Archive of Our Own

The sound that was one so crisp and clear comes through in muffled dissonance lacking all clarity. There are days where Yoongi doesn’t even want to leave the quiet of his bedroom and face his new reality: he’ll never hear the same way again. Even hearing aids distort the sound and just leaves him more frustrated. He’d rather do without (even if it’s a bit stubborn), but one thing he can’t give up is music. 

Never . 

Sometimes Yoongi will lay on the floor of his home studio with the volume cranked up. He can barely hear the notes, but he can feel the song in his chest. ‘Talking to the Moon’ plays on repeat and sometimes he cries. He’s afraid one day he’ll lose his memory of the song when he could still hear it perfectly, but the beat and rhythm soothes and comforts him still. 

And that’s how he changes his own creative method. Feel becomes such a big part of his process, supplementing his hearing with his years of experience and knowledge of creating music. He stops releasing his own mixtapes and songs, but he still writes music. Songs for others to sing. To play. To express. And that will be enough for him. 

It has to be.

Yoongi hasn't spent much time in a dance studio, but it's easy enough to find in the basement of Rkive Studios. Namjoon, the CEO and Yoongi's friend, greets him in the hallway with a bright smile and a friendly wave. For being the head of an up and coming music company, Yoongi thinks Namjoon dresses more like a farmer than a CEO in his baggy jeans and plaid shirt open over a t-shirt. Not that Yoongi is dressed much nicer in his black jeans and matching oversized hoodie. He nods at Namjoon and follows him into the brightly lit studio.

The wood floor is shiny and the wall to his right is mirror from top to bottom and side to side. Yoongi sees his reflection, a little pale with dark circles under his eyes from staying up late working and waking up early to be here. Why is he even here, among these smiling, rapidly moving dancers? This is the last place Yoongi belongs, but Namjoon asked him to be here. So here he is. Hands shoved in the pocket of his hoodie and earbuds in his ears, even though he doesn't have it hooked up to his phone currently. They are mostly for people to leave him alone.

Namjoon is leading him to the back wall (facing the mirror because there isn't a space that isn't in view of the mirror) and gesturing for him to have a seat along the chairs lined up there. Yoongi sits, trying to hide in the extra fabric of his hoodie and be unnoticed. Glancing up, Namjoon catches his eye.

His lips move and he raises a hand to his own mouth like he's holding a cup. Drink ?

"Coffee," Yoongi says gruffly, feeling his unused voice vibrate in his body and hoping it sounds normal.

He must have gotten his message across but Namjoon smiles and gives him a thumbs up. Of course Namjoon knows that Yoongi's hearing isn't what it used to be. It's practically gone thanks to sudden sensorineural hearing loss. It's not something he advertises.

With Namjoon off fetching something caffeinated, Yoongi feels even more out of place. He doesn't know any of the smiling faces stretching and scurrying around the studio. Or at least, he assumes he doesn’t until a particularly bright smile catches his eye. 

Jung Hoseok. 

Yoongi's heart drops as the dancer jumps to his feet and starts striding across the dance studio towards him. Hoseok is nice (some would say too nice). He knows some of Yoongi's current state because they were writing together when he got his diagnosis. He hasn't seen the man in a long time, but that's entirely by Yoongi’s own design.

Hoseok plops down on the chair next to Yoongi and throws his arm around his shoulders in a half hug. He's talking, but Yoongi isn't very good at reading lips. It’s been a few years, but he’s stubbornly not learned the difficult trick. Or sign language. He never liked talking much to begin with. 

With the dancer’s arm around him, Yoongi can feel when Hoseok is speaking, but between his hearing loss and the headphones he can't make out the words. So he gives Hoseok a smile and digs his phone out of his jacket. Pulling up his often used notes app he types into a blank page.

hey

Hoseok's smile dims as he looks between the screen and Yoongi's face, then back to the screen. He holds his hand out to Yoongi and accepts Yoongi's phone. The dancer probably has his phone tucked away in a bag. His fingers fly over the screen before handing it back.

hey. missed you. we should get together sometime.

Yoongi's heart clenches, but he nods. Before he can take the phone back, Hoseok is typing again.

is it really that bad? your hearing?

Yoongi's lips turn down in a frown. He doesn't want to have this conversation. So he just points to the headphones, then gestures to the busy room. That seems to be enough explanation when Hoseok nods and types out one more message before handing Yoongi his phone back.

okay. i'll text you soon and we can catch up.

Then he gets up and makes his way back to the dancers, stopping to make some sort of comment to a girl who is stretching with the others. Hoseok is a consummate professional, so Yoongi isn't worried about him saying anything about his hearing. Or his presence. There isn't even a reason for Yoongi to be here, but Namjmoon insisted.

Speaking of Namjoon, the man comes back with a white paper cup and takes Hoseok's spot next to Yoongi. The coffee is instant, but the caffeine is all he wants so he sips it happily. As he drinks it, he shoots Namjoon a text.

MYG: why am i here, again?

Namjoon blinks in surprise and then pulls out his phone. A moment later he's typing back.

KNJ: I want you to be here for the first rehearsal with the artist. I think you'll like seeing your song come to life.

Seeing.

Yoongi has been writing music all his life. Losing his hearing may have changed a lot of things, but not that. He's written for a lot of different genres of music, but he usually isn't as involved once the song is handed over to the artist. Especially not now. Maybe Namjoon has noticed his withdrawal and is trying to pull him back out. Or maybe Namjoon is just his best friend and a busy body. Who knows.

His phone vibrates in his hand.

KNJ: Please? Just this once. If you don't like it, you don't have to come back.

"Fine," Yoongi says out loud, shoving his phone back in his pocket to end the conversation. He sips his coffee, but notices the way the tension leaks out of Namjoon's shoulders at his acceptance.

Before he finishes the drink, Hoseok is moving to the front of the room in front of the giant mirror. His hands come together in a clapping motion, probably to get everyone's attention, and the frenetic energy of the room seems to still as everyone turns to face him. After a couple of long beats, everyone is moving to positions Yoongi supposes are pre-assigned. About a half-dozen dancers face the mirror before turning in on themselves to create a huddle. Hoseok steps to the side and then there is stillness. A moment later, through his feet, Yoongi can feel the floor buzz with the first beats of the song Set Me Free . His song. The music must be loud if he can feel it clearly up his legs.

The dancers break apart and a man emerges from the huddled mass. He's dressed like the others: comfortable sweatpants and an oversized t-shirt. 

Park Jimin. 

The artist Yoongi’s song has been given to. He’s never heard the man sing, but his face is everywhere . Yoongi doubts there is anybody who doesn’t know the singer’s face. Jimin is Namjoon’s big star, giving Rkive Studios the reputation and prestige. 

The singer’s dyed blonde hair is pulled into a little sprout of a ponytail atop his head as he watches himself in the mirror. His full lips are moving along to the song, but Yoongi isn't sure if he's singing or lip-syncing for the practice. The movements are sharp and clean as he dances, the vibrations in the floor look to be driving him forward and Yoongi can't look away. He wrote the song, but as he watches the dancers - the artist in the middle - Yoongi is sure he would know what the song was about even without knowledge of the words.

That is until a formation in the back falls out of sync with the one in the front and everything stops. Hoseok steps in, talking to the dancers as their attention turns to focus on him. There's a disappointment in Yoongi's chest that they didn't finish the piece. Like he was watching something being created right in front of him, and it failed to come to fruition.

Damn Namjoon, he was right.

As the dancers rush to take their positions from the top, Yoongi slips out of his chair. He pushes the folding chair to the side and sits on the floor, his back to the wall. Now, when the music starts up again he can feel in through his whole body. This is a song he's familiar with, but watching the dancers it seems to take on a whole new life. Especially the center dancer. The singer. The artist. 

The angel.

The dancers move through the song to the end, and while Yoongi can see that it's still a little rough, the vision is there. It makes his heart thrum with the beat of the music as they run through the dance again. And again. His hands tremble, and it has nothing to do with the caffeine coursing through his system. How long has it been since he's experienced his music in such a visceral way? If ever? 

Yoongi can't tear his eyes away.

Hoseok eventually calls a break and the dancers seem to wilt from their finishing pose. Their chests heave as they catch their breath and they shine with the sweat of their exertion. Namjoon taps Yoongi on the shoulder to get his attention. He's smiling wide as he gives Yoongi an enthusiastic thumbs up.

Yoongi sighs and nods, giving him a thumbs up in return. Namjoon wasn't wrong that Yoongi wanted to see this, even if he didn't know it.

Namjoon’s phone is in his hand again. A moment later, Yoongi’s phone buzzes in his pocket. Out of curiosity, Yoongi pulls it out. 

KNJ : They are going to work on a different song, so you're free to go.

Yoongi frowns in disappointment as he reads the message.

KNJ : Unless you want to stay?

Shaking his head, Yoongi pushes himself to his feet. Namjoon stands up alongside him.

MYG : i'm awake. i need food. i think i'll take off.

KNJ : It's 2pm. You haven't eaten yet?

MYG : I woke up and came directly here.

He sees Namjoon shaking his head in disapproval. Yoongi chuckles and pats Namjoon on the shoulder. "Thanks," he says.

Namjoon's lips move in return, and though Yoongi can't read lips he thinks it's an 'anytime .'

Shoving his phone in his pocket, Yoongi walks past Namjoon and out of the dance studio. Yes, he's hungry, but there's a new excitement in him. After watching how the dancers moved to his music, the spark to create has been fanned into a flame. He needs to get back to his studio.

