Archive of Our Own

Yoongi didn’t think anything of it the first time it happened. 

He had only been working at the cafe for a couple of weeks. He just recently moved to Seoul, hoping to get into the music business after he graduated from a university in his hometown of Daegu a few years ago. There, he studied music and performed in the underground rap scene, but he felt like he could gain more experience elsewhere. He knew that Seoul had an incredible music scene. Luckily, he was able to find a studio apartment big enough for him to build his own mini studio until he had enough money to rent a space.

Yoongi was looking forward to the change the move would bring. 

He came across the help wanted sign in the coffee shop window one day as he was walking down the street. He needed the money, so he walked in and got hired on the spot.

Jimin and Yoongi were working at the bar. Jimin was instructing Yoongi how to go over making latte art again, when they heard the bell above the cafe entrance ring, alerting them of a customer. Jimin glanced towards the customer and paled slightly.

“I-I gotta go get some supplies!” He said hurriedly as he dashed through the door leading to the kitchen. Yoongi watched him leave, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion, wondering what other supplies his co-worker needed. He just refilled everything this morning after clocking in and it wasn’t even time for the lunch rush yet.

Yoongi turned back to the customer and was going to greet them, but no words came out. This was the most gorgeous man he’d ever seen! The man stood slightly taller than Yoongi and had an aura of confidence around him. His hair was a dark shade of brown, parted to one side; he was wearing a nice black business suit and tie. Was he working at one of the office buildings down the street?

“I’d like to order please,” the customer said, interrupting Yoongi’s thoughts. Yoongi felt his face heat up from the other man’s intense gaze.

“R-right, I’m so sorry, sir. What can I get you today?” Yoongi asked him, looking down at his computer screen. He felt embarrassed that he was caught staring at the customer, but also proud of himself that he was able to ask him his order without completely messing it up.

“Oh cute,” Yoongi heard the man say. Shyly, he glanced at the customer once more. He wished he joined Jimin in the kitchen, so he could hide away forever. Why was Jimin taking so long? The man was smiling at him sweetly and his eyes brightened with amusement. Yoongi’s brain malfunctioned and missed hearing what the customer said.

“Sorry, can you repeat that?” Yoongi asked.

“I’ll have an iced americano, please,” The man repeated as Yoongi wrote it down on a cup. This man has good taste in coffee, Yoongi thinks to himself. “Thank you!”

“It’ll be ready for you in a few minutes,” Yoongi said, mortified. His face felt like it was on fire with embarrassment.

“No worries, I can wait as long as I need if it means being here with you.” The customer smiled at him and Yoongi felt flustered. Was he flirting with him? 

Then Yoongi remembered, “c-can I get your name?”

“On a first name basis already?” The man smirked at him. Could Yoongi’s face get any more red? “Just kidding, Yoongi-ssi. My name’s Hoseok.” How did the man-Hoseok-know his name? Oh right, he was wearing a nametag. Get it together Yoongi , he thought to himself. 

Luckily Yoongi was able to make his drink without any issue, even when he felt a gaze on him at all times. He called Hoseok’s name and handed him his order. Hoseok took it with a smile. He started towards the door, but turned around and headed to the register again.

“Is something wrong?” Yoongi asked. He was worried that he somehow messed up this cute guy’s order. He wasn’t going to come back and Yoongi would never see him again. He would complain to Jimin about Yoongi’s service and then somehow Seokjin would find out and fire him. 

“I forgot something,” Hoseok said, taking out his wallet. Yoongi let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. He looked at the customer curiously, who added, “for being such a hard-worker, Yoongi-ssi. I’ll see you later.” He placed some money in the tip jar, smiled at Yoongi again, then walked out the door. 

As soon as he was gone, Jimin came out of the kitchen. He didn’t have any boxes of cups or straws, or anything , Yoongi noticed. 

“Yoongi! Are you okay?!” Jimin asked him with a concerned expression etched on his face.

“I’m fine? Why wouldn’t I be?” He asked, tilting his head in confusion. “What is up with you?” 

“Oh nothing,” Jimin waved a hand away. “Don’t worry, Yoongi hyung.” Yoongi didn’t believe him, but he let it slide for now. He looked into the tip jar and his eyes widened. 

Hoseok had left a big tip.

For the rest of his shift, he couldn’t stop thinking about Hoseok and his sweet smile. He also couldn’t get over how kind and generous this man was. He hoped he would see him again soon so he could thank him. 

—

Taehyung was working with Yoongi the second time he saw Hoseok come in.

“I’m really missing my Tannie,” Taehyung said, cleaning one of the coffee makers.

Yoongi knew how he felt as he was missing his dog a lot, too. Holly was currently staying with his parents while he was still settling in. Unfortunately, his current place had a no pets policy. It also happened to be the only apartment in his price range at the time. He was currently saving up to move into a place where he could have Holly with him full-time. 

“What kind of dog is Yeontan again?” Yoongi asked, his back facing the café entrance.

