Work Text:
They get their matching tattoos one-by-one over the summer, after Bangtan announces they're taking a break from group activities.
Although the meaning behind the tattoos is more significant than can be put into words, it's something they all get done casually, when they have the time. They don't make a big deal out of it, beyond the thrill of sharing their new ink in the group chat, sharing it with ARMY (for some of them, at least), and the thrill of now having something as tangibly permanent as their bond feels to each of them.
Yoongi is the last of them to get his 7 tattoo, and Namjoon knows exactly when it happens without really knowing, because he starts to cry.
Namjoon is in his studio, answering emails — one of those monotonous daily tasks that he always puts off until he's finished his coffee — when his vision starts to blur, eyes stinging, and before he knows it, tears are running hot down his cheeks.
"What?" Namjoon asks with a laugh of disbelief, rolling his chair back from his desk. He reaches for a tissue, baffled and already half-assuming it's some kind of allergic reaction, and somehow it's that motion of reaching that makes him realize—
A tremendous weight has been lifted from his shoulders. From his chest.
There's no other way to describe it — Namjoon suddenly, physically and emotionally, feels so much lighter.
"What?" Namjoon repeats, his voice coming out rough.
He isn't taking any kind of new medication that could have suddenly kicked in, and he hasn't just received any very relieving news. But the feeling can't be mistaken for anything else.
It's akin to how he feels when he's out on a hike — that breathless moment of reaching the top of a mountain or the high point of a trail and staring out at the landscape, lush green and rolling hills and a distant city skyline. It's a feeling of insignificance that only brings him comfort, to stand somewhere so tall, so peaceful, so unknown in that moment to the rest of the world below.
It's the peacefulness of being insignificant, but also... the comfort is similar to when he has dinner with Jimin, and the combination of a few drinks and deep conversation leads to Namjoon's head resting in Jimin's lap, Jimin's fingers gently carding through his hair, letting Namjoon forget who he is for a moment. Letting him forget the immense pressure he is always under, the knowledge and responsibility that makes his shoulders tight and his chest heavy day after day.
But that heaviness is light, now. And Namjoon's cheeks are damp with tears as proof of that relief.
He lets out a shaky breath, trying to get back into the right headspace to continue working, but then he's interrupted by a notification on his phone.
It's Yoongi in their group chat showing off a very fresh tattoo on his shoulder — no mystery, then, like the way Taehyung made them guess before he finally shared where his was — and Namjoon lets himself smile, watching Hoseok react first. (Of course.)
A couple of them had already guessed where Yoongi would get his tattoo, but it still warms something in Namjoon's chest to see the others express their support, and know that there's shared respect and admiration for what it means to Yoongi and his journey.
Moments pass with a few more notifications, and Namjoon sends his own message of congratulations too. And yet— even when he has to get back to working, that feeling of a pressure having been lifted from Namjoon's shoulders doesn't change. He goes on with the rest of his day trying not to think too much about it, but the feeling is so...
Fuck. It feels so good.
Even if he's still fully aware of the pressure and responsibility he has as RM, as Bangtan's leader... even with all the things looming in the future, uncertain or changing... he doesn't feel crushed by that weight anymore.
And it feels amazing.
—
A few of the others notice a small change too, right after Yoongi gets his tattoo, although none of them think to make that connection at the time. (Why would they?)
For all of them, it's a sudden relief of pressure being lifted, although as the leader, naturally Namjoon feels that relief the deepest.
There's another change that Jimin ends up feeling more deeply than the others, because of how empathetic he is, always thinking about the well-being of his members and his faith in their bond as a group.
Jimin is at home, making a late lunch (okay, so he's just warming up leftover takeout, but that's basically the same thing as making himself lunch). He's thinking about video-calling Taehyung to keep him company when the feeling hits him.
It's a familiar and soothing warmth that floods his chest — a rushing joy that makes his heart clench for a moment, and then everything inside of him seems to just... settle, leaving the warmth behind.