"Who is he?" Jimin drinks from his water bottle as he and the dancers get a fifteen minute break before moving on to the next routine.

Hoseok glances over his shoulder and smirks. "Oh, him? That's SUGA. Didn't Namjoon tell you he was coming?"

"SUGA?" Jimin feels his jaw drop. 

He is familiar with the composer, but he's never seen him. Even when writing music for and with Jimin, everything was done over email. The process was strange, but when you're as good as SUGA you can be as eccentric as you want. Jimin always assumed that meant the composer was older. And a complete shut in. Not this handsome guy, maybe just a few years older than him, smiling at Kim PD-nim.

"I have to meet him," Jimin declares and jumps to his feet.

"Wait, Jiminie," Hoseok calls after him, but there's no stopping Jimin once he makes his mind up.

Weaving between the dancers sprawled out on the dance floor, Jimin makes his way to the man who has written some of the best songs of their generation (at least in his opinion). It took years before Jimin was able to work with the man - even remotely.

"Hello, SUGA-nim," Jimin announces as he approaches his PD and the composer.

However, the man identified as SUGA just walks away without looking in his direction. Jimin blinks in shock as he watches the man’s broad back exit out the door.

Kim PD-nim is frowning as he looks between the man and Jimin. "Sorry, Jimin," he says apologetically. "SUGA is in a rush. He probably didn't hear you."

Jimin is not used to being dismissed so easily. He frowns, dropping his hand he'd held out to greet the composer. "Oh."

"I'll make sure to introduce you next time," Kim PD-nim smiles, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes.

"I'd like to thank him for working with me," Jimin says.

"He was really impressed with the rehearsal today. You've worked really hard. The comeback is going to be one of your best." Kim PD-nim pats him on the shoulder and leads him back to the other dancers.

"Yeah, because I finally got a song from SUGA," Jimin points out.

Kim PD-nim scoffs. "It would have been a success either way." Jimin is sure he's right, but having a song from the SUGA is going to be the difference between a good comeback and a great one.

As Kim PD-nim predicted, the comeback is a success. Jimin’s album tops the charts in Korea, Japan, and even makes a modest showing in the US. Breaking into the English-speaking market could be just what he needs for a real world tour. It’s exciting. 

However, what’s more exciting is finding an email from SUGA in his inbox. 

It’s been almost two months since the composer came to see the dance rehearsal. Jimin hasn’t seen or heard from the man since then, but the bitterness of not getting to meet him still lingers. So he’s surprised to find an email addressed to him directly as he’s riding home from the last show of his comeback tour. 

The moon is heavy in the sky and city street lights fly by as he sits in the back of his car on his way home, but the alert is there on his phone. Not waiting to get back to his desk, Jimin opens it immediately. 

[email protected] to [email protected]
cc: [email protected]
22:15:07 18 May 2025
Potential Track

CONFIDENTIAL 

Let me know if you’re interested. 

One attachment: 31032025_v6.mp3

Though Jimin is alone in the car with his driver from the company, he scrambles for his bag to retrieve his earbuds. If the email is marked ‘confidential’ that means this is for his ears, and his ears only . (And maybe Kim Namjoon’s, but he was only cc’d on the message.)

In the dark (and his excitement) Jimin fumbles and nearly loses an earbud before he gets them into place. He may only be ten minutes from home, but there’s no way he’s waiting to listen to this audio file until then. Earbuds in place, Jimin taps to listen to the audio. 

Immediately, Jimin is surprised. This isn’t the hard-hitting beat that Set Me Free had, but softer. Melodic. There aren’t any words to it, but the melody definitely invokes something in him. A strong feeling that bypasses his excitement. One of longing, or yearning. Maybe mystery? There’s a lot of potential as the music plays. Jimin shuts his eyes and lets the world fall away for the next three minutes as he just listens to the music. 

SUGA’s music has always had a strong effect on Jimin. Even though the composer stopped rapping on any of his own songs a few years ago, there’s still an undeniable SUGA- ness about the music. Jimin thinks he could pick a SUGA track off of any artist's album without checking the credits, and this song has that same feel. And he’s offering it to Jimin. 

There’s no way Jimin is going to say no, even before he listened to the song. Now that he’s heard it, he can’t let anyone else have it. 

Jimin taps the reply symbol. 

[email protected] to [email protected]
cc: [email protected]
23:48:32 18 May 2025
Re: Potential Track

CONFIDENTIAL

I am interested. Very very very very interested. 

Then, with an excited chuckle, Jimin clicks on the audio to listen to it again. 

And again.

Until finally he’s home. 

He runs up to his room, connects to his bluetooth speakers, and listens to the track again and again as he gets ready for bed. 

This song is going to be his . Now he just needs to find the right lyrics to go with the feelings it evokes. 

[email protected] to [email protected]
09:14:11 19 May 2025
Excuse You?

Yoongi, since when do you send tracks directly to artists? I didn’t even know you were working on something. We didn’t commission you for anything. 

Don’t get me wrong. It’s an amazing track, but you probably should have run it through me first. Jimin just had a comeback. We have other artists that could definitely use songs. 

What’s going on?

Kim Namjoon
Rkive Studios CEO

Yoongi sighs as he looks at the email from Namjoon. It’s just before noon and he’s settling at his home studio to get to work. Of course, Namjoon’s email is at the top of his priority email list. What a way to start the day? 

He ignores it for a moment as he goes through the other emails. Other inquiries for tracks. Offers for collaborations. Queries about interviews. Fan letters. The usual stuff litters his inbox, but there’s one email he’s looking for. 

The reply from Park Jimin.

He smiles as he opens the email and finds the artist is enthusiastically interested in the song. 

Good. It’ll make it easier to soothe Namjoon with the artist already on board. 

Yoongi has been working on this track since he watched Jimin dance back at the end of March. Sure it isn’t the only thing he’s been working on, but it’s been his pet project ever since he saw Jimin dance. His movements were so fluid, it was like Yoongi could hear a song by watching how his body moved. It was a little more difficult to translate his thoughts into music since it didn’t have the driving beat a lot of his more recent songs had, but it was worth the long nights of laying on the floor with his speakers up to full blast so he can feel the music and hear as much as his damned ears would pick up. 

[email protected] to [email protected]
11:41:51 19 May 2025
Re: Excuse You?

Since this song was for him. If he didn’t want it, we could have talked about opening it up to someone else. 

Besides, if you want to talk about any of your other artists you know I’ll always make room for you in my schedule. 

MYG

Yoongi starts organizing his lyric suggestions for the 31032025 track, but he doesn’t get very far before he has an alert from Namjoon popping up in the corner of his screen. 

[email protected] to [email protected]
12:01:13 19 May 2025
Re: Excuse You?

Yoongi, you know that isn’t how this works. You can’t just circumvent me and offer songs to the artists. 

Are you available for a meeting? 

With a heavy sign, Yoongi taps out a reply. He didn’t circumvent Namjoon, he cc’d him on the email! 

[email protected] to [email protected]
11:41:51 19 May 2025
Re: Excuse you?

Why? So you can chew me out? Jimin seems to like the song, so I don’t see the problem. 

But yeah. We can set a meeting. Anytime after Tuesday should be good. 

Yoongi goes back to organizing the scattered bits of lyrics he’d brainstormed while working on the song, but he really only wants to present it if Jimin wants to see it. Sometimes artists have their own ideas about the direction they want to take music, and Yoongi is open to encouraging that. 

With some artists, at least.

Working with Jimin had been easy. Yoongi would have been open to writing for him again in the future, even before the dance studio. 

Working through lunch, Yoongi does some refining on tracks and answering emails. Only after all that does he open Namjoon’s latest reply. 

[email protected] to [email protected]
12:01:13 19 May 2025
Re: Excuse You?

That’s not the point. And of course he liked it! It’s a great song. I just need you to remember that I’m running a business now, Yoongi. This isn’t like when you, Hoseok, and I were in college making diss tracks on borrowed equipment. Please, keep that in mind?

I checked with my assistant. Tuesday, 10:30 am isn’t too early for you I hope. Besides, I’m sure Jimin is going to want to get started on the song ASAP. Best have a meeting about the direction that’ll go. 

See you Tuesday.

Yoongi hums to himself, feeling the vibration in his chest. That seems fair enough. He may have been a little over-excited with the track and probably jumped the gun a little bit. Besides, a meeting is a nice excuse to leave his apartment and actually see Namjoon. He decides to make it up to the man by buying him lunch afterwards. 

Jimin has spent the rest of the day listening to the track from SUGA over and over again. He’s jotting down ideas for lyrics so that he can come to the table with something in return when the time comes to work on the song. 

His last collaboration with SUGA had been done entirely via email and messaging. Now that he’s seen the man, he hopes this time they’ll be able to meet in the studio together. Share ideas openly. It doesn’t hurt that the composer is also easy on the eyes. 

By the time Tuesday comes around, Jimin is excited to share his ideas with someone. Just, maybe not SUGA quite yet. So he goes into the office looking for Kim PD-nim. The man has a lot of experience writing music for himself and his artists, so Jimin trusts his opinion.

Jimin stops by the lounge at Rkive Studios for a bagel and chats with his best friend Taehyung, another artist who is working on his next album, before making his way up to Kim PD-nim's office. The assistant isn't at their desk, so Jimin walks up to the door and knocks just after ten.

"Come in," comes Kim PD-nim's voice.

