Work Text:
Yoongi doesn’t believe in love at first sight. He doesn’t. How could you love someone without knowing them, without seeing their whole person and accepting it all? So when he first meets Jungkook, eyes bright and smile wide, polite and eager, he doesn’t think it’s love. He’s a producer and Jungkook is an intern, a music student who’s been assigned to the production department for three months during his summer break before his last year. Yoongi remembers his own internships, remembers coffee orders more than he remembers learning about music, so he’s determined to be a better mentor. When he takes Jungkook in, letting him in his studio, patiently explaining all the equipment to him, he tells himself it has nothing to do with the tightness in his chest, the fluttering in his stomach when Jungkook turns his impossible smile towards him. He’s just being a good senior, the mentor all these kids fresh to the industry deserve. And sure there are other interns he spends less time with but that’s just because the other producers have taken to them. Not because he favors Jungkook. Not because when he finally gets Jungkook in the booth to record a guide, he suddenly wants Jungkook to do all his guides, and his songs, and everything really. It’s just being a good mentor to an impressive intern.
Jungkook seems to like his mentoring too. He starts coming in early, Yoongi’s coffee order in hand even though Yoongi has never asked him, not even sure how the other knows what his go to order is. Jungkook always gravitates towards Yoongi first when assignments are given; Even when he’s specifically asked to work with someone else, Yoongi can expect a knock on his studio door near end of day, with Jungkook behind it ready to describe everything he learned, sometimes asking Yoongi’s opinion, sometimes just excitedly sharing. Yoongi tells himself it’s not love when he finds himself with a soft smile listening to Jungkook’s rants. It’s not love when he finds himself putting his headphones down to give the younger his attention, despite his pressing deadline.
It’s not love when Yoongi gives him the passcode to his studio — flushed with a "ah, you come in here often enough, I can’t be bothered to stand up each time" — even though the only other person who has it is the security manager. It’s not love when Jungkook stares at the torn paper with scribbled numbers with a soft look Yoongi’s never quite seen in him before, cheeks dusted such a beautiful pink Yoongi has to restrain himself from reaching out to feel if they’re warm.
It’s not. It can’t be because Yoongi barely knows Jungkook. They only met a month ago.
And yet the idea keeps creeping into Yoongi’s mind, crawling under the high walls he’s build to keep the persistent thought out.
It doesn’t help that Jungkook’s taken to texting him things other than track ideas or work questions. That sometimes his phone will ping with the name of the person he so desperately wants to forget outside the nine to five, accompanied by a picture of something he ate, or a cute dog he saw on a walk, a story of a stranger he met at the grocery store, or, on the horrible yet wonderful occasion, a picture of the young man himself, taken cutely usually with a tattooed peace sign that Yoongi with deny saving to his camera roll.
It’s definitely not love when someone — a b list artist the company’s working with — flirts with Jungkook the entire session and Yoongi can feel that now normal fluttering feeling bubble up to his throat, hot and stinging. But Yoongi’s a professional and a professional who is not in love so he just takes a deep breath and keeps his gaze focused on his mix boards. At the end of the session when the artist makes his way to Jungkook and asks him out in front of everyone — honestly who does that, how is that considerate, haven’t they noticed how shy Jungkook is — Yoongi pointedly avoids Jungkook’s gaze when it lands on him. He has to hide his sigh of relief when the younger politely declines the dinner invitation. He also has to hide the ugly satisfaction he feels when Jungkook comes up to him after they’re done cleaning up, wanting to go to the street cart across the building for dinner, a newly regular occurrence for them. He has to repeat his new mantra — "he’s just an intern, nothing else" — over and over again when Jungkook laughs loudly at Yoongi’s small jokes, when his brows scrunch together at the food, when Yoongi has to clench his hand until his knuckles are white to refrain from feeding Jungkook off his own skewer when the younger runs out. Has to remind himself that he really can’t love Jungkook, because despite the moments they get stuck staring at each other before shaking off with blushed cheeks, he’s never seen Jungkook outside of work. The closest they’ve gotten away from the company is this one food stall a crosswalk’s distance from the office. He has to remind himself that Jungkook could be entirely different in another setting. He doesn’t really know him. So he can’t love him.
July bleeds into August and suddenly it’s the interns’ last week. The company is planning a small party for their last day, a catered lunch before everyone returns to work, but Yoongi doesn’t help with the planning. He tells his coworkers it’s because he’s busy on this one track, so busy and focused he can’t interact much with anyone, especially a doe eyed intern. He’s just focused on his work. It’s for a big artist, it’s important he get it perfect. Of course it has nothing to do with the way his chest feels heavy when he thinks of Friday, of seeing Jungkook for the last time. He knows logically it’s not necessarily the last. After Jungkook graduates, they could potentially cross paths in the industry. But it’ll be the last time they’ll spend the day together. The last time he’ll get the quiet humming stuck to his side all
day. But of course it’s not that. It’s just work. That’s why he’s ignoring Jungkook’s texts, why he’s put a do not disturb sign on the studio door, not having the heart to change the passcode. He pretends he doesn’t notice Jungkook’s confused face, the light hurt in his wide eyes. He just keeps his head down, head phones on, leaves the studio as little as possible.