“He’s a pomeranian. He’s such a cute little guy.” Taehyung stopped cleaning to pull out his phone and showed Yoongi a photo. Taehyung was right, Yeontan was cute. 

Yoongi took out his phone too and showed Taehyung a picture of Holly. “Here’s my child.”

“How cute!” Taehyung said and they both smiled at the photo.

“You’re dog lovers as well?” a familiar voice asked. Yoongi quickly turned around and saw Hoseok standing at the register.

Taehyung let out a little yelp and his eyes widened. “I left cookies in the oven!” He hurried into the kitchen in a blink of an eye. Yoongi didn’t remember Taehyung putting any cookies in earlier that day. He shook his head in confusion before turning his attention towards the gorgeous costumer.

“Yeah, his name is Holly,” Yoongi said, smiling at Hoseok. He was glad to see him again. “He makes me feel warm inside.” That was probably too much information , Yoongi scolded himself.

“That’s so adorable,” Hoseok said and flashed that sweet smile which made Yoongi’s knees feel weak. “I hope I get the chance to meet him someday.” 

He hoped that Hoseok had a chance to meet Holly too. Is that too sudden? “Do you have a dog, Hoseok-ssi?” Yoongi asked curiously with a tilt of his head.

Before he could answer, they heard someone clear their throat behind him. Another customer had come in, and he was glaring at both of them, tapping his foot impatiently.

Hoseok paid him no mind as he continued the conversation. “Yeah, his name is Mickey.” 

“Can you please hurry up and order?” The man demanded. “No one cares about your damn dogs. I have places to be.” Yoongi saw Hoseok’s face harden as he turned around slowly to look at the other customer. He looked the man up and down, like he was sizing him up. Yoongi couldn’t see the expression on Hoseok’s face, but the other man started to get pale. 

“Then you should have better time management,” Hoseok muttered. The other man said nothing. Hoseok turned to face Yoongi again and his expression softened. “I’ll have two iced americanos, please.”

“I’ll get those ready in a few minutes,” Yoongi said, writing the orders on the cups and setting them down on the counter.

“Take your time, cutie,” Hoseok told him and winked, which made Yoongi’s heart flutter. Hoseok walked towards the end of the counter to wait for the drinks.

Yoongi felt flustered as he took the next customer’s order, who was still annoyed that he had to wait. He was very short with Yoongi and practically threw the bills on the counter in anger. He took a deep breath before handing the change to the customer. He quickly moved to the bar to start making the drinks. He could feel the man’s intense gaze while Yoongi prepared Hoseok’s order. It made Yoongi nervous and afraid to mess anything up.

“Here you go, Hoseok-ssi,” Yoongi said as he handed him his order. Hoseok thanked him and sat down at one of the tables closest to the counter. Yoongi wondered if he was waiting for someone. 

“Hurry up!” The rude customer shouted, which made Yoongi jump slightly. He turned his attention back towards the man who was looking at him with a scowl on his face. “I’m already late and it’s your fault. Why are you so slow? Don’t you know how to do your job?” Yoongi felt his eyes tear up. He quickly looked down, hoping that the customer couldn’t see it. He took a deep breath and sped up his pace to make that man’s drink. 

Yoongi handed him the order and the man left without another word. He sighed and started to clean the counter to distract him from his emotions. At least there was no one else in line. He did not want to cry at work, let alone have Hoseok see him.

Speaking of the gorgeous man, he grabbed one of the iced drinks and handed it to Yoongi. 

“I bought this for you,” he said kindly. “Don’t let that asshole get to you. I’ll take care of it if he comes back here again.” Yoongi felt tears well up in his eyes again because of how thoughtful Hoseok was. He blinked them back quickly, hoping he didn’t notice.

“Thank you,” Yoongi said shyly. Hoseok smiled at him, showing his cute dimples. He took out his wallet and placed some more bills in the tip jar. 

“For being professional dealing with that rude customer,” Hoseok murmered. He took out even more bills, which made Yoongi’s eyes widen with shock, adding, “ and for being a cutie.” Yoongi felt his face heat up again.

“Thank you,” Yoongi repeated. Hoseok winked at him and Yoongi felt his knees go weak.

“See you soon, cutie.” With that, Hoseok left the cafe with a quick wave and a smile on his face.

A minute later, Taehyung appeared around the corner. “Is he gone?” 

“Who?” Yoongi asked.

“The one talking about his dog.” 

“Hoseok?” Yoongi asked, tilting his head in confusion. “He just left, why?”

“No reason,” Taehyung replied, coming out of the kitchen, with a skip in his step. “You okay?”

“I’m fine,” Yoongi said, still puzzled. “How did the cookies turn out?”

“What cookies?” Taehyung furrowed his eyebrows and tilted his head, mirroring Yoongi’s confusion. Yoongi shook his head at him and went to take his first break. 

“Be careful, Yoongi,” Taehyung said so quietly that he almost didn’t hear him.

Yoongi was more confused than ever. 

What just happened?