To Jimin, it feels like love.
Loving someone, and being loved. Not a new feeling, but to experience it so intensely, so suddenly... Jimin is baffled. He laughs a little at himself, smiling brightly when Yoongi's message pops up in the group chat minutes later, but Jimin can't stop thinking about it. It's a good feeling, it really is, but to be so aware of this warmth of love in his chest leaves Jimin wondering,
Why?
—
For Taehyung, the feeling is relief not just from pressure, but also from expectation, from his own self-doubt.
He's been restless lately, he knows, adjusting to this in-between period they're starting as a group. A few of the others have even pointed out how quiet he's been, but Taehyung has just been doing a lot of reflecting. Quietly appreciating what he has, what they have.
But when that warmth floods him, Taehyung can feel it right away — because it's contentment. A stark difference from the restlessness that came with thinking about an uncertain future, and Taehyung leans into the feeling, turning on some music and singing along while he's still in this good mood.
Jimin video-calls him not long after Yoongi has shown them all his tattoo, and it's a different kind of warm relief to see his soulmate's face, that familiar source of comfort. When Jimin asks Taehyung why he keeps smiling, Taehyung simply responds, "Life isn't so bad, huh, Jimin-ah?"
Jimin's returning smile is soft. "Mmm, it isn't. Love you, TaeTae."
"Love you too."
—
For Seokjin, the sudden difference in how he feels is impossible to miss.
Although most of them are now working lighter schedules with more free time, it's always in the back of Seokjin's mind that in a few months it will be rehearsals, various filmings and promotions, and then his enlistment.
He's noticed that the others get this specific look on their faces when the topic of Seokjin's enlistment is brought up — not pitying, exactly, but a weary sense of understanding. It's a scrutiny that they've all had to deal with, although Seokjin has certainly felt that pressure the most, and the others know that too.
When he's caught off-guard by that warm feeling — one he doesn't realize at the time that the others are experiencing too — it fills him with relief, yes, but also the sudden sense of feeling rested without guilt, without the heaviness of those burdens weighing him down.
Seokjin feels it as such genuine happiness, and a deep sense of knowing that everything will be alright, that he laughs out loud, his eyes wet, and mumbles to himself, "Yah, Seokjin-ah, what is this? What's this, huh?"
It's hard for him to believe that the feeling won't fade as quickly as it came. It's not like the numbness of a little too much drinking, or the mindlessness that hours of gaming brings him.
It's the gift of feeling like himself without being compared to others, who he is in the moment as just Kim Seokjin, and knowing that it's enough.
Seokjin wipes his eyes, and then is ready to both congratulate Yoongi and lightly tease him after his message pings in their group chat.
—
For Hoseok, quietly working in his studio at the time, it's an immediate feeling of comfort. Reassurance, support, and even restfulness.
It's a welcome reprieve from the nonstop work that he's been doing for all of the projects related to his album — the planning, the rehearsing, the nagging worries about things going well. Long hours of pushing himself until he's satisfied with the results.
Now, the exhaustion from those long hours feels distant. He rolls his shoulders, humming, waiting for the stress to inevitably return. But it doesn't.
"Ahh, is there some magic in this iced coffee?" he mumbles to himself, sipping at his drink. It's a silly thought, of course, but what other explanation is there? The pressure that Hoseok experiences as a member of a group that has achieved so much, and the pressure that he places on himself to do the best that he's capable of... it's not something that he's ever been able to just shut off.
And it's not exactly the feeling of having shut it off completely, anyway — it's just so much less heavy now, that Hoseok's entire body feels lighter with it.
Yoongi messages them all about his tattoo, and that distraction keeps Hoseok from thinking too deeply about the sudden and strange relief. He's just grateful that the rest of the day passes and still, that settled warmth in his chest remains.
