets the man behind the counter with a big smile made half up with his dimples. Yoongi recognizes him and is told this is Seokjin.

Seokjin waves hello and tells Namjoon he’s got his usual. Namjoon turns to Yoongi and says, “What would your roommate like?”

Hoseok orders a strawberry banana smoothie every time. Yoongi tells Namjoon this. 

Namjoon does manage to get the smoothies for free but Yoongi feels bad about it so he drops a couple bucks on the counter before they leave. 

Namjoon says goodbye to Yoongi at the bus stop, and wishes him well on his grocery journey. As Yoongi steps onto the bus Namjoon tells him he looks forward to seeing Yoongi next week, and Yoongi smiles to himself the entire ride home.

+

Yoongi’s week passes quickly. He and Hoseok go to the movies on Friday, and even though it’s not a horror movie, Hoseok screams for almost half the movie. 

When Saturday rolls around Yoongi wakes up earlier than usual and makes his way down to the bus stop. It’s colder today, the leaves in the trees are turning vibrant shades of orange and red, and the sun is sheltered with clouds.

Yoongi thinks about Namjoon during the ride. He listens to his music and plays an imaginary piano in his lap. He doesn’t drink his coffee yet, he wants to keep it sealed up and hot incase Namjoon wants any. 

When he arrives at the beach he pulls a pair of gloves out of his bag and slips them on. He zips his coat up all the way to his chin and wanders on his way.

He passes a stray cat on the trail and he tries to say hello but it runs off into the bushes. He thinks about Kosmo and hopes he’s doing well. He wonders if Jungkook’s seen him since last week.

Yoongi follows the path all the way out into the sand where he, once again, takes off his shoes and lets his feet sink into the ground. He wanders down the beach, picks up a few more colourful shells—Hobi just loves them, he makes necklaces out of them and glues fragments to his nails—and shoves them in his pockets. Jungkook appears after about twenty minutes of shell-searching and he has a bucket. A child's toy bucket that’s bright yellow and has a matching shovel attached. Yoongi wonders if he stole that from a kid or if he bought it himself.

Jungkook presents Yoongi with the bucket and Yoongi looks in the bottom where there’s ocean water and a few greenish crabs. He snatches the bucket from Jungkook and cries, “Don’t do that to them!“

Jungkook’s eyes widen and Yoongi carries the bucket down the shore to where he can release the poor crabs. He tells Jungkook to apologize.

Jungkook sincerely apologizes to each and every one of them, he even addresses them by names he’s created. Yoongi nods, satisfied with this, and hands the bucket back to Jungkook.

Jungkook says, “I thought these buckets were meant for that.” 

Yoongi responds, “They’re meant for building sand castles, dipshit.” 

Jungkook looks mildly offended and runs off to build a sand castle. Yoongi watches as he plants himself near the water and starts digging into the sand with the little yellow shovel. It makes him smile.

Namjoon sneaks up behind Yoongi, and when he says hello Yoongi startles so badly he jumps at least a foot into the air. Namjoon doubles over laughing and Yoongi picks up a handful of sand to throw at him. It becomes a whole thing, unfortunately. Namjoon runs down the beach and Yoongi catapults sand at him. They face each other in the water and Namjoon splashes at Yoongi and throws his head back laughing. Yoongi picks up little pebbles and tosses them at Namjoon. They only stop when one hits Namjoon in the chest and he pretends to die, he clutches his chest all dramatically and kneels down. Yoongi just laughs as he falls backward in the sand.

Yoongi offers a hand to pull Namjoon back up but Namjoon yanks him downward, and that’s how Yoongi ends up sprawled against Namjoon’s chest, breathing ragged and his face a brilliant shade of red.

Namjoon smiles up at him, all dimples, and Yoongi scrambles to push himself up and off Namjoon’s chest. Which, by the way, is all muscle and toned skin and Yoongi flushes even more red just at the thought inside his head.

Namjoon is still giggling when he stands up, and he says “Good to see you.” 

Yoongi agrees. They walk along the beach together, an unspoken agreement to go about their day with each other instead of alone. They go the opposite way today, passing by the shops and the early arrivals on the beach. 

Namjoon says, “You know I’ve seen you here for a long time. I was nervous to talk to you.” 

Yoongi thinks he sounds shy. He tells Namjoon he’d watched him for a while and knows he likes sand dollars. Namjoon grins at this.

He continues. “You’re kind of intimidating, you know? And you always make sure that the animals you see are safe and it’s really cute when you say hi to dogs on the beach.” 

Yoongi feels his cheeks warm up again and he says he can’t help it, the crabs always get taken away from their families and the sea turtles get eaten by seagulls, and is it a crime to say hi to every dog he sees?

Namjoon laughs and tells him absolutely not, he’d do the same. 

Yoongi tells him it's become a routine to come here and walk along the shore and sit with Jungkook. He likes the sound of the waves and the smell of the ocean, and he loves the animals. It's always about the animals.

Namjoon asks, "Do you have any of your own?"

Yoongi says no, he's busy with work and worries he couldn't care for an animal in the way it deserves right now. He and Hobi have been keen on adopting a dog for years, but the timing just isn't right. Namjoon suggests adopting a cat, and he follows it up with "You kind of remind me of one, actually." 

Yoongi smiles and Namjoon looks at him with an expression Yoongi hasn't seen on him before. Yoongi remembers the coffee and he drops his bag with an "oh!". He pulls it out of the side pocket and hands it to Namjoon.