–

The next time Yoongi came to work, it was during the lunch rush. Taehyung was working the register, while Jimin was making the drinks. Taehyung greeted him as Yoongi immediately helped Jimin at the bar. There were five people waiting, plus more in line.

“How are you doing today, Yoongi hyung?” Jimin asked.

“I’m doing well, Jimin-ah,” Yoongi answered. “How are you?”

“It’s been a crazy morning already, hyung. I’m tired,” Jimin answered honestly. Jimin did look tired. He wasn’t as energetic as he usually was. “Once this rush ends, I’m going to take my lunch.” 

“Sounds good.” 

They worked quietly and steadily preparing drinks for their customers. Like Jimin said, once the rush ended, he went back into the kitchen. 

“Taehyung-ah,” Taehyung turned to face Yoongi. Shyly, Yoongi asked, “has Hoseok come in yet today?” Yoongi hoped he hadn’t missed him. He really wanted to see him again. 

Yoongi thought he saw a flicker of fear appear in Taehyung’s eyes, but it disappeared quickly. “No, I haven’t seen him.”

Yoongi nodded, feeling a little hopeful. Maybe he will see him this shift. The last couple times, he showed up before the lunch hour. He wondered if something happened that would cause him to arrive later. He didn’t want to miss seeing Hoseok’s handsome face.

Both Taehyung and Jimin left at four when their shifts ended. Since Yoongi was still new, they didn’t want him to close by himself, so Namjoon was coming in to assist. Yoongi was looking forward to it as he was closest with Namjoon. They worked together on his first day and discovered that they had a lot in common, since they both liked rap music and performing. Like Yoongi, Namjoon wanted to become more popular.

Yoongi’s mind switched back to Hoseok. He wondered if Namjoon had seen Hoseok before. He still couldn’t figure out what Jimin and Taehyung’s deal was about him. If it happens again, he decided that he was going to bring it up with one of them. He didn’t understand why they react the way that they do. He was a caring person and thoughtful and respectful towards Yoongi. Hoseok comforted him after dealing with the rude customer a couple days before. Maybe it was just a coincidence and Yoongi was overthinking everything. 

It wasn’t one of the busiest nights at the cafe, but relatively calm. Yoongi was grateful to be able to catch up with Namjoon. They had both been busy with other projects, so they didn’t talk to each other much these last few days.

And there was still no sign of Hoseok.

“How are you liking it here so far?” Namjoon asked him, after a customer had left. 

“It’s good. I’m really enjoying it here. I like working with Taehyung and Jimin, even though sometimes they get on my nerves. But you can’t help but love them, you know?” 

“Yeah, I understand,” Namjoon replied. “They have a lot of energy, those two.” 

“Especially when they have the same shift.”

“Seokjin tries to schedule them so they don’t because of how chaotic they are.” Yoongi could believe it.

“When it was slow this afternoon, they broke out into a random acting scene and they were using straws as swords,” Yoongi told him. Yoongi may have joined in towards the end, striking the final blow to Taehyung. After which, Jimin dramatically dropped his sword to rush towards Taehyung, holding him in his arms as he weeped. But Namjoon didn’t need to know that part.

It was a few minutes until closing time now. Yoongi started preparing the cafe for closing. They had to make sure that everything was restocked and sparkly and shiny and clean for when Seokjin comes to open the next morning. He was very particular about how the cafe looked. He was the owner after all.

Yoongi sighed, looking at the entrance, disappointed. He didn’t see Hoseok today. He wondered if he was okay. He wished that he had his number at least, so he was able to check up on him. 

Namjoon was just about ready to close the register when the entry bell rang. Yoongi glanced at the entrance again and he felt his lips curl into a smile. 

There he was.

Hoseok looked more tired today than the last couple times he saw him. He was dressed more casually, forgoing the business attire. But he still looked beautiful to Yoongi. Yoongi noticed that his expression lit up a little when they made eye contact with each other.

“I’m going to finish cleaning up in the kitchen,” Namjoon said and left, so it was only Yoongi and Hoseok. 

“Sorry I came so late today,” Hoseok said, walking towards the register. He gave Yoongi another one of his pretty smiles, dimples showing and all. “Are you closed already?”

“No, you’ll be our last customer,” Yoongi replied. “Give me one second. I need to switch the sign on our door.”

“I would give you all the time in the world.” Normally Yoongi would think that it was cheesy and he would roll his eyes, but it came from Hoseok. He made him feel special and warm inside. It also made him feel flustered and shy. He felt all tingly in his belly.

But in a good way.

“What would you like today?” Yoongi asked, pen ready to write on the cup.

“What’s special here, besides you?” Hoseok smirked at Yoongi like he knew how that was going to affect him. Yoongi felt his whole body heat up from head to toe. He was worried Hoseok would hear how loud his heart was beating. 

“Um well,” Yoongi sputtered out. He was so flustered it was hard to form any thoughts.

“I’ll take an iced americano again please,” Hoseok’s smirk turned into a small smile. He must have decided to go easy on poor Yoongi. “Do you want anything?”

