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“Tell me, why are we doing this again?”
Yoongi doesn’t even spare Hoseok a glance from his shitty airplane magazine, licking his index finger and flipping to the next page lazily. “Sitting in coach while Namjoon managed to squeeze his pancake ass into first class even though this was his idea in the first place? Fuck if I know.”
“I meant going on this trip in general, but that’s also a valid question,” Hoseok says, sinking back into the cheap material of his seat, lumps that feel unmistakably similar to a person’s knees digging into his lower back. He mentally curses Namjoon and the bubbly champagne he’s probably drinking right now.
“He thinks this meeting will be good for the future of our career or whatever, if we can even say we have one.”
Hoseok likes to think of himself a bright and easygoing person. So much so that the day Namjoon crashed into his and Yoongi’s dorm with the idea of starting a rap group, he was all over the the idea, despite being more of a dancer himself.
In its inception, the group was just a creative way to kill time; to improve on his rapping, to improve on the others’ composing, to dabble in what they thought producing would be like. They eventually performed at university events, house parties, received invitations to the local music show or two. While they all appreciated what had become of the idea, Namjoon was the only one to actually take it seriously, quickly developing an obsession with searching for their big break. And it wasn’t until a couple of weeks ago that an opportunity finally arose.
“Don’t you think it’s a little odd,” Yoongi had said that day, rubbing his eyes of the last remnants of sleep that Namjoon had rudely interrupted when he burst into their room, “that some random-ass Australian producer whom we’ve never heard of wants to meet us so suddenly, out of the blue? Us, three no-name Korean college students?”
Namjoon’s enthusiasm remained unaffected. “Well, obviously, it seems absurd when you word it like that. But that wasn’t how it happened at all! See, I found him online, well not really him per se but an article about him seeking new talent, and—”
“The point?”
“The point is,” he stressed, looking back and forth between Yoongi and Hoseok, “is that I sent him some of our stuff, and he seemed to like what he heard, which is why I’m able to stand before you and tell you what I am telling you now.”
“I still think it’s some fishy shit,” Yoongi responded, leaning back onto his headboard. “And I know Hoseok does too, with the way he’s been all quiet since you came in with this nonsense.”
Hoseok didn’t even realize his own uncharacteristic silence throughout the discussion, trying to absorb everything that had just been said.
As if on cue, Namjoon turned to him. “Well,” he raised his eyebrows expectantly, “what do you think?”
Hoseok sat up in his bed, thoughtful. He honestly had no idea what to make of it. “I think… it’s weird, yeah—like, really weird—but you said this guy was legit, right?”
Namjoon nodded with so much fervor Hoseok idly wondered if his head would pop off. “Totally legit. Has his own label and everything, with some well-known musicians under it, too. I even looked them up and can recount what I’ve researched if you need any more convincing.”
“You know, I think we’re just going to pass on that this time,” Yoongi said, smiling sweetly.
Namjoon shot him a sour look before bringing his attention back to Hoseok. “So?”
Hoseok chewed his bottom lip. He knew how these things worked; when it came to the three of them, they decided things two against one. While that system seemed a bit inappropriate for this situation, he knew his word would determine their next step.
Silence settled over the three for several long moments before he finally responded. “I mean… I’ve never been to Australia before.”
“This is your fault, you know,” Yoongi grumbles, tossing his magazine aside and securing his neck pillow more comfortably around his throat.
Hoseok pouts at his friend, whose eyes are now falling shut. “That’s not fair. You know how insane Namjoon went about this; it’s not like I could’ve turned him down.”
“I did.”
“Yeah, well, you’re heartless. That’s different.”
Yoongi snorts but doesn't say anything further.
Hoseok sinks further into his seat, attempting to ignore the persistent kicking he now feels from behind. The next ten hours are going be the end of him.
...Or maybe not. About an hour after the flight takes off, and Hoseok resigns himself to the fact that he won’t catch any sleep with the tiny demon sitting behind him (both of the child’s parents too immersed in their boring literature to give a damn about their kid), he discovers his newfound fixation in the form of a man.
Well, man doesn't seem to really fit as well as boy does, as the face that captures his attention is rounded with unblemished youth and full pink lips, contrasting the blatantly sturdy build under his flight attendant vest and slacks.
Hoseok has to double-take when the man enters his aisle, wheeling a cart. He stops at the first row of seats, eyes turning into crescent moons as he smiles politely at the passengers before offering complimentary snacks from his selection, and oh my god where the hell have you been all my life?