Namjoon says thank you three times before he takes a sip of the coffee. He hums around the mouth of the mug and Yoongi looks out into the water, where the sun is sparkling and paddle boarders go by.

Clouds sit in the distant sky, and a flock of birds flies overhead. Yoongi counts twelve crows before they're out of sight, and Namjoon asks what he's looking at.

Yoongi says "birds," and Namjoon admits that he's a little bit afraid of birds. Yoongi chuckles and tells him he's like Hobi, because Hobi is a lot afraid of birds, but also for other reasons, of course.

Namjoon hands Yoongi his coffee and Yoongi takes a sip. Namjoon walks further down the beach and Yoongi trails behind. They find a little puddle full of rocks and crabs, and Yoongi points out the colours and explains the different kinds. Namjoon nods along enthusiastically and asks Yoongi what animals he doesn't know about.

By late morning Yoongi and Namjoon have trekked the entire beach almost twice. They walk in silence for a while, until they end up back in front of the shops. 

The two men from last week–the blonde and brunette with the dog–have set up in the same spot as before. 

Namjoon asks, "What brings them here today?"

Yoongi explains that the platinum boy had had a rough week. His work has him swamped and he needs a break, so the brunette brought him back here for a date. Namjoon asks what he does for work. Yoongi says he's a freelance fashion photographer, isn't it obvious? 

Namjoon points out that the dog is running free this time, and the brunette is wrapped up in a scarf and a puffy jacket. Yoongi watches him roll out a blanket, and he grabs the blonde by the waist and pulls their hips together. The blonde laughs, and Yoongi can hear it, even from where he and Namjoon watch distantly. They sway together and smile into kisses, and the blonde drops his head onto the other's chest. The brunette rests his chin on the shorter boy's head and wraps his arms around his waist. They stand there for so long that Yoongi feels as though he shouldn't look for any longer. 

He tugs on Namjoon's coat sleeve and Namjoon turns to face him, a smile on his lips. They sit down in the sand, legs criss-crossed and facing each other. Namjoon reaches out and traces a line down Yoongi's nose and Yoongi just blinks up at him, wondering what he's doing.

"Just remembering you." He says. Yoongi smiles at the ground. 

Namjoon asks if Yoongi will ever bring his roommate with him, since Yoongi says they'd get along. 

Yoongi tells him he's been trying, but Hobi is a busy man. Though Jungkook could probably convince him to come down, Jungkook can do things like that. 

Yoongi and Namjoon talk for a while, Namjoon asks what made Yoongi so interested in sea creatures. Yoongi tells him about the first time he'd gone to the aquarium, on a field trip with his sixth grade class. He'd sat in front of the jellyfish display for an hour. When they were meant to leave, Yoongi went back to tell them goodbye and the teachers panicked, thinking they had lost little Yoongi. When he was scolded for disappearing he'd burst into tears and said he couldn't just leave his friends behind. 

Namjoon doesn't tease him, he just smiles and says he understands, and Yoongi explains that's how it started. Even in his adulthood he's tried his hardest to treat every animal he comes across like a friend, like they deserve. 

When the time finally comes, Yoongi tells Namjoon he has to go, always in the early afternoon.

Namjoon's smile dips just enough that Yoongi can't help but notice, and Namjoon walks Yoongi to the bus stop, just like last time. 

+

This week, Yoongi tells Hoseok about Namjoon. 

They sit side by side on the couch, sharing a bowl of ramen between the two of them. 

Hoseok giggles and says Yoongi's clearly got a crush, and Yoongi rolls his eyes. He doesn't know Namjoon, he says, how could he possibly have a crush?

Yoongi says that Hoseok should come to the beach with him, and he's told that Jungkook has been saying the same thing. Yoongi knew it, Jungkook can always convince him.

Yoongi falls into a routine. During the week he busies himself with work, and on Saturdays he meets Namjoon at the beach. He starts bringing Namjoon his own coffee. He leaves early every morning to stop and pick one up for him. It's different than his homemade stuff, but Namjoon is always so happy no matter what. He smiles and says thank you three times, every single time Yoongi brings him one. 

The following weeks pass breezily, Namjoon and Yoongi share smoothies and make fun of Jungkook. One day they create an entire life story for those two boys with the dog. On another they team up and save an entire family of turtles. Namjoon shrieks when the birds get too close, but Yoongi puts his fists up and assures Namjoon that he can fight them off. 

Namjoon asks, "With those short arms?" and Yoongi pushes him backward into the sea.

One morning, about two months after the first, they both arrive at the same time and walk down the path together. Yoongi stops for a stray cat, and Namjoon tries to call it over. 

When they reach the beach they find Jungkook buried up to his shoulders in the sand. Yoongi pokes him and asks who buried him, Jungkook says he did it himself.

A little mewl makes Yoongi jump, and Kosmo pops his little head out from the sand surrounding Jungkook's chest. 

Yoongi says, "Hi, Kosmo! I missed you!" And Namjoon acts like he's in the presence of someone famous. 

He crouches down and says, "Yoongi talks about you every day." He extends his hand to Kosmo and tells him how lovely it is to finally meet. 

Jungkook and Yoongi break into a fit of giggles, Kosmo stretches out his paws and yawns at Namjoon. Namjoon says, "I think I'm in love with this cat." 

