Work Text:
Seokjin is trending, which is not really new, especially ever since his new single The Astronaut was released. He is making new records left and right, and none of them are surprised; Seokjin deserves all the accolades he’s currently receiving. A lot of people know he works hard on his craft, but there are also haters who have underestimated his capabilities and talent. So yes, Seokjin trending is not a new thing, they are all aware of how much power their eldest Hyung holds. He just recently won a popularity award too.
Nowadays though, their Hyung also trends because of a difficult process they are about to embark on, their “Voldemort”, as Seokjin himself described it. Being the eldest member, he has been the target of ridicule and rumors, more than any of them, it was Seokjin who suffered the most. The day is finally approaching and ARMYs haven’t let up on supporting Seokjin.
From participating in official Jin events to organizing their own trending events on different platforms, ARMY did it all. So again, no one is surprised that Kim Seokjin is trending under different topics, phrases and words. What surprised Yoongi though is when he saw
Baby Chestnut
trending along with
WeLoveJin
and
WeWillWaitForYouJin.
He quickly scanned Twitter and found Seokjin’s new picture, a picture of him with his hair all shaved off.
Yoongi checks Seokjin’s SNS accounts to see where the picture is from, still hoping it is edited, and someone is just playing a prank. His brain freezes when he finds the original post on Weverse captioned “ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 생각보단 기여움”. Yoongi switches his phone screen to their group chat and messages from the younger members flood in.
J-hope: Jwan! You’re right, you still look cute.
JK:
Hyung, you look like an egg.
Jimin:
Whoa, Jin hyung, you are really handsome. I will use this as a profile pic on Weverse. Kekeke
Taehyung:
World. Wide. Handsome.
Namjoon:
Hyung, the noonas did a good job with your hair. That’s why they said they’re going to be busy at night.
Jin:
Yah! Hyung told you I will still be handsome. If you’re born handsome, you will always be handsome.
😀
Yoongi can’t find it in him to join the conversation in their chat. He’s aware of the insecurities Seokjin had, and he also knows that the other members are trying to cheer him up, but he can’t bring himself to say anything. He closes the group chat and quickly types a personal message for Seokjin.
Hyung, where are you?
Yoongi paces in his studio as he waits for Seokjin’s answer, and decides to call after about three minutes of not getting a response. He thinks of going to the room where they have their hair and makeup done, hoping to catch Seokjin. Thankfully, he answers before Yoongi can go out.
Where are you, hyung?,
he asks as soon as Seokjin picks up the phone.
Yoongi-ah, I just left the company. I’m on my way home now. Seokjin’s cheerful voice replies.
Going to Seokjin’s place was not part of Yoongi’s plan for the night, but that is what he finds himself saying, Wait for me in your place, hyung. I’m going there.
Huh, not that you’re not welcome, but why? Seokjin asks after a pause.
Yoongi ignores the question, he doesn’t know what to say anyway, “ I’m going. See you in 15.” He hangs up before Seokjin can ask anything else and sends a message to his manager requesting to have his ride ready as soon as possible.
Inside the car, Yoongi calms himself and tries not to think about what the future holds for them. He knows they will be alright, there’s no question about it, they have built a solid foundation as a group, and they have the best fans in the world who are there with them and for them. He is confident that BTS will stand, and continue to give back the love they have been receiving from their supporters.
They started as 7 boys from South Korea with the same passion for music, lucky to have all been hardworking; but when they return as 7 again in a couple of years, they will have millions of ARMYs with them. The members have talked about it before, and they all believe that.
At that time though, in the silence of the car, he can’t shake off the sadness. He wishes he was going with Seokjin, but it’s not only up to him now. Similar to how Seokjin had to delay his plans for the group, for the company, and most importantly for the fans, Yoongi also factors a lot of things into his decision. And the whole group can agree that it is one of the prices of fame.
Since he’s not going to enlist at the same time as Seokjin, he feels more protective of him. He keeps his silence, he doesn’t go to social media to announce it, but Yoongi makes sure Seokjin knows he is there for him to rely on. Which is the reason he currently feels hurt.
Yoongi sighs as the car stops in the parking lot of Seokjin’s building. He thinks of how he wants to say what’s in his mind as he takes the elevator up. The door opens seconds after he arrives at the door, which tells him Seokjin must have been looking out.
“Yoongi-ah! Come in, come in!”, Seokjin, still cheerful, exclaims as he opens the door wide. “You almost never come visit me, what brings you here now? Unfortunately, I don’t have food but we can cook, and you know there’s always alcohol in this house.”
Yoongi kicks his shoes off and carefully places them on the shoe rack as he listens to his hyung’s rambles. He goes directly to the white couch but sits on the floor with his knees up rather than sitting on the sofa itself. He watches as Seokjin walks to the kitchen to get glasses and presumably a bottle of soju. They may drink different liquors when they are with others, but when it’s just him and Seokjin, it’s soju for them. The significance of it just lodges in Yoongi’s heart, and he makes himself smaller.