“Oh no Hoseok-ssi,” Yoongi responded. “It’s okay, you don’t need to get me anything.”

“Oh well, that’s okay,” Hoseok handed over his card to pay. “Maybe next time then.” Yoongi smiled at that. Hoseok still wanted to see him! “I will give you this though.” He pulled out more bills from his wallet and dropped them into the tip jar. 

No that’s too much, Yoongi wanted to say, but after seeing his dimple smile he just bowed graciously and thanked him for his generosity.

“It’s because you’re so cute.” Yoongi almost dropped the cup he was holding but caught it in time. He could see Hoseok chuckling in amusement.

He handed Hoseok his drink and their hands touched slightly. They both glanced into each other’s eyes, but quickly looked away. Yoongi swore Hoseok turned a bit pink when their eyes met that time.

“Since it’s so late, I don’t want to keep you both here any longer than you need to. I’ll see you next time, Yoongi. Have a safe trip home.” They both waved at each other as Hoseok opened the door to leave. Yoongi sighed happily, resting his head on his hand as he watched Hoseok turn the corner. Then he disappeared into the night.

Yoongi felt a nudge on his arm. Namjoon came out of the kitchen to finish closing out the register.

“What was that, hyung?” Namjoon asked. He seemed conflicted about something and had a slightly worried tone to his voice.

“What was what?” Yoongi asked, feigning innocence.

“With that guy who just left.”

“That’s Hoseok,” he replied, “and it was nothing.” He felt his face flush a little, thinking about their latest exchange.

“But you want it to be something,” Namjoon pointed out. He was able to read Yoongi like a book.

“Maybe,” he replied, hiding his face in his hands. “He’s just so sweet and nice. I like the way he makes me feel.”

“I’m happy for you hyung,” Namjoon said honestly, but then his tone got a little more serious. “But please be careful.”

Why was everyone telling him that?

-

When Yoongi clocked into his shift one morning, Jungkook was there cleaning one of the coffee machines. They weren’t busy with only one customer sitting at a table, typing on his laptop. 

Yoongi felt dead on his feet. It was hard falling asleep the night before because he was starting to catch a cold. He was up late coughing with a stuffy nose. He woke up with a cough, but he couldn’t afford to stay home today. He had to go to work. He made sure to put more than one mask in his pockets, just in case. 

Since he couldn’t sleep, he was plagued with thoughts about Hoseok. The gorgeous customer is such a mystery to him. Yoongi didn’t know much about him except for the fact that he owned a dog named Mickey. He would like to get to know Hoseok better and to know why his co-workers would always hide in the kitchen whenever he came in. It was so odd to him as Hoseok is such a nice person.

“Good morning, Yoongi hyung!” Jungkook said cheerfully. When he saw Yoongi, his cheerful smile turned into a look of worry. “Hyung, are you okay?”

“Hyung’s fine, Jungkook-ah. I just need some caffeine.” Jungkook winced at the sound of Yoongi’s voice. It sounded rougher than usual, even in his own ears.

“I can handle that, cutie.” The voice alone made Yoongi perk up slightly. There was only one customer who called him that nickname with such a voice.

Hoseok is standing at the register, waiting patiently for Yoongi to take his order. He also had a concerned expression written on his face.

Yoongi saw Jungkook’s eyes widen like a deer caught in headlights and let out a squeak. “The cookies!” He called out and headed to the kitchen in record speed. Yoongi sighed in defeat as he knew that there were no cookies to be seen back there. It happened again , he thought to himself.

“Cutie, are you feeling okay?” Hoseok’s voice drew him out of his thoughts.

Yoongi blushed at the soft expression on his face. “I’m fine, Hoseok-ssi. Just feeling a bit tired today.” He could tell that Hoseok didn’t look convinced, but didn’t say anything else. “What would you like?”

“I would like to take you out on a date.” Yoongi’s entire body felt on fire. Hoseok said that so confidently and effortlessly, it made Yoongi flustered. “And two iced americanos, please.” Hoseok winked at him.

“I would like that too, Hoseok-ssi,” Yoongi says quietly, ringing up his order. Hoseok’s face lit up and he smiled brightly, showing off his heart-shaped smile. He took out another huge wad of bills to put in the tip jar.

“For being such a hard worker even when you’re sick,” Hoseok said and gave him a tiny smile, showing off his dimples. Yoongi thanked him politely, grateful for the large tip. He gave Hoseok his receipt and moved to make the two drinks. 

He glanced at the other man when he poured the first drink and saw that he was staring at his phone with a frown on his face before furiously typing something. I wonder what that’s about , he thought. 

When he finished with both drinks, he set them on the counter. Hoseok took one, leaving the other for Yoongi, and smiled sadly at him. “I’m really sorry, cutie. I’d love to stay and chat with you today, but unfortunately something came up at work and I have to get going.” Yoongi’s bottom lip curled up in a small frown. He was disappointed as he wanted to finally join Hoseok at his table instead of admiring him from afar before he had to leave. “Before I go,” Hoseok added, taking out his phone and unlocking it, “I really do want to go on a date with you. Can we exchange numbers?”