Yoongi picks Kosmo up gingerly and cradles him against his chest. He thinks Kosmo has gotten bigger. Jungkook says he discovered Kosmo and his mom have become regulars at the smoothie bar. Apparently Seokjin gives them food and lets them sleep there at night. Yoongi feels eternally grateful to him for this.

Kosmo purrs against Yoongi's chest and shuts his little eyes. He rests his tiny chin on the back of Yoongi's hand and Yoongi feels his eyes prickle, just a little bit.

Namjoon says Yoongi should take him home. Yoongi pictures it, and he bites back a smile, because coming home to a little black fuzzball would improve his happiness by at least ten percent. He tells Namjoon he might someday, but for now he belongs here, with Jungkook. 

Yoongi carries a sleeping Kosmo around for a little while. He tells Namjoon he's showing Kosmo the sights. Namjoon says he's asleep. 

Eventually Yoongi returns Kosmo to the smoothie bar, where his mother is perched under a barstool. Seokjin greets Yoongi, Namjoon, and Kosmo with a smile, and offers the two boys free smoothies. Yoongi gives him money again, and Namjoon just rolls his eyes. 

+

When December rolls around Yoongi has to adjust his schedule, so that he isn't leaving for the beach in the morning darkness. Hobi comes with him one day, and between the two of them they are layered in at least three different jackets. 

Yoongi was right, Hobi and Namjoon get along like long time friends. They exchange highschool stories and discover that they grew up in the same town. 

Namjoon gets Hobi a free smoothie, and Yoongi shows him the crab cave. Namjoon pulls Yoongi along the rocks by the hand, just like the first time, and Hobi doesn't say anything, he only smiles at the two of them. 

One morning, Yoongi doesn't see Namjoon. He wanders the beach for a while, almost two hours, before he starts to think that maybe Namjoon isn’t coming. He sits down with Jungkook quietly, clouds pregnant with snow sit high above them in the sky. Yoongi checks over his shoulder periodically. Jungkook soothes him with a head on his shoulder. 

Yoongi repeats, over and over, that he hopes Namjoon is okay. Jungkook presses a kiss to Yoongi's temple and says, "Don't worry, hyung. I'm sure he just got caught up in something important. He'll be here." He runs his thumb along Yoongi's hand. 

Snowflakes start to land on his shoulders and in Jungkook's hair. He stares off into the distance. He can't see much of the water today.

Yoongi wishes he'd taken down Namjoon's phone number, if only so that he could make sure he's okay. 

Yoongi leans against Jungkook, and Jungkook wraps his arms around Yoongi for a while. Yoongi falls asleep against Jungkook's chest in the cold.

Hours later, Jungkook is shaking Yoongi's shoulder, waking him from his slumber. It's dark and a thin layer of snow sits around them. Jungkook feels cold, and Yoongi feels guilty for keeping him here all day. He says as much. Jungkook waves him off.

Jungkook says, "Namjoon's here," And Yoongi sits up. He spots Namjoon hurrying across the beach. He's dressed differently, wrapped up in a puffy black coat and a pair of dark jeans. He's wearing a beanie over his hair, it makes him look cozy.

He reaches Yoongi and Jungkook and drops down into the snow in front of them. "I'm so sorry," He says.

Yoongi asks why he's sorry. Namjoon says he'd slipped and crashed his bike on the way to the beach this morning, and he'd ended up in the hospital even though he was fine , but it was a whole hassle because he'd briefly concussed himself, and he had to get his bike fixed, because that's how he gets to work, and he's so sorry, and then he's presenting Yoongi with a coffee and pleading for his forgiveness.

Yoongi takes the coffee and says, "Can I have your phone number?" and Namjoon throws his face in his hands. 

Namjoon offers to buy Yoongi dinner that evening, and Yoongi says next week, because he feels he should make Namjoon wait. Namjoon pouts, but he promises him dinner on the beach next Saturday.

Yoongi rearranges his schedule that week, and he spends extra time picking out what to wear, and Hoseok even comes to help, rather than tease him.

Namjoon and Yoongi meet at one of the overpriced restaurants a block away from the beach, and it's odd because Yoongi is so used to seeing him among the waves and the sand, not twinkly lights and wine glasses. 

Namjoon has a whole thing. He pulls Yoongi's chair out for him and picks a bottle of wine for the table. Yoongi has the best pasta he's ever had in his life, and Namjoon won't stop looking at him as if he's the only thing in the room.

Yoongi finds himself blushing more than he speaks, but Namjoon fills the silence. He compliments Yoongi and Yoongi looks down at his plate bashfully. 

When the bill comes, Yoongi tries to grab it and Namjoon all but smacks his hand out of the way. "I told you I'd buy you dinner, didn't I?" Yoongi pretends not to remember.

Namjoon walks Yoongi back to the bus stop. They leave footprints in the snow and watch cars drive quietly by.

Namjoon tells Yoongi he's glad to have met him. Yoongi bites his lip.

When the bus comes, Yoongi starts to thank Namjoon, but Namjoon starts staring at his lips instead and Yoongi panics a little bit. He says, "I'll see you Saturday?" And takes a step up and onto the bus. 

He smacks himself in the head eighteen times on the ride home.

+

Saturday comes along quickly, and Yoongi walks to the beach in a rainstorm. 

Namjoon is already there, standing under the smoothie bar's awning and chatting with Seokjin. Seokjin points at Yoongi and Namjoon all but runs to meet him. He says, "Hi,". Yoongi says it back.