Jimin lets himself into the office, clutching his notebook to his chest. "Good morning," he says, shutting the door behind him.

His CEO looks up from his desk, and his eyes widen in surprise. "Oh, Jimin. Please, come in. What can I do for you today?"

Jimin glances around the office. The walls are covered in shelves with collectible figures and the few rewards Rkive Studios have earned. "I'm not interrupting am I?" The office is empty, but Jimin doesn't like to presume.

Kim PD-nim stands up, shaking his head. He gestures to the seat across from him. "Not at all. Please, have a seat. I have a meeting in about fifteen minutes, but I can take some time right now. What's on your mind?"

Jimin frowns, disappointed that he doesn't have much time. "Well, I wanted to talk to you about the song SUGA offered me," he says as he takes the seat anyway.

"I see." The CEO’s lips press into a thin line as he sits down as well. "I've already talked to him about emailing you directly. If you're not comfortable turning it down-"

"No!" Jimin interrupts him. "It's the opposite. I'm excited to work with SUGA again. That's why I'm here! I want to run through some of my ideas before we arrange a meeting with him." He is already opening his notebook and flipping through to the pages with his ideas. "I want to make sure I'm doing his song justice."

"I'm sure he's not concerned about that at all," Namjoon tries to reassure him, but that just makes Jimin more insistent as he puts the notebook open on the desk between them. "I'll talk to SUGA about scheduling a time to discuss music production. And you have his email, I'm sure he'd be happy to see your ideas himself."

"I just want to go over them before I do that," Jimin says, shoving his notebook towards Kim PD-nim. His long fingers reach out and accept the open pages. "I'd also like to meet with SUGA in person this time."

The notebook nearly slips out of Namjoon's fingers and he clumsily catches it against his chest. "I don't think that'll be possible," he says quickly.

Jimin feels his lips pulling into a pout, but he just can't stop himself. "Why not? He was here when we were doing rehearsals for his last song I did. Wouldn't it be easier to meet in person?"

Kim PD-nim has the book open on the desk trying to smooth the pages he crumbled. "That was a one time thing," he insists, shaking his head. "SUGA is going to be working remotely like usual."

"What kind of music producer doesn't want to even talk to their artist? Even if it's a video call, please!" Jimin grips the edge of the desk, trying to keep from waving his hands around dramatically. "I didn't even get a chance to say hello when he was here, and then he sent me this song directly. Just ask him. Please."

The CEO gives a heavy sigh. "I'll ask him, but don't get your hopes up," he says. His eyes roam over the page. "You have the start of a lot of good ideas here, Jimin. I know you're working on your writing. Pick the themes you feel most strongly about and pitch those to SUGA. From what I know of him, he'll be really receptive to what you have here. You just need to narrow the focus." He closes the notebook and hands it back to Jimin. He checks his wristwatch and stands up. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting starting soon and I need to prepare."

Jimin accepts the notebook and stands up. "You'll talk to him though, right? Ask him if we can meet in person this time."

"I'll ask." Kim PD-nim comes around the desk, putting a hand on Jimin's shoulder and steering him away from the desk. "Think about which ideas resonate most with you, and that will help you focus on the intent of the song."

"Thanks," Jimin says. Normally he'd be thrilled with Kim PD-nim's feedback and encouragement, but something feels off. He feels rushed and a little dejected that he won't be getting an in person meeting with SUGA.

They are halfway across the room when the office door swings open. A figure dressed in black with a bucket hat steps through the door before looking up and freezing in place. Jimin's heart leaps as he recognizes SUGA from his previous visit: clear cat-like eyes, cute button nose, and pouty lips turning down into a frown. This is his chance!

"You're early," Kim PD-nim says, almost exasperated and to himself.

SUGA's eyes bounce from Jimin to the CEO. Jimin holds his notebook to his chest and steps forward with his hand out. "SUGA-nim, it's a pleasure to meet you."

The composer looks at Jimin's hand like it's a snake that might bite him. His head snaps up to Kim PD-nim over Jimin's shoulder. "No." That's all he says. His voice is deeper than Jimin expects, but that one word knocks the wind from his sails.

"Jimin, you'll have to excuse us," Kim PD-nim says from behind him.

Heat rises to Jimin's cheeks as his hand hangs empty mid-air and he's slow to realize that he's being rejected. But why? SUGA wrote a song and gave it to him directly.

Jimin drops his hand. "Well, I look forward to working with you again." SUGA stares at him blankly. Whatever surprise or distaste was there has melted into a cool mask. "Have a good day." He gives SUGA a short bow and side steps around him to flee to the room and save his pride any further embarrassment. Maybe he wasn't ready to meet with SUGA just yet, but he didn't expect their next meeting to go so poorly. 

What did SUGA want from him?

Yoongi's heart is pounding in his ears, but even then it is just a faded thudding that he can feel more than hear. Jimin, the singer who has haunted his waking moments for months, finally leaves. While Yoongi can't hear a word the pretty man is saying, the way his lips turn down at the end is enough to make his chest feel tight.

Namjoon throws his hands up in exasperation. He steps forward to catch Yoongi's eye.

You're early. He over pronounces the words to make his lips very clear.

Yeah, so what? Yoongi hasn't been to bed yet. Now he's regretting that decision.

"Coffee," he says and shoulders past Namjoon towards the man's desk. Yoongi sits down and pulls out the yellow legal pad he carries to all his meetings with Namjoon now.

It takes Namjoon a minute, but he sits down across from Yoongi with a small paper cup steaming with hot instant coffee. The man always has a hot water boiler in his office for tea, but Yoongi knows he keeps coffee packets for clients. He accepts the cup as Namjoon grabs his own legal pad.

(NJ) your timing is atrocious

Yoongi shrugs and writes out a response.

(YG) how was I to know you had another meeting?

Yoongi frowns and sips his coffee as Namjoon scribbles back.

(NJ) i didn't. jimin was here to talk about you. he's so excited to work with you and all you said was 'no.'

Yoongi frowns. He'd been trying to tell Namjoon 'no' to someone else being there. He was caught off guard. What else was he supposed to do? He scribbles out a response.

(YG) i didn't plan that

Yoongi frowns and continues to sip his coffee. What if he just ruined his chance to work with Jimin again?

(NJ) you should tell him, yoon.

(YG) NO!!!

(NJ) why not?

The scribble back and forth furiously.

(YG) because it's none of his business.

(NJ) is that really the only reason?

(YG) what other reason would there be?

(NJ) dammit yoongi, you don't have to do this alone. you can let other people in. and out of everyone, jimin is a good guy. he won't think any less of you

(YG) of course he will! you do! Hoseok does! and you guys are my best friends!

Heat pricks in the corner of Yoongi's eyes. He doesn't like to talk about how things have changed since his hearing loss, but how can Namjoon deny that they haven't? Yoongi can still write lyrics as fast as ever, but his entire music production process has changed. If people knew, they would think less of him. They wouldn't take him seriously. They'd accuse him of faking either his hearing loss or his own music contributions. He didn't want to deal with any of it. Better that no one knows.

Namjoon sits across from him, looking utterly stunned and shaking his head slowly.

(NJ) i don't treat you different

Yoongi huffs and rolls his eyes before jotting down a response.

(YG) what's this? you think we'd be writing messages like we're passing notes in class if it weren't for my hearing.

Namjoon's eyes narrow and he starts writing furiously. When he finally turns the pad towards him, Yoongi is tempted not to look. To avoid the confirmation of his assumptions.

(NJ) you're right that we are doing this because of you. you refuse to wear your hearing aids, so i have to do something to talk to you. i'm not pushing you away. you're the one who is pushing the world away.

(UG) i don't need your pity. and i HATE the way the hearing aids distort my music

(NJ) but you could wear them to talk to me.

Damn Namjoon and his logic. Before Yoongi can come up with a rebuttal, Namjoon is writing again.

(NJ) or talk to jimin.

Yoongi's heart sinks at that. He writes out his real fear.

(YG) he won't want to work with me if he knew

(NJ) YES! He would! you don't know jimin like I do. i wouldn't be suggesting it if i didn't think he'd accept you as is. he just wants to work with you. lots of us do. so let us.

Yoongi huffs a sigh. He folds his arms over his chest and looks out the window. Rkive Studios isn't the tallest building in the downtown area, but he can see out over the roof across the street at the blue sky. Clouds float by peacefully, blissfully ignorant of the storm brewing in his chest. He'd done a good job of insulating himself, and yet here comes Jimin trying to break down his carefully constructed walls. It was as if that one email offering him a song was enough to weaken his defenses. Damn him , why did Yoongi come to that dance practice in the first place? But now that he knows Jimin exists, outside of an email address, it's like he can't forget him.

Yoongi picks up his notepad and writes out a response.

(YG) i'll think about it. now, what did you want to talk about today?

Namjoon gives him a small smile, but even Yoongi can tell it's strained. He writes out a reply.

(NK) well, i wanted to talk about organizing the collab with jimin, but the guy beat me to it. he has a bunch of ideas to share with you, so maybe you should meet with him.

Yoongi hums, feeling his throat rumble.

(YG) maybe.

They go one to talk about the other projects Yoongi has lined up with the company and a schedule for the upcoming year. In the end, Yoongi treats Namjoon to lunch for his trouble. They go and get jjajangmyeon and Namjoon drops the whole Jimin topic. That doesn't mean that Yoongi doesn't continue to noodle over it. There's something irresistible about the singer that makes Yoongi want to disregard his own safeguards and let the man in. But how much will it really cost him?