Yoongi’s frown turned into a small smile as he nodded. He took Hoseok’s phone and blushed when their fingers brushed against one another. He entered his number, then handed the device back to the owner. The gorgeous man smiled as he sent a quick text. Yoongi felt his phone vibrate in his back pocket.

“Expect a text from me tonight,” Hoseok said and winked at him, which made Yoongi blush. He was glad that he had a face mask on today. “I hope you feel better soon, cutie.” Yoongi smiled and waved as Hoseok walked out the door.

As soon as he left, like clockwork, Jungkook appeared from the kitchen. “What was that, hyung?” 

“Hyung is going on a date,” Yoongi replied and fished his phone out from his pocket to open the text. He grinned even wider as the man sent him three sunshine emojis and a kissing face emoji. Hoseok was so cute!

“Not with him,” Jungkook said disbelievingly. Yoongi’s eyes furrowed into a look of confusion. What was the younger man’s problem?

“Yes with him. He asked and I said yes.”

“Hyung, do you know who he is?”

“Yes, his name is Hoseok,” Yoongi answered, leaning his elbow on top of the counter, resting his head on his hand.

“Hyung-”

“Jungkook-ah, hyung will be careful.” Yoongi had a feeling that Jungkook was going to tell him that, so he beat him to it. He took a sip of his drink Hoseok bought for him.

Jungkook sighed and dropped the subject. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”

“Why do you ask?” 

“You’re falling asleep drinking your coffee,” Jungkook pointed out. Yoongi didn’t even realize that he was drifting off. He felt so tired and the coffee wasn’t kicking in. “Please, just go home.”

“Jungkook-ah-”

“No, I won’t hear it. I can ask Namjoon hyung or Seokjin hyung if they could come in. You can take the tip that Hoseok-ssi left with you. Please go home and get some rest.” Yoongi sighed, but did as he was told. He didn’t take the whole tip, leaving half for Jungkook. He clocked out and started his trek home.

While he was walking home, he saw a black SUV with tinted windows slow down to match his walking speed. Yoongi grew weary of the vehicle and his heart started to pound loudly in his chest. The window rolled down as the car pulled over to the curb and Yoongi peered inside. 

He felt his body relax a little when he caught a glimpse of the driver.

“Fancy seeing you here, cutie,” Hoseok said with a smirk on his face. “Are you off already?”

“Jungkook sent me home,” he answered, moving closer to the car. “What are you doing here?” He eyed the other man curiously and tilted his head slightly.

“I was returning from an errand I needed to take care of before heading back to work,” Hoseok told him. Yoongi glanced at Hoseok’s hand resting on the top of the steering wheel and he noticed a bandage that wasn’t there earlier. He was curious about the injury, but felt too shy to ask him about it. “Please let me take you home. I want to make sure you get home safely,” he said softly.

“What about work?” Yoongi asked, confused. He appreciated the kind offer from the gorgeous man, but he didn’t want to make him late or inconvenience him in some way, getting him into trouble. 

“Don’t worry about it,” Hoseok said easily with a wave of his hand. “I’m the boss. They can’t get rid of me that easily.” He laughed.

Yoongi felt better after hearing that. Against his better judgment, he opened the door to the passenger seat and slid inside.

“Thank you for the ride, Hoseok-ssi,” Yoongi said politely. He buckled his seatbelt before breaking out into a coughing fit. He felt Hoseok’s hand rub his upper back in a gentle circle. Yoongi shivered lightly at the touch.

“It’s no problem, cutie,” Hoseok said and smiled at him quickly before looking at the road again. “Where do you live?” Yoongi told him his address and Hoseok nodded.

Yoongi relaxed into the seat as the vehicle pulled away from the curb. The movement of the car made him feel more tired and he felt himself drifting off. He felt a gentle shake on his shoulder. He opened his eyes slightly, his vision still a bit blurry from sleep. Hoseok was smiling softly at him. 

“We’re here,” he said quietly. Yooni turned to glance out the window and noticed that they were parked outside of his apartment.

“Thank you again for the ride,” Yoongi said, getting out of the car. 

“It’s my pleasure,” Hosek replied sincerely. Yoongi bowed politely from the sidewalk. “I’ll text you later, okay?” The barista nodded and said a quick goodbye. He could feel eyes on him as he walked towards his building. Then he heard the tires squeal away as he opened the door. It was nice that Hoseok waited for Yoongi to enter before driving off.

-

After that day Hoseok gave Yoongi his number, they have been texting almost non-stop. There were periods where Hoseok would be busy, but he always made up for it by calling when Yoongi would be getting ready for bed. Yoongi found out that Hoseok was younger than him and they decided to speak more casually with each other. They talked about their interests bonded over their love of rap and hip hop music. They discussed their favorite movies and tv shows, too. They would also swap stories about their days before saying goodbye. Talking to Hoseok easily became Yoongi’s favorite part of the day as he was always looking forward to it.