Namjoon says, "I missed you." Yoongi says it back. 

Lightning cracks in the sky above them and Yoongi flinches. Namjoon looks up. 

"Hey," Yoongi gets his attention. He says, "I freaked out a little bit. I'm sorry."

Namjoon asks what he's talking about.

Yoongi lifts himself up on his tippy toes and leans forward. He and Namjoon share a breath, and Yoongi tastes coffee on Namjoon's lips. Oh, shit. He forgot to get the coffee this morning.

Namjoon makes a surprised noise in the back of his throat, but he recovers quickly and wraps his arms around Yoongi's midsection. Yoongi pulls away. 

"Is it rude to kiss on the first date?"

Namjoon throws his head back and laughs. Yoongi asks what’s so funny.

They wander the beach together that morning. Namjoon doesn’t let go of Yoongi’s hand until he physically has to, and Yoongi isn’t one to complain.

It rains so hard that Yoongi finds himself shivering when they finally sit down by the water. He misses his hot coffee. 

Namjoon offers Yoongi his jacket and Yoongi looks at him like he’s crazy. Namjoon says he’s used to the rain, Yoongi argues that it’s late December. The rain is practically ice, and Namjoon gives up in favour of keeping his jacket on. 

They don’t talk about the kiss for a long time. December becomes January, and Yoongi and Namjoon still only meet up once a week. Some days Namjoon brings Yoongi breakfast, others he convinces Yoongi to walk with him to a beach front café. 

They spend a lot of time sitting at the edge of the water, watching the crabs in the sand, and watching the rest of the people on the beach. 

The two boys with the dog become a focal point to their stories. They don’t come every week, but some days they show up happy and lovey, and others they show up grumpy and arguing. Like today, for example, the taller one has his arms crossed and won’t face the other, while the blonde one seems to be apologizing greatly for something.

Namjoon says he’s apologizing for breaking the other’s glasses. Yoongi says, “He wears glasses?”. 

Namjoon assures him that he does, but more often than not he wears contacts out of the house. Yoongi asks what happened to the glasses. Namjoon says the blonde one accidentally rolled over them with a shopping cart last they were out doing a veggie run. Yoongi feels for the guy, new glasses aren’t cheap.

It continues this way for a while. They fall into a routine. Namjoon drags Yoongi along the beach by his hand, he shows him new things he’s found and gives him colourful shells that he’s picked up. Yoongi always tucks them into his pockets. 

Yoongi points out the birds perched on rocks and tells Namjoon what they’re looking for and why they’re here. Namjoon hides behind Yoongi when they get too close to a pair of pelicans. Yoongi finds it endearing, but he doesn’t keep Namjoon too close, because he doesn’t want to make him uncomfortable.

During the rest of Yoongi’s days, he busies himself with his work. He’s gained a handful of new students, enough that he’s fully booked these days, and in the evenings he and Hoseok cook dinner together and watch reality tv shows on the couch.

There’s one evening where Hobi is sitting between Yoongi’s legs on the floor, a remote controller in his hands. He’s playing a game with a headset and Yoongi sits with his arms crossed over Hobi’s head. 

He relays a message from his headset, “Jungkookie wants to know if you’ve talked to Namjoon outside of the beach yet.” 

Yoongi says no, not yet. Maybe sometime soon, he likes their routine.

Hobi says, “You really like him, hey?” Yoongi blushes.

He hears Jungkook shout something from Hobi’s headphones. Hobi says he’s yelling about Yoongi and Namjoon’s kiss on the beach a few weeks ago. Yoongi hadn’t realized he’d witnessed that.

Yoongi says it was no big deal, they haven’t talked about it yet. Hobi says they should. Yoongi shrugs and halts the conversation, it’s no big deal.

+

Three Friday’s later, Yoongi receives a text message from Jungkook.

[Kookie 10:21pm]

can u come to the beach? something happened

[Self 10:21pm]

it’s 10 o’clock at night?

[Jungkook 10:21pm]

it’s an emergency

Jungkook doesn’t text like this. He’s missing exclamation points and smiley faces and hearts. Yoongi stands up.

[Jungkook 10:21pm]

please, hyung

Yoongi is slipping on his shoes and zipping up his coat. 

[Self 10:21pm] 

i’ll be there asap

He calls a cab this time. 

Yoongi arrives just before eleven. His shoes are untied and he’s wearing his glasses. He trips over his feet when he hurries down the beach.

Jungkook is kneeling in the sand, hunched over something, facing the water. Yoongi feels himself panic and he runs down the beach.

“Kookie,” He calls. Jungkook looks back.

Yoongi thinks he looks like he’s been crying, and he skids to a halt next to the younger boy. 

Jungkook says, “I don’t know what happened. I just found her like this.” His voice breaks, Yoongi kneels down.

He’s holding a black and white soaking wet ball of fur. His bottom lip is quivering and there are tears dropping down onto his hands. Yoongi’s chest tightens.

He asks, “Where’s Kosmo?” Jungkook says he doesn’t know.

Apparently Jungkook found her, Kosmo's mother, curled up where the tide comes in. Jungkook came to say hello, but the mama cat was soaking wet and unmoving. He hadn’t known what to do other than sit down and cry. 

Yoongi’s eyes prickle, his vision goes a little blurry. His voice shakes when he says, “It’s okay, Kookie. You did nothing wrong.” 