Hoseok usually has half a mind not to ever disturb Yoongi while he’s sleeping, especially as he’s already mildly irritated at their current circumstance, but by God this is an emergency and Hoseok’s sure he’ll understand. With that in mind, he gently shakes Yoongi’s shoulder, with just enough vigor to have him groaning in protest, bothered by the sudden disturbance.
Yoongi doesn't open his eyes but rolls his head nearer to Hoseok, just inches above the younger’s shoulder. “What.”
“Dude, I have just laid eyes on the most beautiful man to ever exist, ever.”
Yoongi does’t miss a beat. “Obviously. You’re sitting right next to him.”
If Hoseok’s thoughts weren’t already preoccupied with a certain blindingly gorgeous flight attendant, he could probably think of a brilliant comeback. For now, he just settles for an eye roll.
“No, I mean really. Like, if I didn't know I was gay before, boy am I gay now.”
“First of all, you’re bi. Second of all, you say that about every mildly attractive guy that you meet.”
Hoseok whines. “Come on, it’s different this time! Just humor me a little, please? He’s the flight attendant, right down our aisle.”
After several seconds of consideration, Yoongi sighs, opening his eyes. He takes his time languidly leaning across Hoseok (who’s in the aisle seat) to check out Hoseok’s current infatuation. With a low whistle, he pulls back, settling back into his seat.
“All right, I’ll give you that one. Though,” Yoongi yawns unattractively, “I don't understand why you felt the need to include me in this.”
Hoseok sometimes forgets that Yoongi doesn't follow usual societal norms, including the one that meant upon discovering someone hot, the first thing to do is gush about them to your friends. It seems boring to explain, though, so Hoseok only wiggles his eyebrows mischievously. “Threesome?”
Yoongi barks that short sort-of-amused laugh he has. “Where? Cramped up in the bathroom? I’ll pass.”
“Fine, more room for me and Mr. Try-Our-Complimentary-Peanuts over there. Besides, I know you’re more into daddies, anyway.”
Yoongi makes a face at that. “Older men. Older, more masculine men.”
Hoseok laughs. “Right.”
However, as he opens his mouth to further tease Yoongi, a voice coming from right above his head shuts him up real quick.
“Is there anything I can provide for you, sir?”
Hoseok's head swivels to face the owner of the voice, who is far more pretty up close and smells vaguely of an unfamiliar cologne that Hoseok decides he loves. He’s also smiling directly at Hoseok, who can kind of feel himself dying inside.
Before he could say anything, Yoongi’s once again leaning across Hoseok and is giving the flight attendant his most charming smile. “Coffee for me, please. And water for my friend here; he’s pretty thirsty, you see.”
It takes much of Hoseok’s willpower not to turn around and clock Yoongi square in the nose. That would mean taking his eyes off the young man in uniform standing in front of him, though, so he manages to hold himself back.
The flight attendant nods in response, smile unwavering, before turning his attention back to his cart and beginning to prepare Yoongi’s coffee. Hoseok tries his best not to stare, pushing his friend off of him.
After the flight attendant finishes up Yoongi’s coffee and hands it to him (“Careful, it could be hot.”), he bends slightly downward to reach for a bottle within the cart and Hoseok is totally not attempting to catch a glimpse of his ass.
Once he straightens, he hands the water to Hoseok, who shamelessly brushes his long fingers over his as he takes it, smiling warmly as he does. “Thank you.”
Pulling back, he swears he sees a flash of bashfulness across the young man’s face. “Ah... would there be anything else?”
“Hmm,” Hoseok says, cracking open the cap of his bottle. “There is one more thing.”
“And what would that be, sir?” The courtesy in his tone seems a bit more exaggerated than before. Only a fraction; easily unnoticeable if Hoseok hasn't been giving him his utmost attention. Regardless, it gives Hoseok the jolt of confidence that he needed.
“Your name, if you don’t mind.”
This time, the flight attendant’s blush is unmistakable. He breaks eye contact with Hoseok to look at a fixed section of his cart before meeting his gaze again, much more evenly. Though the flush across his cheeks has lessened, Hoseok still feels thoroughly triumphant.
“It’s… Jimin, sir. Park Jimin.”
Park Jimin. Hoseok extends his free hand to Jimin. “Jung Hoseok.”
Jimin only hesitates for a moment before taking it, slipping into a more confident, professional facade. “It’s a pleasure, Jung Hoseok.”
Hoseok’s smile only widens at the contact. “Likewise. I’m sorry if I'm being a bit forward, Jimin, it's just that this is going to be a terribly long flight for me. I hope that you'll be able to take care of me."
The corner of Jimin's mouth twitches. Ah, a crack in the facade. "I'll do my best, sir."
From beside him, Hoseok swears he could hear Yoongi gagging.