When the topic of going out on a date came up, Hoseok told him that he still wanted to take him out, but work was keeping him busier than usual. Yoongi was a bit disappointed that they haven’t gone out yet, but he understood. He was almost glad too, as he was able to get to know Hoseok more and it made his feelings for the man more clear.

There was still a mystery to be solved though, and that was to figure out the reason why his co-workers act the way they do around Hoseok. He played it off as a coincidence at first because he didn’t realize what was happening, but after observing all of them, he noticed a pattern. Whenever Hoseok came into the coffee shop, they all went into the kitchen with random excuses and they were always telling him to be careful.

Yoongi was always careful. 

He didn’t understand what the big deal about Hoseok was and he was getting tired of it.

Why were all of his co-workers scared of him?

Yoongi was lost in thought thinking about this dilema and didn’t realize the bell above the shop’s door rang. A familiar voice pulled him back into the present. 

Speaking of the devil.

“Hi cutie,” Hoseok said, smiling his pretty heart-shaped smile at him. Yoongi blushed and smiled back. Even though they talked often, just seeing Hoseok in person made Yoongi weak in the knees. He couldn’t help it; Hoseok just had that effect on him.

He was wearing a similar suit as the first time they met, but he had dark shades on, shielding his eyes from the sun. He lowered his sunglasses so they were resting on the bridge of his nose. Yoongi couldn’t get over how pretty Hoseok’s eyes were. 

“What can I get you today, Hoseok-ah?” Yoongi asked. He had the cup ready and his pen in hand ready to write down his order.

“Our usual,” Hoseok smirked, making Yoongi blush again. After Hoseok paid, Yoongi got started to work on their iced americanos.

Instead of waiting at the counter for the drinks, Hoseok immediately went to find a table to sit at. Yoongi smiled as he watched Hoseok typing on his phone. He couldn’t wait to join him in a few minutes, which became their new routine whenever the other man was able to stay.

When Yoongi finished making his first drink, he noticed Seokjin come out from the kitchen out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head to look at the owner and tilted his head in confusion when Seokjin beckoned to him.

He obediently followed him into the kitchen.

“What’s wrong, hyung?” Yoongi asked.

“Yoongi-ah, do you know who that man is?” Seokjin countered, peeking around the corner. Yoongi looked around the cafè to see who he was referring to, but Hoseok was their only customer.

“Like I told Jungkook before,” Yoongi said with a hint of annoyance, “his name is Hoseok.” 

“You’re on a first name basis with him?” Seokjin asked sharply. 

“He asked me out on a date, hyung.” 

“What did you say?”

“Have you seen him? Of course I said yes!” Yoongi’s voice rose. “Why does it matter?”

“You’re a fool, Min Yoongi.”

“No, you will tell me what everyone has kept hiding from me all this time! I am tired of the secrecy!”

“You mean he hasn’t told you?” Seokjin looked at Yoongi in disbelief. What the fuck was Seokjin on about? Yoongi stared at him and then Seokjin’s voice was quieter when he said, “Yoongi, Hoseok is involved in the mafia. His full name is Jung Hoseok.”

Yoongi’s eyes widened. That wasn’t true, was it? He assumed that Hoseok was a businessman, since he always wore a suit. He owned an expensive-looking vehicle with tinted windows. He would tell him about the business partners he worked with. He left large wads of cash… oh .

Seokjin was right; Yoongi was a fool.

Jung Hoseok wasn’t just involved in the mafia. He was a mafia boss . He was the leader of the Jung clan which was very well-known in several cities in Korea. There had been tales of how he could make men disappear with just a snap of his fingers. He was deemed one of the most dangerous men in the country due to all of the connections he has everywhere.  

Yoongi let out a breath and sat down on one of the chairs in their break room. Seokjin looked at him with a pitying expression on his face.

“I’m sorry to be the one to tell you,” Seokjin said and patted Yoongi’s shoulder gently. “You deserved to know what you were getting yourself into.”

Yoongi nodded, but said nothing else. He was just in shock. The Jung Hoseok he heard stories about was nothing like the Jung Hoseok he had been talking to the last couple of weeks. That Jung Hoseok was thoughtful, driving him home when he was sick so he didn’t have to walk. Standing up to a rude customer because Yoongi apparently wasn’t making his drink fast enough. He started to buy a drink for Yoongi as an extra treat as well. That Jung Hoseok was someone special to Yoongi. 

He got up from his chair and moved to peek out the door. Hoseok was still the only customer and he had a concerned expression on his face as he looked towards the bar. They accidentally locked eyes and Yoongi tore away after a second. He felt his heart begin to beat faster in his chest.

“Do you want to go home?” Seokjin asked. Yoongi shook his head. No, he didn’t want to go home. He needed to think, he needed to talk to Hoseok.

“I just need a moment,” Yoongi said. The owner nodded and stepped out of the kitchen. He could hear Seokjin and Hoseok talking, but it was muffled, so he couldn’t understand what they were saying.