Jungkook shakes his head, and Yoongi has to slow his own breathing. The tears fall hard and fast. He and Jungkook sit silently in the dark, no words exchanged. Only the sound of their ragged breaths can be heard over the crash of the ocean.

Yoongi says, “We need to bury her.” Jungkook asks where.

Yoongi says he knows a place, his voice quivers. 

He calls Namjoon.

Namjoon picks up on the first ring. He says, “Hi, Yoongi.”

Yoongi whimpers. Namjoon asks, “Is everything okay?”

Yoongi tells him no. He tells him what happened. Namjoon says he’s on his way. Yoongi asks him not to crash his bike, he asks him to be careful. Namjoon says he promises he will be, and he hangs up.

Yoongi cries some more. Jungkook sets the cat down while he collects himself. Jungkook paces back and forth and shakes his hands nervously. His breath comes and goes, like he's trying not to hyperventilate.

Namjoon arrives in less than ten minutes, and Yoongi wonders if he’s secretly got teleportation powers. 

He drops his bike on the sand and runs over to them. He doesn’t say anything, he just wraps his arms around Yoongi and Yoongi finds himself sniffling into Namjoon’s shoulder, his arms limp at his sides. 

Yoongi worries about Kosmo. He hopes he’s back at the smoothie bar, sleeping soundly under a chair or chasing after crabs somewhere in the sand, not somewhere out here.

Jungkook keeps mumbling that he’s sorry, and Yoongi pulls out of Namjoon’s grasp to tug on Jungkook’s arm.

It starts to rain then, a few drops hit Yoongi on the head. He winces. 

Jungkook jumps up to cover the cat, he says she’s already too cold. She’s far too cold. He can’t let her get any colder. He tucks her inside his jacket, holding her flush against his chest. 

Yoongi pulls Jungkook into a hug and Jungkook shudders in his arms, his chest rising and falling rapidly. Yoongi doesn’t let go for a while. Not until Namjoon quietly pulls Yoongi away and tells him they should take her somewhere dry.

So they go, the three of them trek across the beach in the dark. Sand gets in Yoongi’s boots and the rain chills him through his layers. Namjoon holds his hand while they climb across the rocks, and Jungkook doesn’t let go of the once warm creature tucked against his chest.

A flashlight seems to materialize in Namjoon’s hand when they reach the little cave, and the three boys duck inside. The crabs around their feet scatter when the light hits them, and Jungkook sets the cat down. He wraps her in his jacket and shivers as he pulls a little toy shovel out of his pocket.

They work together to dig a little hole in the sand, deep enough that the water starts to come through. Jungkook sacrifices his jacket, and when they’re done they all sit down and cry, Namjoon included. 

Jungkook sings a goodnight lullaby and Yoongi sees Namjoon wiping his eyes feverently. Yoongi asks aloud for Kosmo to be watched over, and for them to see him soon.

The wind is loud outside the mouth of the little cave and Yoongi shivers. Namjoon pulls Yoongi into his lap, and they sit in silence for a long time. Jungkook leans against Namjoon’s shoulder, tears dripping off his nose and landing on the sand. After a long while he falls asleep like that. Yoongi looks up through heavy eyelashes and feels his heart squeeze.

He reaches out and runs a hand through Jungkook’s hair, and Jungkook subconsciously leans into the touch. Namjoon can’t be comfortable here, but if he isn’t, he doesn’t say anything to make it known. 

Yoongi isn’t sure when they finally leave, but he pulls out his phone and calls in to work because the sky has gotten significantly lighter by the time they duck out of the cave, and he knows he won't be able to handle the day. A little meow makes Yoongi jump, and he whips around to see a sandy Kosmo perched on top of a rock to Yoongi’s left.

Yoongi makes a broken noise and scoops the cat up. He’s significantly bigger than he remembers, but Kosmo purrs in his arms and snuggles up to his chest.

Yoongi passes him off to Jungkook, who positively melts when Kosmo touches his hands. Jungkook doesn’t let go the entire way back to the beach. 

When they finally approach Namjoon’s abandoned bike, Yoongi says he doesn’t want to be alone. Jungkook agrees.

Namjoon offers them a place to stay, and even though Yoongi and Namjoon have been so caught up in not sharing things about their personal lives, Yoongi obliges. 

Namjoon walks them away from the beach. He leaves a note on Seokjin’s window, telling him to call Namjoon in the morning.

Jungkook trails behind Namjoon and Yoongi, Kosmo seems content in his hands. The rain starts to clear, but the dark clouds still sit heavy in the sky above.

Namjoon’s apartment turns out to be about a twenty minute walk from the beach. They don’t exchange words as they walk. Jungkook hangs on to Kosmo protectively, and he kisses his head every few minutes. It’s like he wants to prove that he’ll always be there.

Namjoon’s apartment is only one bedroom, and Yoongi wonders what it is that he does to pay for the place. It’s filled with plants, and he has a fish tank on the far wall, next to a sliding glass door and a balcony that overlooks the street below.

He lives on the fourth floor, but it’s quiet for how busy the area seems to be. 

He has a pull out couch in his living room, which he sets up once they’ve safely arrived and removed their shoes and coats, or in Jungkook’s case just his shoes.

Namjoon gives them a little tour. He shows them the bathroom and explains that sometimes the sink turns on when you flush the toilet. Apparently it’s an old building.