He waits until Seokjin is sitting in front of him before he blurts out, “Why did you do it alone, hyung?”
Seokjin pauses in the middle of pouring soju into a shot glass and looks at Yoongi, “What do you mean? What did I do?”
One thing Yoonjin, as their fans call them, are famous for is avoiding each other’s eyes. But at that moment, Yoongi maintains eye contact with Seokjin and repeats his question, “Why did you do it alone? Why did you have your hair shaved alone?”
Seokjin chuckles quietly and continues pouring, “Oh, it’s easy, Yoongi-ah. I told stylist noonas that I need to have my hair cut in preparation, and they did it for me. When your time comes, it will be easier, at least they have practice already.”
“You know what I mean. Why did you do it alone?” Yoongi couldn’t hide the hurt in his voice any longer. “I don’t have a choice, hyung. When I go, you won’t be there. I can’t ask you to be with me as I go through preparations. I can’t ask you to pick the clippers up for me.” Yoongi is trying his best to steady his voice, but it’s betraying him. “You had a choice, hyung. All the members are still here. I am here”, he emphasizes.
Seokjin looks at Yoongi thinking of how to respond, and he seems to change his mind about what he’s going to say when he sees the younger’s eyes. He sighs before reaching out to hold Yoongi’s hand, “Hyung is sorry, Yoongi-ah. I thought it would be easier for everybody if I go through it alone. I thought it would be easier for you.”
Seokjin stops after his last sentence to take a deep breath, and he tightens his hold on Yoongi’s hand before continuing, “I didn’t think any of you would want to go through it with me. You’re all very busy with your schedules, I didn’t want to be a burden to you.”
For the first time since he started talking, Yoongi turns his head to avoid Seokjin’s eyes. He knows Seokjin is the last person on earth who would want to be a burden to anyone, and he appreciates that about him, that’s why he needs to tell him he’s wrong. “How can you think that, hyung? I told you I am here, and you can rely on me. We’ve been through a lot already, we’ve taken care of the kids when we were starting. How can you think I didn’t want to share this time with you, that I don’t want to take care of you even for a short time?”
Yoongi’s eyes start tearing up after his last sentence, and it makes Seokjin release his hand so he can sit beside him instead. He puts his hand around Yoongi’s shoulders before speaking, his own eyes filled with tears, “But I’m supposed to take care of you, Yoongi-ah. I’m the hyung. And I’m sorry that I will not be here to do that.” A well seems to open after that, and Seokjin weeps openly. Yoongi turns to completely hug Seokjin and allow him to cry on his shoulders.
“I am so sorry, Yoongi-ah. Just the thought of not celebrating your achievements and other occasions with you, it hurts, Yoongi-ah.”
Yoongi can only stroke Seokjin’s back as he cries. He thinks about the first time they met, of the time they were told that there will be 7 of them, and when they were told that they will be the eldest in the group. Both of them were the youngest in their respective families, but Seokjin quickly took on the role of being the eldest. He made sure to comfort the youngest members whenever they were sad, and he was there for Namjoon when he was navigating being a leader.
Yoongi thinks of the time when they are the only ones able to drink legally, about how they would go out to drink soju, just the two of them. Those are some of his favorite moments in their oldest dorm. He thinks about Seokjin being shy back then, and his lack of confidence even though he was good from the beginning. He is one of the hardest-working people he knows, and up until now, that hasn’t changed.
“I am so proud of you, Jinnie hyung.”
Seokjin stops crying and faces Yoongi, “Yoongi, please know that I want to share every moment with you, now and in the future.”
“I want that too, hyung. We may not be able to do it for a while, but I want you to never hesitate to come to me. When the time comes that we’re both serving, I want us to find time to still talk to each other. Please, hyung, let’s not shut each other off, no matter what happens.”
Yoongi doesn’t know how far they will be from each other, but he never wants to feel as if they are far apart emotionally. As if reading his mind, Seokjin whispers while wiping Yoongi’s eyes with careful fingers, “You are my soulmate, Yoongichi. I promise to try being more open with you.”
“You are mine, too. We have an unending history.” Yoongi answers as he holds Seokjin’s face in his hands, carefully letting his fingers wander. “Wait for me, hyung, let’s add to our story then.”
“You know I will. And I will visit you after I get discharged.” Seokjin smiles and it’s still one of the most beautiful things in the world for Yoongi. “So how do I look, still cute right?”
Yoongi touches Seokjin’s head and smiles back. “You’re the most handsome man I know.” He chuckles before continuing, “This is itchy though.”
“Yah!” Seokjin slaps his hand before giggling. He brings Yoongi closer to him and whispers, “Will you stay the night?”
Yoongi feels his heart jump. This is what he wants after all, his hyung relying on him, even for a little while. “Of course. I will be here the whole day tomorrow too. Let’s wait together.”
You and me, an unending history
Oh, you became my universe