—
For Jungkook, the warm feeling that gives him pause in the middle of the day is a combination of all of those things — relief from pressure, from expectation, from how hard he can be on himself — but what he feels most deeply is a sense of togetherness. With his six hyungs, specifically.
It's never been as simple as just missing them. Together almost every day or not, Jungkook has always felt their love, and felt like he has six people he can turn to if he ever needs them, or simply wants a familiar scent, a familiar laugh to ground him.
So he doesn't resent living alone now and having schedules apart, always sure that nothing will change the love between the seven of them, but this sudden feeling... it's like not being alone at all. Not being physically apart. It's the same comfort, the same gentle warmth in his chest that he has when they are all in the same room together — the joy and the belonging and the fullness in his heart that he looks forward to so dearly.
But... despite the happy flurry of messages in their group chat after Yoongi announces his tattoo, they aren't together, the seven of them. Not right now, not in person. So Jungkook doesn't understand the sudden change in how he feels, and the way it doesn't really fade as the day goes on either. But it doesn't stop him from embracing that comfort, and falling asleep a little easier that night because of it.
—
And as for Yoongi, well—
—
"So how was it? Getting your first tattoo." Namjoon asks, bumping his shoulder very gently into Yoongi's before they both sit down on the couch.
It's their first time meeting up as seven since Yoongi shared his news in their group chat, because they have some videos to film today at the company. Naturally, they all gravitate toward each other the moment that they're in the same building, and now that group schedules aren't as common, they all show up early to see each other, rather than late.
Not that he ever thought things would drastically change, but Namjoon is still relieved at how easy it feels every time they come together. He hopes that it's always this way.
Yoongi hums a little before he finally answers.
"Oh, fine, honestly. It's so small, you know, that once it starts it's over quickly." Yoongi crosses his arms, sucking in a hissing breath between his teeth before he continues, "Ah, it's funny, I had this feeling right after they finished, I'm not sure how to explain it? It was a bit..."
Namjoon freezes at Yoongi's words.
He hasn't been able to forget that day, that first moment of feeling the heavy burden on his shoulders lighten — the freedom of that relief, even knowing that nothing had actually changed about his situation.
How could he forget something like that?
"Oh?" Jungkook speaks up, smirking at Yoongi. "I told you the feeling of getting a tattoo was actually kind of nice."
Yoongi starts smiling too like he can't help it, but he shakes his head, reaching out to give Jungkook's arm a light shove.
"Yahhh, not like that. The pain wasn't bad, but we can't all be masochists like you, huh?"
Jungkook's eyes widen, and then his expression gets a little shy.
"No," Yoongi continues, "the feeling was more of just... peacefulness. Like I was suddenly able to let go of this tension in my shoulders I didn't even realize was there, but the relief of it was so intense, for whatever reason."
Namjoon draws in a sharp breath. He realizes that a couple of the others have gone still too. "Hyung."
"Is that weird?" Yoongi's laugh is short, almost nervous. "The tattoo artist asked if I was going to pass out because I closed my eyes for so long, but the feeling was just so damn nice."
Namjoon swallows, trying to organize his thoughts to explain his own experience, but it's Hoseok who speaks up next.
"That's funny, because I felt something like that too, probably at that same time. Just minutes before you messaged us, hyung."
The room is uncharacteristically quiet. Jungkook's eyes get wide — even wider than before. Seokjin starts looking back and forth between a few of them, lips parted in surprise as he blinks.
Taehyung is the one to finally say, "Isn't it obvious?"
"What?" Namjoon asks, watching Taehyung lean over from his chair, long arms able to reach far enough to tap the 7 tattoo on Namjoon's ankle.
"Yoongi-hyung was the last to get the friendship tattoo. He tied our red strings of fate together when he did."
Jimin laughs, but the sound trails off when he sees that Taehyung is serious. "Ah, that's not really..."
"Red strings already connect you with someone, it's not about tying them together, I don't think," Jungkook mumbles, blinking quickly when Taehyung starts to pout. "I mean, hyung, it's not like... We know there's something special about us, right? But it's not, like. Actual magic."