Namjoon also tells them to help themselves to anything in the kitchen, though there isn’t much in the way of food there. He says he doesn’t cook well, so more often than not he orders takeout.

Jungkook sets Kosmo down on the pullout couch, and the cat snuggles into the blankets happily. 

Namjoon shows Yoongi his room. He’s got bookshelves packed all the way to the ceiling, and a desk with a PC computer. There are textbooks strewn around the room. Yoongi spots a philosophy book and a criminal psychology book. Namjoon is clearly very smart.

Collectively, the three of them agree that sleep is needed, and Yoongi sets himself up next to Jungkook on the pullout couch. Kosmo walks in circles around the two of them and settles on the pillow beside Jungkook’s head. 

Yoongi doesn’t fall asleep until after Jungkook does. He strokes the younger boy’s cheek as he cries, pushing his hair out of his face. Yoongi wipes the tears away with his thumb and Jungkook looks up at him through wet eyelashes. 

“Do you think Kosmo knows?” Jungkook whispers. Yoongi thinks his heart cracks a little bit. He shakes his head. 

He says, “I hope not. I don’t want him to feel like we feel.” 

After a long stretch of muffled tears, Jungkook falls asleep. Yoongi wonders if Namjoon is okay on his own. He thinks that maybe the other needs some company too, but he couldn’t just leave Jungkook alone like this.

Jungkook may be independent, and an adult, but Yoongi knows what he’s like. He’s got a breakable outer shell. These things get to him too easily. Yoongi knows not to leave Jungkook alone at a time like this.

Yoongi falls asleep when the sun appears through the window. Kosmo moves to lean against the top of Jungkook’s head and snores there happily. 

Yoongi wakes up with Jungkook’s arms around him, their feet tangled up together. Kosmo is sitting up, watching them with mild interest.

Jungkook sleeps with his mouth half open and Yoongi fights back a laugh as he gingerly pulls himself out of Jungkook’s grasp. 

Namjoon is standing in the doorway. He says, “Good morning.” His expression is hard to read.

Yoongi stretches his arms over his head. “Did you sleep okay?”

Namjoon nods, and asks the same. Yoongi answers yes, and follows up with, “what time is it?”

Namjoon says it’s almost three in the afternoon, and Yoongi’s eyes widen. He fishes his phone out of his pocket, and there are a handful of text messages from Hobi.

[Hobah 11:02am]

you didn’t come home last night?? are you okay :(

[Hobah 11:02am]

are you with namjoon 😏

[Hobah 12:16pm]

seriously are you okay hyung

[Hobah 2:29pm] 

im rlly worried pls text me when u see this

Yoongi feels bad. 

[Self 2:54pm]

i’m okay. i’m sorry

Hobi replies in ten seconds flat.

[Hobah 2:54pm]

ur alive!!!! :0

[Self 2:54pm]

yeah :) rough night. i’ll be home later.

[Self 2:54pm]

and sorry for making you worry

He places his phone back in his pocket and shakes Jungkook awake.

Jungkook groans and shoves his face into the pillow. Yoongi decides to allow him a few more minutes.

Namjoon presents Yoongi with a coffee, and Yoongi says thank you three times. They sit at his little dining table and watch each other sip their coffees.

Namjoon asks how long Yoongi and Jungkook have known each other. Yoongi says about four years by now, ever since Jungkook was a highschool kid. He tells Namjoon he found Jungkook on the beach and Jungkook begged him to teach him how to play the piano, so he did. Free of charge, of course.

Namjoon asks, “Is that what you do for work?” And Yoongi’s face flushes red. He nods. Namjoon says it suits him well.

Jungkook finally joins them in the kitchen after a half hour, and Kosmo is balancing on his shoulders like some kind of monkey.

Yoongi says he thinks Jungkook should keep him. Jungkook shakes his head, he says he belongs to the beach. Yoongi points out that he belongs to the beach. He thinks they’re meant to be.

Jungkook doesn’t argue this point, he just coos at Kosmo and smiles at Yoongi. Namjoon smiles into his coffee.

+

Namjoon and Yoongi see more of each other after that. 

Namjoon invites Yoongi over when Yoongi texts him and asks about his fish. They sit in front of the tank for thirty minutes watching the little creatures swim around.

Namjoon let’s Yoongi feed them and he shows Yoongi how to do a water change. Yoongi sits criss-crossed on the hardwood floor and admires Namjoon’s gentleness with the animals.

Namjoon finally comes over one Friday night, about a month after the first time Yoongi had been to his place. Hoseok makes them gimbap and shares embarrassing stories about Yoongi’s university days. Yoongi cuts off his rosé supply and banishes him to his bedroom.

Yoongi and Namjoon sit side by side on the couch, and Namjoon explains what things he thinks defy the laws of physics. 

Yoongi listens intently, though he’s not quite sure what everything means, but he tries his best.

Namjoon looks at Yoongi with an odd expression and says, “I’m really glad I met you.”

Yoongi kisses him.

He climbs into Namjoon’s lap with his face in both hands, and he kisses his way into Namjoon’s mouth, chasing the distant taste of a fruity rosé on his tongue.

Namjoon groans a little bit and lets Yoongi knock him backwards, and they stay like that for a long time, kissing in the dim light, well into the evening. 

They kiss until they run out of breath, and Yoongi thinks he’ll never breathe the same again. He could never breathe without Namjoon.

Namjoon leaves reluctantly that night, and Yoongi promises him they’ll meet again on the beach tomorrow.