As he went to sit down again, he had another thought. Mafia boss Hoseok was still the same Hoseok he had been talking to, right? He just learned something new about him, that was all. He could still be the same thoughtful and caring Hoseok , Yoongi concluded. He felt bad for judging the man after finding out about who he really was. 

But he really needed to talk to him.

He took a deep breath before pushing the kitchen door open. Seokjin was at the register ringing up a different customer. He gave him a tiny smile before handing him a note. Yoongi looked to where Hoseok was sitting but he wasn’t there anymore. Disappointment seeped into his bones.

Hoseok left.

Yoongi frowned, looking down at the note.

Hey cutie,

I think we need to talk about something important before we go on our first date. I will be back before the coffee shop closes tonight. If you’re there, we can talk. If not, there will be no hard feelings. I understand.

I hope to see you tonight :)

Hoseok

Yoongi’s frown grew into a smile as he read the note. He was grinning at the drawing of a smiling face Hoseok drew on the napkin. He glanced at his watch. It was only noon, so there was plenty of time before the shop closed. It would give Yoongi time to think about his next move. 

He had one hour to go before he clocks out for the day. He continued to make drinks for other patrons and wiped down tables for the rest of his shift. The last hour ticked by slowly, but he was finally able to clock out. He said goodbye to Seokjin before leaving the shop.

It seemed like millions of thoughts were racing through his mind as he walked home, but when he arrived at his apartment, he made his decision.

-

As closing time approached, Yoongi took a deep breath before he opened the door to the coffee shop. He walked in and surveyed the cafè, but the other man hadn’t arrived yet. Hardly anyone comes in before closing time, so Yoongi was the only customer. He went up to the counter where Namjoon and Jungkook were talking. They greeted Yoongi happily and took his order of two iced americanos. 

“What are you doing here tonight, hyung?” Jungkook asked while he was making one of the drinks. Namjoon was making the other one. 

“I’m meeting Hoseok-ah,” Yoongi told him, leaning up against the counter. Jungkook gasped, almost spilling the drink.

“For your date?” Jungkook asked as he placed the finished drink in front of Yoongi. 

“No,” Yoongi said. “We need to talk about some things beforehand.” He glanced down at his watch and sighed, “he said he would be here.” He hoped he didn’t read the note wrong and misunderstood the meeting time.

“Here’s hoping,” Namjoon replied, giving Yoongi the second drink. “Fighting, hyung.” Yoongi smiled in thanks and sat down at the table where Hoseok had been sitting earlier.

Five minutes to go , Yoongi thought to himself. He wondered if he was going to show up, like he said he would. He stared down at the clock on his phone and watched the time move slowly.

Just as he was about to give up hope, he heard the familiar jingle of the bell. Yoongi looked towards the door and saw Hoseok standing in the entryway. 

He was dressed more casually again, but still somehow expensive-looking. He wore baggy jeans with holes in the knees, a large black shirt with the front tucked in, and a long tan coat that went down to his knees. And this time, he was wearing black-framed glasses, which made Yoongi speechless as he had never seen him wear anything but sunglasses.

Hoseok was still as gorgeous as ever. 

And what made it worse was when they locked eye contact, Hoseok gave Yoongi a huge grin, showing off his heart-shaped smile and dimples. His entire face lit up when he saw Yoongi, which made him feel hopeful.

“Hey cutie,” Hoseok said confidently, “May I sit?” He gestured towards the seat across from Yoongi. He nodded and Hoseok sat down.

“Here’s a drink for you,” Yoongi said shyly, handing Hoseok the cup. “I assumed this was what you wanted.”

“Thank you, cutie,” Hoseok said, flashing him a tiny smile, “and not just for the coffee.” He let out a sigh before continuing, “I know you know who I am. I want to apologize for not telling you sooner.” Yoongi listened intently to the man sitting across from him. “I know it wasn’t right keeping my identity and my job from you, but I was doing it as a way to protect you and maybe…for a more selfish reason as well,” There was a slight pause before he added, “I really like you, Yoongi hyung, and I didn’t want anything to change between us.”

Yoongi’s heart pounded loudly in his ears as he mentally repeated what he heard. He looked down at his drink so Hoseok couldn’t see how red his face was. “I like you too, Hoseok-ah.” He heard a squeal from across the table and shyly glanced up at Hoseok, who had a large grin on his face.

“Even after…?” Hoseok trailed off and Yoongi nodded. He gave a small smile in return.

“I did some thinking,” Yoongi began, “and you’re still the same Hoseok to me and I would really like to go on that date with you.”

Hoseok jumped up from his seat and pulled Yoongi out of his chair too, and into a tight hug.

“I’m so happy to hear that!” Hoseok exclaimed. He let go to look into Yoongi’s eyes. He has really pretty eyes , Yoongi thought to himself. “I was worried all the way here thinking that you wouldn’t come.”

“I’m here,” Yoongi said, cupping one of Hoseok’s cheeks with his hand. “I want to give us a chance.”