"Why not?"
"Okay, wait," Namjoon interrupts, his heart beating a little faster as he takes in what the others are saying. "So did we really all feel something that day, similar to what hyung described? At the same time?"
"I guess so," Jimin says. "It did feel like peacefulness a bit, but also like a warmth, inside?"
"Yeah, the warmth," Jungkook agrees softly. "It was nice."
"It's still nice," Seokjin adds in. "The feeling, whatever it is, hasn't gone away for me."
Namjoon nods in agreement, even as he's still struggling to comprehend this.
Taehyung hums, a smile tugging at his lips. "I don't want to say 'I told you so' but—"
"If Taehyung is right," Yoongi says, sitting up straighter, "do you think there's a chance that this bond, whatever it is, whether it's because of our tattoos or not... Ah, it sounds silly to say it out loud, but could it have taken away our worries? Mentally? Obviously we're still Bangtan, but it's like the pressure, the- the responsibility that comes with that, it doesn't feel so heavy and uncertain now."
"Maybe not taken away," Jungkook says in a soft mumble. "Maybe they're all feelings that we just share now, like we're helping each other bear that weight."
"Oh, Jaykay," Hoseok coos. His voice is low and teasing, lips curved up with a smile, but his eyes are almost glassy with unshed tears. Namjoon glances around, and notices that Jimin looks emotional too, rubbing his nose with the back of his wrist.
For a moment, all Namjoon can think is, Why are we even entertaining this? Their bond is real, he has every faith in that truth, but the idea of tattoos connecting them through some kind of unknown magic?
But then... what other explanation is there?
"That feeling," Namjoon murmurs. "Maybe it's a little different for everyone, but for me, it's like a weight lifted off of my shoulders. No one feels more burdened than before, right?"
Everyone shakes their heads.
"Because we're all helping each other share that weight now, like Jungkookie said," Taehyung answers. His grin is wide. "Our connection, it's unbreakable. It's forever, and inking it into our skin just sealed that promise."
"Taehyung-ah," Jimin whines, but Namjoon realizes that it's just because Jimin has started to tear up now. Jungkook's eyes are wide and wet too.
And Namjoon can't help it either — not after seeing the tears in Jungkook's eyes.
"Namjoon-ah," Yoongi says in surprise, when Namjoon covers his face with his hands, tears running down his cheeks. "Ahh, Kim Namjoon." There's so much warmth and understanding in Yoongi's voice, that it only makes Namjoon cry harder.
"Fuck!" Namjoon shouts, and most of them let out startled laughs, even if there's sniffling too. "I hope you're right. I really hope Taehyung is right, and I hope it doesn't go away. The past week has been— goddamn unreal, feeling like I can finally breathe."
"I get it," Seokjin says quietly, and there's a lump in Namjoon's throat, knowing what their hyung especially has gone through, the burdens that he bears as the oldest. "I don't want it to go away either."
Hoseok seems to finally give in, pulling a still-teary Jungkook into his arms for a hug, and Jimin shifts closer on the couch to wrap an arm around Namjoon too, resting his chin on Namjoon's shoulder.
"Hyung," Jimin says softly, but still loud enough for the others to hear, "it really felt heavy for you, didn't it? The pressure."
Namjoon chokes out an ugly sound, half-laugh and half-sob.
Fated soulmates or not, he still has a moment of gratitude that he can be this way with them — exposing the raw, vulnerable parts of himself — and they won't see him any differently for it. Not after what they've all been through together.