And so they do. Again and again, they share coffees and collect sand dollars. They steal Kosmo from Jungkook and watch the boys with the dog. They continue with creating narrative for those two, and they lay together in the sand, even in the rain.

Yoongi starts kissing Namjoon goodbye, and he invites him over more often.

In April Yoongi finally spends a night with Namjoon. They kiss until the sun rises, until their lips have mapped out every shape of each other's bodies. They fit like lost puzzle pieces, and Yoongi’s sure this is the happiest he’s ever been.

Namjoon and Yoongi walk to the beach together that morning. They’re whistled at by Jungkook. He says he knows that look anywhere, and Yoongi smacks him upside the head.

They make a home for themselves in the sand that day. The sky is bright with spring, and Namjoon and Yoongi sit side by side at the edge of the water.

Yoongi asks what Namjoon’s future looks like.

He says, “I’m okay with anything, as long as you’re with me.” 

Yoongi’s eyes prickle at the thought. Just a smidge.

In May, Namjoon spends a lot of time with Yoongi and Hoseok. They take him to the aquarium one day, and Namjoon greets the jellyfish by saying, “Hello, Yoongi’s friends!” Yoongi buries his face in his hands.

They get a lot of smoothies that month, and Yoongi gets pretty good at sneaking Seokjin money when he gives Namjoon the drinks for free. Yoongi won’t accept all that for nothing.

One evening Namjoon and Yoongi witness the two boys with the dog setting up a romantic little dinner in the middle of the beach. The dog isn’t with them this time, and the taller one is dressed in a long sleeve floral shirt that's tucked into a pair of dark slacks. The blonde is wearing a pair of suit pants and a pink bomber jacket. He’s got his dangly earrings on and a pair of glasses perched on his nose. 

Namjoon and Yoongi sit on the deck of Seokjin's shop, sharing an orange and banana smoothie. They pass it back and forth and take turns getting scolded by Seokjin when they drink too much too fast and end up with brain freezes.

The brunette boy on the beach has set out a picnic basket, and all these roses, like it’s some kind of grand occasion. He sits the other down and they laugh about something.

The brunette pulls out a bottle of champagne and Yoongi feels a bit suspicious, because he’s pretty certain of what's about to happen.

Nothing exciting arises for a while, Namjoon finishes their smoothie and Yoongi leans his head on Namjoon’s shoulder. The sun starts to set in the sky, casting a warm orange glow across the beach.

The two boys are sitting together much like Namjoon and Yoongi, their heads touching and their hands intertwined. 

The blonde boy stands up and turns away to dig something out of his bag, and Yoongi watches the brunette shake his hands nervously a few times.

He pulls something Yoongi can’t see from his pocket, and props himself up on one knee. Namjoon gasps.

They can’t hear the speech the blonde is given, but it’s obvious that he’s crying when he shoves his face in his hands and nods about a thousand times in a row.

Yoongi pulls out his phone and takes a distant picture. 

The couple meet each other on their knees, their faces in each others hands and their lips connected for about five minutes. Yoongi feels his cheeks flush and he looks away. Namjoon is watching him with a strange expression, and Yoongi smiles at him.

He asks what Namjoon’s looking at. Namjoon says, “Nothing.” And bites his lip.

When the sun finally goes down Yoongi pulls Namjoon by the hand over to the engaged couple on the beach.

He says hello, introduces himself, and gives his congratulations. 

The blonde sticks out his hand and says, “Jimin.” and the brunette waves from behind. He says his name is Taehyung. 

Yoongi tells them he took a picture, and that he hopes they don’t mind, but it’s really beautiful and if they’d like he can send it over to them.

So he does, and by the end of the evening he and Namjoon have made a pair of friends. Friends who are already inviting them to their wedding, apparently.

+

June and July pass in a blur. Yoongi’s work slows down over the summer, as kids are often on vacation and he manages to free up a handful of extra days to see Namjoon.

Yoongi teaches Namjoon how to cook, and Hoseok shows him how he makes his colourful little friendship bracelets. They make three just for Jungkook, and a collar for Kosmo, and the next time that Yoongi and Namjoon go to the beach they surprise Jungkook with it all.

He's so thrilled he jumps up and down six times in a row, and then he hugs Namjoon so tightly that Namjoon stops breathing for ten seconds.

Kosmo fights with the collar. He tumbles around in the sand and meows angrily at it, and Jungkook looks so endeared that Yoongi feels his heart swell up in his chest. He worries he just might explode. 

It's obvious to him that Jungkook was meant to be with this little creature. Kosmo fits with Jungkook, Yoongi thinks they might be soulmates. Two flames that had been together in a past life. Best friends, it's sickly sweet.

Jungkook asks, "Why are you looking at me like that?" And Yoongi looks to Namjoon for an answer. 

Namjoon says, "It's because he loves you." Yoongi smacks him on the arm.

Yoongi and Namjoon don't visit the cave much anymore. Sometimes they sit outside, like today. They sit at the mouth of the cave and tell stories about Kosmo, just in case his mama is listening. 

They share a smoothie and Yoongi tells Namjoon about the time Jungkook accidentally let an army of crabs loose in a Starbucks. Namjoon asks about Jungkook some more, apparently he's a revelation. Yoongi tells him that Jungkook has a lifelong ban from the Starbucks down the block.

Namjoon pulls a smushed daisy out of his pocket when they leave, and he places it in front of the cave like a peace offering. He says, "For Kosmo's mom."