UNKNOWN : Park Jimin? This is Min Yoongi. Are you free Thursday night? I'd like to arrange a dinner meeting with you.

Jimin lies on the floor of the dance practice room, pushing his sweaty fringe back from his face and looking at the text in confusion.

Yoongi? Min Yoongi?

He gasps and sits upright as he realizes this is SUGA texting him. It's been over a week since they ran into one another in Kim PD-nim's office and Jimin was beginning to think he'd blown his chance to work with the composer again.

"Ready to get back to it?" Hoseok chuckles and pats Jimin on the shoulder as he walks by, sipping from a water bottle.

"Need a few more minutes," Jimin says as he crafts a reply.

PJM : Yes. I can do Thursday. Thank you so much for reaching out.

He quickly saves the contact before he gets a reply.

SUGA: Let's get dinner. I'll reserve a private room so we can discuss the song and working together. Seven work for you?

PJM: Yes, seven is perfect.

Jimin is going to have to ditch his movie night with Taehyung, but he's sure his best friend will understand. This is THE SUGA they are talking about.

MYG : I'll text you the address. See you then.

Jimin practically squeals hugging his phone to his chest. Hoseok laughs, joining him in his joy.

"Good news?" the choreographer asks.

"The best," Jimin confirms, pushing himself up onto his feet. "I have a meeting with SUGA tomorrow."

Hoseok chokes on his water, covering his mouth as he coughs. Jimin pauses where he's tucking his phone back into his bag. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Hoseok nods, sucking in air and coughing again. "Just surprised me."

Jimin hums and nods, watching the dancer to make sure he can breathe again. "Yeah, well, we're working on another song together."

"That's great," Hoseok nods, capping his water. His voice is hoarse, but he's no longer coughing. "So you're arranging a text chat?"

"No," Jimin smiles brightly. "We're having dinner."

Hoseok frowns. "Really?"

Jimin's elation falters at the man's response. "Yeah. He's going to send me the details. Why?"

Hoseok just shrugs. "I'm surprised, that's all. Yoongi-hyung and I used to work together a lot in the past, but he's kind of withdrawn lately. So, I guess this is a good thing. Just-" He trails off.

Jimin tilts his head to the side, waiting for Hoseok to finish. "Just what?"

Hoseok takes a deep breath and looks at Jimin with large, sad eyes. "Be gentle with him, Jiminie. He needs it."

That doesn't make any sense. Why would the SUGA need Jimin to be gentle with him? Min Yoongi has the fiercest catalogue he's ever listened to and the most extensive song list, but Jimin nods anyway. "Of course, hyung."

Yoongi got to the restaurant first. It feels weird wearing the hearing aids: like earbuds that hook over his ears, but instead of blocking out the white noise it amplifies it. The private room helps filter out the background noise of the restaurant, but it's easy to pretend that it's for Jimin's anonymity. Yoongi is wearing his customary bucket hat because it helps hide the chunky devices. They were his tester pair and he never moved past them because he hated them. He still finds himself tugging nervously on the edges of the hat to make sure they are hidden beneath the brim.

He sits at the table, looking over the menu and planning his order to distract himself, when there's suddenly someone sitting across from him. He looks up in surprise to find a smiling Jimin settling in the chair opposite him. Damn, even with the hearing aids he didn't hear him come in. Or was he too in his head? "Park Jimin-ssi," he says, half standing before he realizes the singer is already fully seated. So he sits back down. "I'm glad you could join me." It was weird hearing his voice again, even through the distortion of the hearing aids. It's been a long time since he's spoken to anyone but himself just wandering around his apartment and not even hearing himself properly.

"Thanks for inviting me, SUGA-nim," Jimin smiles and Yoongi's breath stutters. Not only is the man beautiful like an angel, he has a sweet lilting voice. Even through the hearing aids, it's the kind of sound that seems to itch his ears in a satisfying way. "And please, Jimin is fine."

"Then you can call me Yoongi. Or hyung," Yoongi offers in return, his heart racing. When was the last time he talked to someone that wasn't Namjoon? He's only just started texting with Hoseok again.

"Okay, hyung," Jimin smiles so wide his eyes practically disappear and it makes Yoongi's heart do funny things.

They order their food and the server slips out of the room.

"So," Yoongi says, clearing his throat. "Namjoon mentioned you had some ideas to pitch about the song?"

"Yes!" Jimin pulls a notebook out of his bag that he'd hooked over the back of his chair. "It's such a great melody and really evokes a lot of strong feelings. I was brainstorming what feelings came to the forefront for me and I wanted to compare notes with you."

Yoongi can't help but smile along with the man's enthusiasm. "Let's hear it," he says.

They get swept up in the ideas behind his own song, even as food is delivered. Yoongi forgot how working with someone else in real time can be so energizing and explosive. 

Or maybe that's just Jimin.

The more they talk, Yoongi realizes that Jimin is talking about the song differently, but of course he is. He literally hears the song differently than Yoongi. It helps create entry points to discuss how to shape the song as they talk about lyrics and themes. Yoongi hasn't been this excited about a song since he sat down to write it after seeing Jimin dance.

"Have you seen the movie Black Swan?" Jimin asks as he pops a piece of mandu in his mouth.

Yoongi hums and sips his water. "I'm aware of it, but I haven't watched it." And there launches a discussion about passion and art. It gives them both ideas of a direction to take the song.

Their plates are empty and still the conversation is going strong. Yoongi feels content to stay in their private little bubble talking about music, or listening to Jimin explain how dance makes him feel the song differently. The server comes through and discreetly starts taking away the dishes, but Yoongi isn't ready for this night to be over.

His hearing aids, however, have a different idea.

Jimin is talking about the different stretches he and Hoseok do to connect with different kinds of music when a squeal starts to sound in his right ear. Yoongi winces, reaching up to tug at the stupid machine.

Jimin pauses, blinking at Yoongi. Oh shit, did he hear it? If it was loud enough for Yoongi to hear it, then Jimin must have. Right?

"Are you okay, hyung?" Jimin asks, but even now his voice sounds more distorted. The battery must be dying on one side. Damn it, Yoongi hates these fucking things.

"Yeah," he picks up his phone, pretending to get a notification. "I think it was just my phone."

"Your phone?" Jimin's head tilts to the side. Yoongi feels the man's curious eyes on him.

"I have a video meeting with someone overseas, so maybe we should wrap this up," Yoongi lies.

"Okay," Jimin says slowly. "I hope we can do this again soon."

Yoongi frowns as he pulls out his wallet to pay. "Maybe," he says, not wanting to promise something he can't fulfill.

"Thanks, hyung," Jimin continues. "I had a really good time tonight."

"I did, too," Yoongi says even as he hands over his payment to the server who rushes off to complete the transaction.

"So, we should definitely do it again," Jimin insists.

Yoongi winces when the machine in his ear squeals again.

"Hyung, are you okay?" Jimin's voice turns from cautious to concerned and it makes Yoongi's insides twist. He hates it. Jimin should only ever be happy.

"I'm fine," he says curtly, trying to discreetly pull the hearing aid from his ear and shove the failing machine in his pocket.

"You don't seem okay." Jimin's voice is barely audible unless Yoongi is tilting his head towards the other man. His heart is racing and he curses himself for not ending the dinner sooner. Or maybe not having it at all. This is exactly what he feared.

The server comes back with the bill and Yoongi quickly signs for it, tucking his card back into his wallet. He needs to get out of here.

"Maybe we can arrange a studio session?" Jimin suggests.

"No," Yoongi shakes his head and pushes back from the table to get up. "Sorry, but that is not possible."

Jimin frowns, watching him with wide, sad eyes. Damn, he didn't want to end the night like this. He'd do anything to bring back that squinting eye smile. "Why-"

The rest of Jimin's sentence is completely lost when the only hearing aid left starts to squeal. Yoongi curses and yanks it from his ear.

Fuck.

Fuck it all. 

He stands up.

Jimin reaches across the table and grabs Yoongi's elbow. Yoongi meets his gaze, finding his lips moving, but the sound doesn't reach his ruined ears.

"I have to go," Yoongi forces his lips to form the words, hoping they come out as intended. "I'll email you with what we discussed. Goodnight, Jimin-ssi."

He twists his arm to break Jimin's hold and turns to leave. There's a barely heard, 'HYUNG!' at his back. The singer must be yelling, but Yoongi can't stop. He rushes out of the restaurant and into the night. He never should have left the comfort of his apartment and home studio. Jimin must think he's rude, but better than him knowing the truth.

“And he just ran out?” Taehyung shoves a handful of popcorn in his mouth before he hands Jimin the freshly popped bowl of popcorn. 

Jimin accepts the plastic tub and pops a few buttery pieces in his mouth. He isn’t hungry after dinner, but he accepts the comfort of his best friend. Even though he canceled their movie night to go to this stupid dinner. “Did I say something wrong?” 

Taehyung hums, slouching over and resting his head on Jimin’s shoulders. He’s dressed in sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt for a night in while Jimin is still in his business-meeting attire. “I doubt it,” he says after a pause. “You’re smart, enthusiastic, passionate, and the best. Unless you insulted his mother, I don’t know why he’d run out like that.”

“Everything was going so great,” Jimin sighs. “At least, I thought it was. Then his phone made this weird squealing sound and he got all cagey.”