"Yeah," Namjoon finally says, nodding at Yoongi in thanks when he's handed a tissue. "It felt really fucking heavy sometimes. And it's not— of course there's still pressure. There has to be, right? But it's not crushing. It's bearable. I'm sure everyone here had something like that." Namjoon looks to Seokjin, whose nose scrunches up briefly, lips pursing like he's trying to hold back his own tears. He nods briefly in acknowledgment, and Namjoon continues,
"And you know— it's never felt like I was on my own, or I didn't have all of you supporting me through the rough parts of being the leader. It's never been like that at all," Namjoon emphasizes, some of the tension he was still holding onto leaving his body when Yoongi reaches over to touch his knee. "But there will always be things we have to face alone—"
"Not completely alone," Yoongi interrupts in a soft voice. "You always have us. But with some burdens, we have to do most of the heavy-lifting ourselves, right? That's just a part of life."
Namjoon nods. Jungkook starts to wipe his nose with his sleeve and Hoseok catches him, gently scolding him because they're still in their filming outfits. It makes them all smile.
"If this was something we could've chosen," Jungkook says, eyes a little swollen and shining brightly with his tears, "this tattoo magic, I- I would've done it in a heartbeat. To help hyungs with their burdens. I really hate it, knowing that any of you are suffering..." Jungkook trails off and covers his face with his hands just as his nose scrunches up with new tears, and Jimin coos like he wants to rush over there to hold him. Hoseok pets through Jungkook's hair, his gaze soft.
Namjoon gets it, he really does — this is something that Jungkook has already shared with them before, but still, Namjoon's chest aches at how pure their maknae's heart is. Even Yoongi calls out a pouty "Jungoo'ah," and Jungkook finally smiles, wiping his eyes again until his tears stop.
"We would all choose it," Taehyung says after a few seconds of quiet save for Jungkook's sniffling. "Wouldn't we? That's why the universe gave us this. We would always sacrifice for the team, for every member. We always have."
"And all we had to do this time is get matching tattoos," Hoseok says with a laugh. "A pretty good trade, eh?"
"Hyung," Jungkook murmurs, turning around in Hoseok's arms to stare pointedly, "don't lie, you were nervous."
"Yahh, not that nervous. I've had doctor appointments worse than that—"
"I love you," Jimin says suddenly, quietly. Everyone turns to look at him. "All of you. It's silly," he continues with a soft smile, "but I felt it even more after hyung got his tattoo. More than the relief, ah, it just felt good the way that us being together always feels good."
"I— I feel the love for all of you too," Jungkook mumbles. "Kind of this warm, safe feeling, I dunno, but it's nice..." Hoseok squeezes him a little tighter after Jungkook trails off.
Namjoon didn't really stop to think about that part of it. And he almost wants to laugh, ah, isn't that too selfish of him? Focusing entirely on the relief from pressure?
But it's true. It's not just a weight lifted from his chest. It's love that's filled the space left behind, too.
"Maybe it's just everything we feel for each other, all at once," Yoongi says. "Sharing the burden, the pain. But the love too. The feeling of not being alone. That comfort, the reassurance of our bond..."
"Wish we had gotten tattoos years ago," Seokjin says dryly, and Jimin laughs. Taehyung takes Seokjin's hand, and none of them are particularly surprised to see Taehyung brush a kiss over Seokjin's knuckles, even if it has Seokjin's ears starting to blush red.
"Maybe it could have only been now, with everything that's going on," Jungkook says. "With everything that will happen, with the- the time we'll spend apart." He sniffles again, but clears his throat and continues, "Maybe, ah, the universe knew we needed this, for those times when we won't be there for each other in person."
Namjoon feels his eyes sting again, and he breathes out shakily, steadying himself as Yoongi gives his knee an encouraging squeeze.
"Yeah. Maybe you're right. We'll probably never know, but... it's good now, isn't it?" Namjoon says, finally letting himself smile, his lips slowly stretching with it and a giddy feeling filling his chest. He ducks his head with a sudden laugh. "It's fucking good."
"Yah, tell us how you really feel," Yoongi teases, but he's smiling too. They all are, now.
"I'm glad it's the seven of us, until the end," Taehyung says with that easy confidence that Namjoon finds infectious — his unwavering faith in the group, in their bond. "I was serious. I- I'd still marry you all if I could."