When the day finally comes, he debates with himself for an hour deciding whether or not to make an appearance in the decorated break room. Eventually he pushes himself up, mentally grumbling the walk there. He greets his coworkers, congratulates the interns. It’s been three months, for most of them it's their first job in the industry, they’ve worked hard. Ironically, it seems Jungkook isn’t even here. So he makes the necessary small talk, planning his exit. He gives his work email to a few talented interns, tells them he’s happy to help if they ever need it. Reminisces with his favorite producers what it was like to be them. Nervous but with an underlying excitement and determination. He gets so wrapped up in the professional routine that he doesn’t even notice the younger man until Jungkook himself is tapping at his shoulder. Yoongi tries not to start and instead nods his head, congrats on the tip of his tongue. Before he can get it out, Jungkook asks softly if they can speak away from the noise, Yoongi’s hesitant, he has been ignoring — not ignoring, just busy — the other for the past week but since when can he say no to Jungkook.
He nods and gestures him to follow, almost guides him to his studio but at the last minute continues walking, all the way to the front door, to the food stall across the street. There’s room to breathe here, not like in his stuffy studio. It’s the middle of the day, there’s only few customers that all pass on quickly. It’s feels quiet. Safe. He turns to look at Jungkook and suddenly his throat feels tight. The warm feeling that encompasses him whenever he’s with Jungkook comes back full force after a week of hiding. He almost feels out of breath looking a Jungkook’s bright eyes, sparking and looking directly at him.
"Hyung—"Jungkook starts. Yoongi feels lost, feels the urge to grab on to Jungkook to steady himself. He remains firm on his feet instead, pressing his shoes into the pavement. “I’m leaving soon.”
Yoongi doesn’t know what he’s suppose to say, how’s he’s supposed to justify the need to ask him to stay. He looks down.
"Congratulations Jungkook-ah, you’ve worked really well this summer." He takes a breath before meeting Jungkook’s eyes again. "Hyung’s proud of you," The smile is genuine this time, Jungkook really has been doing great work, he’ll be great in this industry, no matter the path he decides on.
Jungkook’s returning smile is bright, front teeth on display. The warmth hurts a bit but Yoongi doesn’t mind it anymore. Jungkook mutters a soft thank you that makes Yoongi want to tuck the younger's longer hair behind his ears and praise him again and again.
"Hyung, I wanted to-" Jungkook pauses, takes a steadying breath. Takes a half step forward. "I never asked before because well I was your intern and you take your work so seriously, which is a good thing! it’s one of my favorite things about you, you’re so—"
He’s cut off by a simple, endeared "Jungkook-ah." A light dusting of pink fills the youngest face and Yoongi smiles softly. "Just tell hyung whatever." Another deep breath.
"Hyung, do you want to go to dinner with me?" Yoongi blinks. Then again. That’s all Jungkook wanted to ask? They’ve eaten together countless times over the past months, he’s not sure why he would be nervous to ask. "Of course, Jungkook-ah, it’s still early though…" he trails off and the confusion must be written on his face because Jungkook sighs lightly and takes another step forward, this time getting close enough that Yoongi has to look up at him. He swallows softly, a bit nervous at the proximity. Has Jungkook always been this tall?
"Hyung. It’s just, this time, I won’t be your intern." Yoongi nods, feel slow on the upkeep. "And we can go somewhere. Somewhere other than here," Yoongi looks at the stand then back at Jungkook. Did he not like the food here? Why didn’t he tell Yoongi sooner?
"Hyung.” Jungkook says more firmly, focusing Yoongi’s attention again. He seems exasperated but not annoyed, there’s still the sparkle behind his eyes. “Hyung," he says, softer this time, “and it could be a date.” He finishes and Yoongi’s breath stops with him. Was Jungkook — Did he just ask him on a date. He opens his mouth to speak but nothing comes out, mirroring what’s in his mind.
Jungkook seems to notice his panic and sudden looks apologetic. He steps back, giving Yoongi room to breath that he's not sure he wants or not. "Unless you don’t want to? I’m sorry if I misread things it’s just, I—" Yoongi feels out of breath again but this time for very different reasons. This time he steps forward, closer than they were before, rests his hands on the youngest shoulders.
"Wait, just wait," He’s definitely out of breath now, heart beating so loud he’s sure Jungkook can hear it "Hyung's just, processing." Jungkook nods slowly, the look from before not leaving his face but he comes to rest his hands on Yoongi’s. "I just— are you— are you"
"I’m asking you out, hyung. On a date. Romantically." Jungkook enunciates, the soft smile back, if maybe a little teasing this time. Yoongi finds grounding in it. He feels a little light-headed, but no longer confused. He thinks about all the times he felt this tug towards Jungkook, all the times he repeated his mantras to himself, tried to keep himself in check. Had Jungkook been doing the same? Was he struggling through just like Yoongi. "Hyung, are you gonna answer me?"
He’s definitely teasing now, the sparkle clearer than ever. It makes Yoongi break out in his own grin. "Yes, obviously," He gets out before leaning in close, hovering just before he reaches Jungkook’s lips, letting the younger push them together.
Maybe this is love.