“Squealing?” Taehyung reaches into the tub to pull another handful of popcorn to his mouth, some of the pieces falling to leave a buttery smudge on Jimin’s nice shirt. Jimin just can’t be bothered to care. “Maybe it’s his significant other? Oooh! What if he has a wife, or a girlfriend, and she was jealous he was out with you? You, who are hotter and infinitely more talented?”

“Ew,” Jimin sniffs. “Why would you assume SUGA’s significant other is a woman? And why would you assume I would be hotter and more talented?”

Taehyung sits up, folding a leg under himself to face Jimin. “Okay, fair. Maybe it’s a boyfriend or a husband or a non-binary partner. Whatever they are, I know you’d be hotter and more talented because you are the hottest and most talented man alive.”

“Tae,” Jimin whines, but the flattery helps take the edge off the sharp feelings stabbing him in the chest. “Thank you, but I don’t think that’s it. It wasn’t a date, it was a business meeting.”

“Oh, really?” Taehyung scoffs and raises his eyebrows before gesturing down to the fitted slacks Jimin is wearing. “Then why are you wearing your fuck me pants.”

“Tae!” Jimin picks up a piece of popcorn and throws it at his friend. 

The piece bounces off of Taehyung’s face and lands on his lap. He simply picks it up and pops it in his mouth. “Am I wrong?”

No, he’s not, but Jimin isn’t going to tell him that. 

“Anyway! I don’t think that’s it. I’ve been around lustful men and their problematic partners. This felt different,” Jimin insists. “I just can’t figure out why. And he refused to even consider any studio time. What kind of producer doesn’t like to be there when recording their songs?”

“Kim PD-nim says he’s eccentric. Give me this if you’re going to use it as a weapon.” Taehyung takes the bowl of popcorn back. “Maybe he’s a germaphobe? Did you cough?”

“No,” Jimin says, trying to remember if he did anything gross at all. 

“Maybe he’ll come around,” Taehyung shrugs. “Didn’t you say he initially said ‘no’ when he saw you in the CEO’s office? And then he texted you to ask you to dinner. And didn’t he completely ignore you the first time you met?”

“Maybe,” Jimin says cautiously. “Do you think I should talk to Kim PD-nim about it?”

Taehyung puts the bowl of popcorn down and stretches out on the couch, propping his feet in Jimin’s lap. “I don’t know. Maybe he can say something to SUGA about scheduling the studio session?”

“I don’t want to go running to the CEO like a bratty artist just to get my way.” Jimin crosses his arms over his chest and slumps into the back of the couch. 

“You could ask Hoseok-hyung.” Tae wiggles his feet and Jimin sighs, reaching down to give his friend the foot massage he didn’t ask for but was demanding anyway. 

“Hoseok did mention they used to work together,” Jimin agrees. 

He remembers what the choreographer said at the dance practice. Be gentle with him, Jiminie. He needs it. What did that even mean? Maybe Hoseok could shed some light on why the dinner went the way it did. 

Taehyung hums happily as Jimin runs a thumb up the sole of his foot. “I know it’s late, but did you still want to watch a movie?” 

“Sure,” Jimin says. If nothing else, it should help lighten his mood. Maybe things will seem less catastrophic after some Studio Ghibli magic. 

The next day Jimin finds himself walking into the dance studio with renewed purpose. He arrives twenty minutes early to get there before the backup dancers and trainees. As expected, only Hoseok is there stretching and getting ready for the afternoon session. 

“Jimine,” he says happily, legs stretched out in front of him in a ‘v’ as he reaches for his toes. “Eager for your punishment today.”

Jimin laughs and shakes his head. Hoseok may be a strict instructor, but he’s the best. And that’s what Jimin has always wanted: to work with the best. Kim Namjoon, Jung Hoseok, and now Min Yoongi. “Bring it on,” he says as he sets his bag down against the back wall and shrugs out of his hoodie. He walks over to start his stretches next to Hoseok. 

They warm up in companionable silence, Jimin feeling his muscles become more limber as they go. He doesn’t have long before other people are going to join him, though. 

“So, I had my meeting with SUGA last night,” he tries to mention casually. He uses the mirror to watch for Hoseok’s reaction rather than staring at him directly. 

The choreographer stiffens, just for a moment, and then is pushing himself to his feet. “How did that go?” he asks, even as he turns his back on Jimin to head over to the studio’s sound system. 

Jimin turns, watching Hoseok retreat. “I thought it was going really well. Yoongi-hyung and I had a great conversation about artistic expression and the direction of our new collaboration.”

“Did you?” The words are light, but Jimin watches as Hoseok’s shoulders seem to fold in on himself. “That’s good. Yoongi-hyung was a great collaborative artist.”

“Was?” Jimin pushes himself to his feet and drifts closer to Hoseok and the sound system. “What do you mean ‘was’? He’s still great.”

Hoseok lets out a heavy sigh. “I’m sure he’s still great,” he says, but there’s a tightness in his voice. “It’s been a while since he’s been willing to meet with anyone in person, so I guess I was just talking about in the past.”

Jimin frowns, crossing his arms over his chest and watching Hoseok fiddle with his phone as if he’s having a hard time finding the track. But Hoseok always knows where his music is. He’s been able to direct Jimin to the specific song in a playlist in the past.

“Yeah, but then he refused to schedule a studio session with me.” Jimin leaves the information out there, dangling. 

“That makes sense,” Hoseok sighs, shaking his head. 

“Why?” Jimin feels like he’s on the edge of something. Something Hoseok knows, but everyone else seems to dance around. “Wouldn’t a producer want to work with the singer bringing his song to life?”

Hoseok tosses his phone onto the sound system and turns to face Jimin. “You didn’t push him on it, did you?” 

Jimin blinks in surprise. “ Me ? I could barely get a word in before he left the restaurant. Why are you assuming I did something?”

Hoseok’s lips press into a thin line as his eyes seem to study Jimin. “I told you to go easy on him. The fact that he met with you at all is shocking, so don’t press your luck Jimin.”

“My luck?” Jimin’s jaw drops, surprised. Where is this coming from?

“You’re extremely focused and goal-oriented. That’s great and has helped make you successful in this field, which is difficult enough as it is. But you can also be really bull-headed, and so can he. So please, just accept what he’s given you.” Hoseok’s lips turn down into a frown. “Please, Jiminie. Just let it go.”

Confusion and hurt battle for dominance as Jimin tries to figure out what Hoseok isn’t saying. Why would he be asking Jimin to treat Min Yoongi like this? “Why? What’s wrong with wanting to work closer with him? There’s something you aren’t telling me.”

Hoseok shakes his head, and he looks truly torn. “It’s not my secret to tell. Just, trust me. Please.” 

This reaction is the last thing Jimin expected. “Okay, I’ll drop it,” he says despite how much it goes against everything in him. 

“Thanks.” Hoseok gives him a grateful smile and claps him on the shoulder just as the other dancers start to trickle in. “Let’s work hard today, okay?”

“Okay.” Jimin backs away, leaving Hoseok to his work. He may have agreed to let it go, but that doesn’t mean it will let him go. His mind races, trying to figure out what is going on with Min Yoongi?

MYG : he has a lot of good ideas

KNJ : Right? Jimin is smart, but he’s also really passionate. 

MYG : he is.

MYG : you’re going to have to run interference for me with him moving forward.

KNJ : What?

KNJ : Why?

KNJ : I thought you just told me the dinner went great!

MYG : its because the dinner went well, until the very end. 

KNJ : What happened?

MYG : my hearing aids died and i had to split

KNJ : Okay, so?

MYG : SO! jimin was asking for studio time

MYG : that’s not going to happen

MYG : that can’t happen

KNJ : Why not? 

MYG : you know why not

KNJ : Honest to GOD Yoongi I do not. 

KNJ : you’re the one putting all these limitations on your interactions with Jimin.

KNJ : with Hobi

KNJ : with ME

KNJ : I know things aren’t the way they were before, but did you ever consider that maybe you’re making them harder than they have to be?

KNJ : Yoongi? 

KNJ : Fine. Take your time.

KNJ : You know I’m not going away. 

Yoongi sighs, scrolling through the text thread with Namjoon for the dozenth time in the silence of his home studio.

Maybe it’s not silent? Perhaps, even with the sound buffering, there’s the sound of footsteps from his upstairs neighbor moving about in their apartment? There’s a window with a heavy black-out curtain drawn over it, but perhaps the sounds of traffic drift in. He doesn’t know, because he’s not wearing his hearing aids. 

Yoongi tried to work to ignore the ugly feelings churning in his chest, but he keeps finding himself picking up his phone and re-reading the words across the screen. Fuck Kim Namjoon and his logic. Fuck himself for the wall of rage that bubbles up in him every time he reads it. He hates his hearing aids. 

Hates them.

They make the world sound wrong . Isn’t it better to hear nothing at all?

So what if it’s a useful tool for communicating with people? So what if it would make it so he can hear Jimin’s laughter again, even through the filter of electronics? So what if it’ll make it obvious to the rest of the world that he’s changed. That he’s different. 

That he’s damaged . 

Growling in frustration to just release the emotions too big to keep inside his chest, Yoongi tosses his phone on the desk and turns to his computer. He pulls up ‘Talking to the Moon,’ sets it to repeat, and blasts the sound. Then he gets out of his computer chair and lays on the floor, closing his eyes and letting the music push away everything else. 