Jimin bursts into giggles, but even though Taehyung is smiling, he doesn't take the words back.
"Never say never," Seokjin mumbles, playfully raising an eyebrow when Namjoon glances over to him. "What? We're all single. And I'm still holding out for Bangtan Village... Neighbors forever at least, yeah?"
"I would too," Jungkook says suddenly.
"Would what?" Namjoon asks.
"Marry you all." Jungkook isn't making eye contact with any of them, his cheeks and the tip of his nose still pink from crying, but there's a crooked little smirk tugging at his lips too. "Six husbands. Whoa."
Hoseok laughs loudly before he says, "Jungkook-ah, why do I get the feeling your thoughts aren't innocent..."
Jungkook's face scrunches with a bigger smile that wrinkles the corners of his eyes. Seokjin starts laughing too.
"Yah, you can see it on his face. Jungkook-ah, keep those thoughts to yourself."
"I dunno, I'm curious," Yoongi says, crossing his arms and staring over at Jungkook with raised eyebrows. It has Jimin giggling brightly, and Jungkook's eyes widening before they narrow at Yoongi in challenge, and—
Namjoon loves them all so much. He couldn't be more sure of that.
(Even if he's not sure, from the warm flip in his belly, if he's ready to hear Jungkook's less-than-innocent thoughts about the seven of them as legally wedded husbands.)
"Ahh, it's nice," Jimin says after a few seconds, tipping his head to rest on Namjoon's shoulder again. "Being connected to all of you. Almost like I can feel Hoseok-hyung's laughter, you know?"
"Yeah," Jungkook says. "I felt that too." Hoseok kisses his cheek.
"Let's make sure to take care of it, this bond we have. You know," Namjoon continues, "to keep communicating, to keep helping each other. We shouldn't assume that it'll always be this easy."
"I get that," Yoongi says while a few of the others nod. "And I agree, we've always worked hard on this, haven't we? Arguing and making up, putting our egos aside to see things eye-to-eye... You're all closer than family to me. But I think, too, that as long as it's us, it will be easy."
"Because we love each other," Taehyung says. "Easy to support each other..."
"Easy to come back together," Hoseok chimes in. "Easy to talk to you guys, to laugh and cry with you. We're already soulmates, aren't we? With or without the, ah, special tattoo magic."
"Mates," Namjoon echoes, finally sliding an arm around Jimin, rubbing slowly over his back. Jimin sighs, leaning into the touch, and across the room, Namjoon makes eye contact with Seokjin.
He can't be sure, but now that he really looks, he thinks Seokjin looks lighter today, as if their individual burdens were physically weighing them down before. Namjoon wonders if he looks lighter as well.
"Seven mates? What else could we be, huh?"
"Husbands, if you would accept my proposal already..." Taehyung mutters under his breath, and both Jimin and Hoseok start laughing again. Even Jungkook's leg starts to bob in excitement, his nose scrunching when Seokjin goes off on a joking tangent, "Yah, you're not even going to bring a ring and you expect me to accept? You think Kim Seokjin is that easy??"
The playful shouting and laughing continues, and Namjoon glances down when he feels a touch on his hand, only to find Yoongi's fingers intertwining with his. They both lift their heads to share a brief look — soft smiles, maybe a little shy with the weight of the emotions still swimming in Namjoon's chest — and it's Jungkook who mumbles, "Look, Namjoon-hyung and Yoongi-hyung have already started."
Namjoon says nothing, although he arches one eyebrow at Jungkook just to watch him squirm a little. Yoongi draws in a sharp hiss of a breath and says, "Who needs a ring to prove their commitment when I have it in ink on my skin now, huh?"
They're all still smiling a little softer than usual when a manager finally finds them and staff start filing into the room as well, but—
Namjoon doesn't let go of Yoongi's hand until he has to.