“I want that too,” Hoseok said and placed a hand over Yoongi’s own. 

They both smiled softly at each other and Hoseok began to lean in until they heard a voice shout, “hey, Hoseok-ssi!” Yoongi swore that it was Seokjin’s voice, but he left hours ago. 

They broke apart suddenly at the sound, increasing the space between them. Yoongi’s heart was racing. He looked towards where the voice came from and saw Namjoon standing behind the counter, holding his phone, pointing at them, with Seokjin on FaceTime. Yoongi’s face was flushed with embarrassment. 

“Hoseok-ssi,” Seokjin repeated, “you better take good care of my dongsaeng or else,” he threatened with his eyebrows crossed, a stern look on his face. Yoongi quietly gasped and his eyes widened. Seokjin, one of the people who seemed afraid of Hoseok before, was threatening him ? 

He could see that Namjoon had an equal stern expression on his face, his jaw clenched. “What he said,” Namjoon told Hoseok. Yoongi couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Don’t you dare hurt him.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hoseok pale slightly and said, “I have no intention of hurting him.” Yoongi felt an arm slip around his waist, pulling him closer to the other man. He smiled at hearing what Hoseok said and knew it based on his past actions. He could tell that Hoseok cared for him. 

“If you two are done being protective,” Yoongi said pointedly, looking at Seokjin on Namjoon’s phone before turning his attention towards the taller man, “I’m going to enjoy my date now.” With that, he turned around, releasing himself from Hoseok’s embrace. He grabbed one of his date’s hands and practically dragged him out of the coffee shop, observing how soft and warm Hoseok’s hand felt.

“Be careful!” Namjoon called after him. Yoongi rolled his eyes, but knew that Namjoon couldn’t see the gesture. Hoseok let go of his hand to wrap an arm around Yoongi’s waist again when the door closed behind them. It felt nice to be in Hoseok’s arms like this. He felt safe and warm, which made Yoongi smile.

Yoongi will be careful. 

Besides, Hoseok was one of the most dangerous men in the country and no one would dare to cross him.

---

The familiar sound of the bell above the shop’s entryway rang out, alerting Yoongi of a new customer. He stopped cleaning the counter and looked up. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jimin and Taehyung glance at each other, but stayed put.

Hoseok entered the coffee shop, looking as gorgeous as ever. Yoongi blushed and smiled widely at the sight of his boyfriend. Even though they had been dating for a few months now, Hoseok still loved to show up at Yoongi’s work everyday, just so he had an excuse to see him.

Yoongi’s co-workers eventually came around once they saw Hoseok’s softer side. Yoongi had suggested that all seven of them spend some time together outside of work and hang out. He didn’t know if that was a good idea or not once the night finally arrived. 

It was tense at first, when Yoongi and Hoseok got to Seokjin’s apartment, but after playing a game of Monopoly, Hoseok fit right into their chaoticness. Hoseok was the banker and kept giving Yoongi extra money whenever he had the chance without the others noticing. Seokjin and Jungkook were trying to cheat as well, while Namjoon was frustrated that no one was really following the rules. 

After that night, whenever Hoseok visited the coffee shop, the others didn’t run away in fear. Instead, they stayed next to Yoongi and greeted him politely. Or sometimes they would disappear in the back just to give them some privacy, which Yoongi appreciated. He was glad that his co-workers were finally able to see who Hoseok really was and not what they were perceiving him as.

“Hey cutie,” Hoseok said, stepping in front of the register with a bright smile on his face. Yoongi heard a quiet gagging noise from behind him and he rolled his eyes. 

“Hi Seok-ah,” Yoongi replied in a soft tone. “What would you like today?” He asked, grabbing a cup and a pen, ready to write. Hoseok told him one day that he was getting tired of ordering the same thing every time and instead made it his mission to try all of the drinks on the menu. 

“I would like to try an iced chai tea,” Hoseok answered with a smirk before adding, “and a kiss from my boyfriend.” Yoongi blushed shyly, but obliged his request with a soft peck on the lips.

“And that’s our cue,” Jimin said, dragging Taehyung with him to the kitchen. 

“Just ignore them,” Yoongi told Hoseok, who chuckled. He got to work making the drink for his boyfriend. They talked while he worked, catching each other up on the day they had. “Here’s your drink, baby,” Yoongi said, handing him his chai tea. 

“Thank you, cutie,” Hoseok replied with a smile on his face, “I love you.” Yoongi blushed. He would never get tired of hearing Hoseok tell him that.

“I love you too.” Yoongi gave Hoseok another quick kiss. “Are you staying today?”

Hoseok gave him a disappointed expression, reminding Yoongi of a sad puppy. “Not today, unfortunately, as I have some important business to take care of.” Yoongi nodded. He was a bit disappointed because he wished to spend some time with his boyfriend, but he understood. Hoseok had a lot on his plate and he was a busy man.

“Be careful,” Yoongi told him, which made Hoseok grin widely, showing off his beautiful heart-shaped smile. 

“Always for you, cutie!”