He can still hear the melodies in his head, even if his ears are barely picking them up with how limited his hearing range is now. The subwoofers make the floor vibrate and he doesn’t care if he gets another noise complaint. It makes his chest feel clearer as if pushing away the bad feelings. Tears slip down the sides of his face. Some catch in his ears while others slide down his jaw to his neck. The song has a certain feeling that he could never truly access before, and he clings to it. He loses himself in the vibrations and waves, letting it carry his mind away from this body that is failing him. 

Yoongi doesn’t know how much time has passed, but his body brings him back to the present. He has to use the bathroom, no matter how much he doesn’t want to get up off the floor. Sighing, he pushes himself up and shuffles out of the studio to the bathroom not bothering to stop the music. The sound doesn’t follow him past the hallway. 

When he comes back to the studio, he feels lighter. More ready to face the text from Namjoon. 

Shutting off the music, silence settles in once more. Yoongi picks up his phone and wanders over to the couch in his studio. The couch that sits empty and unused since he doesn’t have people over anymore. The one that he’ll crash out on when sleep pulls from his work, but he can’t make it down the hall to his bed. 

Collapsing onto the couch, kicking his feet up to prop up on the arm rest, he looks back at his texts with Namjoon. 

MYG : i can’t keep doing this can i?

KNJ : Knowing you, you probably could.

KNJ : You’ll be hurting yourself and everyone around you, but you’ll do it just to prove you can.

Yoongi frowns as he looks at the words. 

MYG : i’ve been hurting you. 

KNJ : I’m fine. I can take it. I think Hobi took it harder. 

MYG : it’s not exactly like this was something i could control

KNJ : We know that. So we gave you time, and space, and support. Or at least, we tried to.

MYG : why are you still here?

KNJ : Because we love you. And you’re important to us. 

KNJ : Even if you don’t always see yourself that way. 

The tears feel like they’ve already dried up from his earlier cry, or else Yoongi knows he’d be crying again. 

MYG : i hate the hearing aids

KNJ : You tried ONE pair. You know there are others out there, right?

KNJ : Some of them are more discreet than others. 

KNJ : I can send you some links.

Yoongi blinks at the text in surprise. 

MYG : you did research, didn’t you?

KNJ : Of course I did! Do you know me? I can’t cook meals and leave them at your doorstep, but I can gather information. 

MYG : Hobi used to leave me meals. Right after my diagnosis. 

KNJ : I know.

MYG : i didn’t eat them

KNJ : I know.

MYG : he stopped after about a month

KNJ : What else was he supposed to do? 

MYG : i fucked up. 

KNJ : You did, but that’s okay. 

MYG : no, it’s not

KNJ : It will be if you fix it. So, are you going to fix it?

MYG : i’ll try

KNJ : Good. 

KNJ : And I’ll run interference with Jimin for now, but I don’t think I should need to.

KNJ : He’s a good guy. 

MYG : one step at a time

KNJ : Well, it’s about time. 

MYG : send me the links

KNJ : I have them in a draft. I’ll send them right now.

And, true to his word, an email notification pops up in less than fifteen seconds. 

MYG : thank you

KNJ : Always. 

It’s later that night, as Yoongi is sitting at his computer desk looking through the information Namjoon sent him, that he gets a text notification. He linked his phone to his desktop since he couldn’t hear it and sometimes didn’t feel it if the phone was on the desk. 

JHS : Hey, Yoon. I’m hoping you have a moment to chat. Let me know when you’re free.

Yoongi knows that Hoseok is a stop he needs to make on his repentance tour, but he wasn’t ready to do it just yet. They’d only just started talking again, but after his revelation with Namjoon earlier he can’t just ignore it any longer. 

MYG : hey, hobi. thanks for texting i wanted to chat with you, too

JHS : You did?

MYG : yeah. i’m sorry for the way i disappeared. 

MYG : i’m glad we’ve been reconnecting lately, but i should have reached out sooner

MYG : i’m trying to do better

There’s a long pause and it feels like Yoongi’s heart is going to thud it’s way out of his chest. 

JHS : I should have done better, too. 

JHS : I missed you. And I should have said it sooner.

MYG : i wasn’t in a place to hear it

JHS : Doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have said it.

MYG : thanks

MYG : i missed you, too

JHS : I know. ;)

MYG : brat

JHS : But you miiiiiiiiiissed me.

MYG : regretfully.

He laughs, the joy bubbling up and pushing past his lips. It feels almost normal, even if he can’t hear his laughter filling the room like he used to. 

JHS : This is great, because I have something I want to talk to you about.

MYG : anything

JHS : It’s about Jimin

MYG : i take it back

MYG : anything but that

JHS : It’s just that I see you doing to him what you did to us. 

JHS : And I think you should NOT do that

MYG : he doesn’t know and he doesn’t need to know

Even as Yoongi types out the message, it feels wrong. After talking to Namjoon, and now Hoseok, it’s like the universe is trying to tell him something he’s been denying. That more than a year of isolation hasn’t done him any good and maybe, just maybe, there’s one person he can try to let in. Someone who didn’t know him before his diagnosis. Before his hearing loss. Who only knows Yoongi as he is now. 

JHS : He can tell something’s up. 

JHS : You’ve worked so hard to develop a new way of doing music on your own.

JHS : And that’s worked out great. Your music is still you.

JHS : Isn’t it time to start working with other artists again?

MYG : I do.

JHS : Bullshit

JHS : Otherwise you and I would still be working together. 

JHS : I love you, man, but it hurts to see you shut everyone out.

JHS : Thank you for letting me back in, but it doesn’t have to just be me and Namjoon.

MYG : its not that easy

JHS : It doesn’t have to be that hard, either.

JHS : Just think about it?

MYG : What if he doesn’t want to work with me if he learns the truth?

There it is. The naked truth behind all of Yoongi’s dodging. He’s made his friends prove to him, time and time again, over the past two years that they aren’t going anywhere. Jimin has no such obligation. 

JHS : Then I’d be shocked.

JHS : He admires you too much. 

MYG : that’s the problem!

JHS : I don’t think it’s a problem

JHS : Maybe it’s an opportunity. 

Yoongi sighs, looking at the words on the screen of his phone. Opportunity? When was the last time he thought of things as opportunities instead of obstacles? Instead of hurdles? Instead of walls? 

He doesn’t answer right away as he turns the thoughts over in his head, looking at everything he thought he knew with this new perspective. His phone vibrates in his hand.

JHS : Think about it. 

JHS : And when you’ve made up your mind, let me buy you a meal.

JHS : It’s been a long time.

MYG : Let me cook for you. 

JHS : I won’t say no to that.

JHS : TTYL hyung.

Yoongi finds himself smiling at the exchange. Offering to cook for Hoseok came so naturally. Felt so right. And what better way to test out whatever new tech he ends up trying after he finishes going through the dozens of links Namjoon sent him.

For the first time in almost two years, it feels like things in his life are changing for the better. And he’s not foolish enough to discount the fact that it’s because he has people in his life. People like Namjoon and Hoseok. And maybe, just maybe, Jimin. 

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02:45:36 13 June 2025
Studio Session Appointment

CONFIDENTIAL 

I’ve been working off of the conversation we had at dinner a few weeks ago. I think it’s time we scheduled a studio session. Here’s my availability and we’ll work out a time for you to visit my home studio since it’s configured to my process. 

minyoongi.calendly.com/appointmentrequest

Jimin is bouncing around his manager’s office after reading the email that was sent to both him and Kim Seokjin for what feels like the hundredth time. “Hyung, can you believe it?”

Seokjin sighs, continuing to type away at his computer ignoring Jimin’s hyperactivity. “I believed it the first dozen times you asked me, but for the thirteenth time? Maybe not. I supposed my belief has faded,” he says, deadpan. 

Giggling, Jimin plops himself into the seat across from Seokjin. “But is there an opening soon? I want to do it now.” 

“I told you already. You have a photoshoot with W Magazine this weekend. The next opening in both of your schedules isn’t until Tuesday. And even then, I had to cancel your dance practice with Hoseok.” Seokjin makes a put upon sigh, but Jimin isn’t buying it. His manager has been having to listen to Jimin whine about not getting to work directly with SUGA since the dinner. Even if he promised Hoseok he wouldn’t push it, that doesn’t mean it hasn’t occupied his thoughts. And his manager is the only person paid to put up with his incessant whining. Even Taehyung had to call a timeout. 

Jimin flops back in the seat, his arms hanging limply over the sides. “Tuesday is so far away ,” he moans. “Couldn’t we push back the photoshoot?”

“Nope,” Seokjin says without looking up. “You’ll live. It’s not even a week! You’ve been waiting for months since the last song you did with SUGA. I’m sure you can make it four more days.” 

Jimin throws his head back against the backrest of the chair. “I can, but I don’t want to,” he admits. 

Seokjin finally stops typing and takes off his glasses, leveling a glare at Jimin. “Why are you even in my office? Go dance if you have the energy to be this annoying.”

Jimin smiles at him and sits up straight. “You’re right, I should go tell Hoseok-hyung the good news!” He jumps out of the chair and practically skips out of the office. 

He doesn’t make it any farther than the elevator when the doors open and Hoseok is standing inside the lift. “Hyung!” Jimin cries happily and hops into the elevator next to him. He startles a woman with a badge for finance. “Guess what!”

“Seokjin broke his ‘no sweets after lunch’ rule for you and now you’re on a sugar rush?” Hoseok smirks at his own guess and Jimin playfully rolls his eyes. 