They walk back hand-in-hand, crossing the rocks together. Yoongi thinks about the day they met, and he wonders what it is that he and Namjoon have. They haven't ever discussed it, but he and Namjoon see each other more days of the week than not, and Hoseok and Jungkook are familiar with him, and Yoongi and Seokjin are on friendly terms as well.

He thinks about saying something as they cross a little stream, but Yoongi decides against it in favour of not breaking what precious thing it is they hold here together.

Yoongi starts spending more nights at Namjoons.

There are days when they don't get out of bed. They become one with the pillows, their bodies molding into the shape of the mattress. And there are others where Yoongi and Namjoon go about their days on their own, but in the same space.

One afternoon they go grocery shopping for Namjoon's apartment. Namjoon buys three more plants and Yoongi gets him a proper cooking pan and spatula.

They pick out colourful dishes together, favouring them over Namjoon's plain old hand-me-down ones.

Yoongi finds a pair of wine glasses with sea creatures painted all across the sides and he puts them in the cart. Namjoon points at a kitchen timer shaped like a turtle and insists they should get it.

When they return to Namjoon's apartment Yoongi knows where all the things go. He washes the plates and puts them away in their proper home, and packs away all the fruits and vegetables inside the refrigerator doors. Namjoon watches him, his back leaning against the door frame.

He says, "Do you want to move in with me?"

Yoongi drops a plate.

+

Yoongi realizes he's in love with Namjoon the day he packs up the last of his belongings.

Hobi cries when he carries the box out into the moving truck. He's all blubbery and snotty and gross and Yoongi tells him to suck it up, but he feels like breaking down just as much.

He tells Hobi it's just a new apartment, they're not that far away, and they'll talk every single day, and have movie nights, and go to the mall together. Hobi shoves at him and says "You won't be worrying about me when you're living with the love of your life, idiot." 

Yoongi doesn't know what to say to that, but he doesn't regret his choice when he and Namjoon work together to unpack his things that evening.

+

It's September and Yoongi is in love, he's so in love, and he still hasn't told Namjoon, and Namjoon hasn't said he's in love with Yoongi either.

Namjoon and Yoongi go on a double date with Jimin and Taehyung one evening.

Jimin takes them into the city in his fancy car with his fancy earrings and his fancy engagement ring, and Yoongi feels underdressed next to Taehyung and his brand name Louis Vuitton purse.

Jimin brings them to his favourite bar, which is not so fancy. There's live music and food and Yoongi ends up drunk on the dancefloor between Namjoon and Taehyung, laughing like he's never laughed before while the two of them grind up against him like a couple of leeches stuck to him.

Later, Yoongi finds himself pinned up against the wall of a bathroom stall with Namjoon's hips in his hands around two in the morning.

He slurs, "I think I'm in love with you." and Namjoon slurs back, "Are you kidding? I've always loved you." 

They wake up in an apartment that isn't theirs, overlooking the city. It's a guest bedroom, and Yoongi checks if the door is locked before proceeding with him and Namjoon's morning.

Eventually they find Jimin in Taehyung's lap in a large, modern looking kitchen. Jimin gets up to bring them coffee and he says, "Rough morning?"

Taehyung laughs and Yoongi watches Namjoon's face turn pink.

September turns into October, and Namjoon soberly tells Yoongi he loves him when Yoongi is scrubbing a stain out of Namjoon's favourite t-shirt.

He says, "I am so, irretrievably in love with you, Min Yoongi." 

Yoongi bursts into tears.

Namjoon pulls him away from the sink and into his arms. He shushes Yoongi and asks him what's wrong. Yoongi says he's never felt this way before. 

They kiss in the hallway, Yoongi stands on top of Namjoon's feet. Namjoon waddles around with him like that and they giggle into eachothers mouths. It's all Yoongi could ever ask for.

+

When the winter comes, Yoongi and Namjoon head to the beach early one Saturday morning. 

Yoongi points out an eagle perched high in a tree, and Namjoon asks what their typical day looks like. Yoongi says eagles are busy with a 9-5 schedule, and they have to hire someone to pick up their kids from school. Namjoon says they must make really great parents.

Jungkook is there, holding Kosmo out in front of him like he's dangerous. Seokjin is standing there with his hands cupped around Kosmo's little face, a precious smile on his own.

Namjoon and Yoongi approach them, and Jungkook launches into a story about how Kosmo had caught a mouse the night before. He hands Kosmo to Seokjin while he enthusiastically acts the scene out for all of them.

Yoongi laughs so hard he falls into Namjoon and they end up sprawled out in the sand, where they stay, even after the others leave.

Namjoon points across the beach and says, "Do you remember the day we met?"

Yoongi says of course, he'd never forget it.

Namjoon says, "You were the prettiest person on this beach." Yoongi blushes.

Yoongi tells him he remembers how Namjoon had come back for him on the rocks, and held him up when he'd almost slipped. He thanks him for that, and tells him he'd started falling in love then, it had just taken a while for him to realize. 

Namjoon grins at him and pushes him backward in the sand. Namjoon swallows Yoongi's words of protest and he straddles Yoongi's hips on the ground. He kisses him twice more and says, "I love you, I love you, I love you."

Yoongi smiles against his mouth and mumbles, "I love you too, Joonah, always." He says it again. "Always." And he really means it, more than he's ever meant anything in his entire life.