“No!” He elbows Hoseok. “I have a studio session with SUGA!”

The smile disappears off of Hoseok’s face. “I thought you said you were going to drop it,” he says quietly, eyes glancing towards the woman sharing the lift. 

“I did!” Jimin crosses his arms and pouts, insulted that Hoseok would assume otherwise. “I haven't talked to him at all since our dinner. He emailed me and Seokjin-hyung with the offer.”

Hoseok blinks at him with wide, surprised eyes. The elevator stops and the other woman gets off on the admin floor. 

“Hyung reached out to you first?” Hoseok’s voice of disbelief echoes off the elevator walls as the doors slide shut and they start going down once more. 

Jimin sniffs. “He did. I wouldn’t lie about that.”

“Of course you wouldn’t. It just makes me happy to hear.” The smile reappears and Hoseok throws an arm around Jimin’s shoulders. “I told him he should reconsider, and I’m thinking Namjoon did the same.”

Now it’s Jimin’s turn to be surprised. “You did? Even after you told me to drop it?” 

Hoseok pats him on the back as the doors slide open once more and he steps out of the elevator. “I didn’t push him or anything,” he explains. “I just asked him to re-evaluate. My earlier request still stands: be gentle with him! Him inviting you into his space is a big deal.”

Jimin frowns as he scurries after Jimin. “It can’t be that big of a deal,” he argues.

“It is.” Hoseok turns and Jimin has to stop suddenly or run right into him. “Do not take this for granted, Jimin. It’s been a long time since Yoongi has let anyone in. Anyone besides me and Namjoon, and even that has only been at arm’s length. So don’t fuck it up for the rest of us.”

“Why do I feel like I’m missing something?” Jimin raises an eyebrow, trying to read Hoseok’s face.

Hoseok shrugs. “That’s for Yoongi to decide whether to share or not. Just be your charming self. I’m sure it’ll be fine, but I wouldn’t be a good friend to either of you if I didn’t try to prepare you. For both of your sakes.”

“Okay, Mr. Mysterious,” Jimin huffs. 

“Why are you following me?” Hoseok finally asks as they enter the dance studio. “We don’t have a session today.”

“Seokjin-hyung kicked me out of his office,” Jimin says as if that’s enough explanation.

And it must be, because Hoseok just nods and welcomes Jimin into the dance practice with the trainees. 

It took about a week before Yoongi found the best hearing aid that suited his needs. It was discreet, had a longer battery life, and distorted sounds much less. It wasn’t perfect, but it was better than the basic model he’d tried and decided he hated before refusing to look into it any further. 

Yoongi still prefers spending most of his time in his apartment without the hearing aids in, but he has Jimin coming over today. He waits until about thirty minutes before Jimin is supposed to arrive before he inserts the in-ear hearing aids. His hair is long enough to cover his ears and it makes him feel more secure about wearing them than the old ones. These ones don’t feel too different from the noise cancelling headphones he usually sports, but they are even smaller. 

His doorbell rings and he nearly startles, forgetting what the sound was since he moved to a system that uses a flashing light. Mostly for getting food orders and other deliveries. 

Nervously tugging at his black jeans and graphic t-shirt, Yoongi goes to answer the door. Jimin is smiling at him from the doorstep, dressed in a pair of casual jeans and white button-up shirt that is a few sizes too big that it shifts to hang off one shoulder. 

“Good afternoon, Yoongi-hyung,” Jimin says and holds out a bouquet of flowers. 

Surprised, Yoongi accepts the flowers. “What are these for?” he asks dumbly, stepping aside so Jimin can come inside. 

The dancer laughs and the tinkling sound is even clearer with his new hearing aids. “My mother told me never go to someone’s house without a gift,” Jimin says simply as he slips out of his slides. Yoongi gestures to a pair of house guest shoes and Jimin smoothly steps into them.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had anyone over,” Yoongi admits. “Please come in. Do you need some water? Or something to drink?”

Pulling a large metal water bottle from his bag, Jimin holds it aloft and shakes it. “If I’m going to be singing, I make sure to bring plenty of water with me. But thanks, hyung.” His smile doesn’t fade and Yoongi feels swept up in it. Like an electric current is buzzing in the air and he just needs to ride along with it. 

“Sensible.” Yoongi starts walking down the hall. “My studio is this way.”

They enter the studio that hasn’t had anyone in it but Yoongi since the last time Hoseok was over. Out of frustration (and a lot of self pity) Yoongi had kicked him out and vowed never to let anyone in again. Yet here he is, a little over a year later, inviting someone new in. But Jimin isn’t just anyone. Yoongi can feel it in his chest. Jimin is special. 

Jimin sits down on the couch and Yoongi puts the flowers down on the coffee table. He then grabs the papers he has printed and pulls his desk chair over to sit across from Jimin. “So, here’s what I’ve been working on since our last conversation. Tell me what you think and we can move forward from there. Maybe even start laying down some vocals if you have the time today.”

“I’m all yours today.” Jimin throws him a wink and Yoongi feels his breath catch. 

Time floats away. They go back and forth over the lyrics, suggesting changes to the hook and expanding on the imagery. It’s only when they are both satisfied with the words that Yoongi invites Jimin over to the sound booth to record his vocals. 

The recording booth is not the same as in a real studio. It's basically a little box in the corner of the room to help neutralize as much room noise as possible. There’s a window in the door that Jimin can look out of and gesture to Yoongi, but with the headphones on they can talk back and forth. 

As much as Yoongi thought Jimin’s speaking voice was magical, his singing is even better. He should have known better than to go into this unprepared. He’d listened to Set Me Free, but never with a hearing aid in. Always on the ground feeling the music more than hearing the nuances. This is a whole other experience and it brings tears to his eyes. 

Not just because Jimin’s voice sounds like the angel he looks like, but because of everything Yoongi has missed over the last year thanks to his own stubbornness. Was his isolation worth missing out on moments like this? He’s started to think ‘not so much.’ 

Shaking his head and getting over this initial emotional wave, Yoongi gets to work. It’s easy when working with someone like Jimin. They lay down the tracks, making adjustments as they go. Jimin is as much a perfectionist as he is, so they go over some parts time and time again until they are both satisfied. 

There’s something about working with someone who pushes himself as much as Yoongi does that they are able to balance one another out. Sometimes when Yoongi is on his own he’ll get stuck on a single eight-bar and work it over and over again until it doesn’t even resemble what it once was. With Jimin, he’s able to tamper that instinct for both himself and seemingly squash it in Jimin. It makes the work better, but they also don’t get caught up in a single section for too long. 

Maybe that’s why he’s surprised that they have a first draft of the song done in a matter of an hour and a half rather than hours. There’s still finishing mixing to do, but Yoongi feels very confident in the work they accomplished today. He calls Jimin out of the booth to listen to it together. They both take off their headphones and sit together as Yoongi arranges the tracks. 

Hitting play through his speakers, Jimin’s voice fills the room. The singer’s jaw drops and his eyes go wide as if he’s surprised by the voice being played back at them. Yoongi just chuckles to himself and sits back to enjoy the music. The sound isn’t as pure as if he weren’t wearing hearing aids, but that doesn’t make it bad. 

When the song finishes Jimin turns to him with a bright smile on his face. “This sounds amazing!”

“ You sound amazing,” Yoongi answers back. “Give me a little bit of time this week and we’ll have a master to submit to Namjoon.”

”Kim PD-nim is going to love it.” Jimin claps in excitement and Yoongi laughs along. Then a low rumbling noise interrupts their celebration and Yoongi blinks in surprise. If he weren’t wearing hearing aids, he’s sure he wouldn’t have heard it. Jimin gasps and puts his hand over his belly. “Oops,” he says bashfully.

Yoongi laughs and shakes his head. “I’m a terrible host. I invite you over and work you non-stop without feeding you. Come on, I’m sure I’ve got something in this place I can make for lunch.”

Jimin glances at this watch. “I think you mean dinner.”

Glancing at the time on his computer Yoongi notices it is in fact just after seven in the evening. Only then does his own stomach give an uncomfortable cramping to alert him to how much he’s ignored himself as well. “Even more reason to call it a night. Let me cook for you.” Yoongi pushes himself to his feet and then realizes he’s kept Jimin captive in his studio for hours. “Unless you have somewhere else to be?”

”Nowhere!” Jimin jumps to his feet, beaming at Yoongi. “I’m all yours for the rest of the night. I mean, if you need me, or whatever.” 

Yoongi can’t help but smile at him fondly. “We’re done working for tonight but I’m not kicking you out. Come on, let hyung cook for you.” He turns to lead Jimin out of the studio. 

From behind him he hears a bashful, “thank you, hyung.” Something warm and expansive grows in his chest and Yoongi feels his cheeks heat as he leads Jimin through his home back to the kitchen.

Yoongi cooks up some noodles and beef with veggies and they spend the rest of the evening laughing and chatting over their food. It feels nice to cook for someone other than himself. He used to do it all the time, but when he cut everyone out of his life he barely found the time or motivation to care for himself beyond the necessity. It’s nice to care for someone else, and Jimin makes it so easy. 

It’s nearly eleven when Yoongi’s doorbell rings and his manager, Kim Seokjin, is standing on the doorstep. “I was expecting Jimin’s call hours ago,” the man explains, shooting a narrow glare over Yoongi’s shoulder towards Jimin. “I know recording takes time - especially with how particular Jiminie can be, but I wanted to make sure he hadn’t taken over your studio for himself.” 

“Not at all,” Yoongi laughs and reassures the man. “We finished a few hours ago and were just chatting. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize he was supposed to be picked up.”

”I didn’t have to be,” Jimin says through clenched teeth. “I could have just called a car service.”

Seokjin tuts and shakes his head. “It’s getting late, even for a car service. Besides, I would be remiss in my duties as your manager if I didn’t pick you up myself.” 

“Don’t let me keep you,” Yoongi says, stepping aside to let Jimin through. 

Jimin scrunches his nose and goes to retrieve his bag from the studio before marching back to the front door. “I was fine,” he says to Seokjin, even as he steps out of his borrowed house slippers and into his shoes. 

“Well, you have an early morning schedule and we both know you are stubborn about waking up early. So do me the favor and let's go.” Seokjin smiles at Yoongi and gives a small bow. “Thank you so much for appeasing Jimin with a studio session. He was really, um, hopeful that you’d change your mind.”

”Hyung,” Jimin hisses and a warmth colors his cheeks.

Yoongi laughs and shakes his head. “I wasn’t doing it to appease him,” Yoongi reassures both of them. “It was more like I was trying to prove something to myself. So thank you, Jimin, for appeasing me and my inconsistencies.”

”Oh.” Jimin’s eyes go wide in surprise. “No, thank you Yoongi-hyung. Working with you has been a dream come true.” 

“Working with you has been a dream.” He cringes internally at the sentiment, but it’s true so Yoongi doesn’t take it back. “Have a goodnight, both of you. Get home safely.”

”We will,” Seokjin promises.

”You have to let me hear the track as soon as it’s finished!” Jimin points at Yoongi like he’s nailing him to the spot with the promise.

”I will,” Yoongi smiles and they say goodnight once more before he shuts the door. 

Jimin is gone and Yoongi is feeling more revitalized than he has in a long while. He reaches up and pulls the hearing aids from his ears, surprised that they lasted as long as they did. Smiling, he goes to clean them and leave them on their charging dock before going back to the studio.

Now he can work on Jimin’s song with his own two ears. Even without his amplified hearing, he’s able to arrange the track. He’s learned how to look at the sound waves and fit them together after years of doing this, even before his hearing started to go. He sets to work, arranging the music to suit his vision and hopefully Jimin will like it too. 

He knows Jimin will. 

Yoongi isn’t able to just work on Jimin’s song, despite how much he wants to. He has to stop when he has a middle of the night text meeting with a client overseas. Then he finally feels too tired to give the song the attention it deserves. 

Other jobs have to take priority over finishing Jimin’s song due to contracts and deadlines, but their song is always in the back of his mind. Maybe that’s why he texts Jimin regularly. Even just to ask if he’s eaten. 

Slowly, Jimin has become as much of Yoongi’s daily routine as messaging Namjoon, or remembering to have Hoseok over for that meal he promised him. His friends tease him, but more than anything they seem happy. Maybe because he uses the hearing aids much more consistently so they don’t have to rely on written messages and texts, but he suspects it's much more than that.

”I told you Jimin was worth it,” Hoseok points out when he catches Yoongi texting him during their meal.

Yoongi sighs and tucks his phone away. “I knew he would be,” he says. “I just wasn’t sure if I was.”

Hoseok frowns at him, which looks so unbelievably wrong on his friend’s usually shining face. “You haven’t told him, have you?”

Yoongi ignores him, but that seems to be confirmation enough. 

“I’m not going to tell you what to do, but I don’t think it would be a bad thing,” Hoseok says as if Yoongi invited his opinion. “He’s so excited about this new song. It’s all he can talk about when we’re warming up for dancing.”

Yoongi smiles, imagining Jimin’s bright eyes and lovely voice. “It’s going to be something special.”

”Does that mean you’ll let me listen while I’m here?” Hoseok goes to push himself up from his seat. 

“No way.” Yoongi grabs Hoseok’s hand to keep him in place. “It’s not quite done, and the first person to hear it when it is will be Jimin.” 

Hoseok laughs and settles back into his seat. “That’s great, hyung. Does this mean you’ll be more open to working with people in the studio again?” He wiggles eyebrows and Yoongi laughs.

”Are you asking if you and I can work together again?”

”Yes,” Hoseok says bluntly.

There’s a small pang in Yoongi’s chest that he ever made Hoseok (and probably) Namjoon feel like this by cutting them out. “Yes, I think I’m ready to start doing that again. I’ve missed you, Hobi.”

Hoseok’s smile comes back, softer this time. “I’ve missed you, too hyung”

It’s later that week when Yoongi has finally cleared enough of his docket to get back to Jimin’s song. Working for a few more hours, he feels like the song may actually be done. 

Turning the sound all the way up, Yoongi hits play and goes to lay down and feel the song. The music washes over him and he gasps. He knows the melodies are more delicate and the beat a little different, but there’s a familiarity to it. Especially when Jimin’s singing vibrates through his chest. It’s not ‘Talking to the Moon,’ but it gives him the same feeling. The same joy and intense pleasure. The same feelings well up and bring tears to his eyes. 

Kim PD-nim : Jiminie, can you come in for an extra dance session this afternoon?

PJM : Today’s my day off. :( :( :(

Kim PD-nim : Please, it’s really important. 

Jimin pouts at his phone. He’s been to photo shoots, extra vocal lessons, and interviews since he’s between releases. He was really looking forward to a day off with Tae to just sit at home in his lounge clothes and catch up on the drama that finished two months ago but he’s been too busy to finish watching. 

Not wanting to cancel on Taehyung, he texts Hoseok instead. 

PJM : Hyung do we HAVE to have a session today?

It takes a few minutes, but Hoseok texts him back.

Hoseok-hyung : I think you’ll be disappointed if you miss this one.

Well, that’s cryptic. 

Flopping back on his couch already in his lounge pants and comfy t-shirt he texts to tell Taehyung that they need to push back their k-drama binge session until dinner time. He doesn’t know what Namjoon and Hoseok want from him, but he refuses to completely give up his day off. 

When he gets to the dance studio in his sweatpants and oversized t-shirt, Jimin is shocked to find the dance studio is empty except for Min Yoongi. He drops his dance bag on the floor and looks around in confusion. “Where’s Hoseok-hyung?”

”Just me today,” Yoongi says, shrugging. “Sorry for the deception.”

Jimin’s eyebrows scrunch together. “What are we doing here?”

Yoongi holds up his phone and waves it in the air. “Your song is done and I thought you might like to listen to it with me.”

Jimin gasps and gallops the rest of the way across the dance room to meet Yoongi in the center. “Yes! Yes! Of course!” He then stops right in front of Yoongi and puts his hands on his hips. “You could have just texted me yourself! I’d have gone to your studio and we could listen to it there.”

”This is better,” Yoongi says. “This is where the song came to me, watching you dance here. Come on.” He holds out a hand to Jimin. 

Heat flushes through Jimin as he takes Yoongi’s hand. The man pulls him down until they are sitting side by side in the middle of the empty dance studio. Then Yoongi lays back, pulling Jimin to lay beside him. 

“What are we doing, hyung?” Jimin laughs, a little embarrassed. It feels a little exposed to be lying next to Yoongi in the large, bright room. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t like the warmth of the man so close to him. It would be a lie if he didn’t admit that perhaps he’s had thoughts of being this close to Min Yoongi. Especially since they’ve been working together recently. 

“I want you to hear the song the way I do,” Yoongi says. 

“What do you mean?” 

Jimin watches as Yoongi reaches up to the sides of his head and removes something from his ears. They look like earbuds, but that just confuses Jimin even more. Was he wearing them to listen to the music rather than the studio's sound system? 

Yoongi raises a finger to his lips, shushing Jimin and then lays back, facing the ceiling. 

Confused Jimin lays back, heat rising to his cheeks at the feel of Yoongi’s finger against his lips. Then, as he settles, the music starts. It fills the dance studio and the beat vibrates through Jimin’s chest. He gasps as his voice joins the instrumental and he can more than hear the song. He can feel it. It’s not too different from when he’s moving to the music when he dances. It’s like he can feel it throughout him and the song carries him away. 

Fingers interlace with Jimin’s and feelings fill his chest as Yoongi holds his hand. He’s overwhelmed, but in the best way. The song ends, and without asking, plays again. Jimin’s eyes slip closed as he plays through the song twice more. By the time the music is stopped, there are tears in his eyes. He turns his head to find Yoongi watching him, tears also in his eyes.

”It’s beautiful,” Jimin says.

Confusion crosses Yoongi’s face as he watches Jimin. “Just a second,” he grumbles. He puts one of the earbuds back in his ear. “I’m sorry, what did you say?” 

Jimin frowns, looking at the other earbud still in his hand, then back at Yoongi. “I said it was beautiful.” 

Yoongi smiles. “It was. Thank you for singing this song, Jiminie. It wouldn’t be what it is without you.”

The words are unbelievably kind, but Jimin’s slow to process them. He looks from Yoongi’s hand back to his face. “Hyung, are you okay?”

”Better than I’ve been in a long time,” he says. He holds up the earbud. “I lost my hearing a few years ago. It wasn’t until I met you that I even considered working with someone the way I used to, but that meant I had to make some changes.”

”Hyung,” Jimin gasps, feeling the tears welling up in the corners of his eyes once more. “I had no idea!”

Yoongi smiles softly, but there’s a sadness to it. “You weren’t supposed to know. Namjoon and Hoseok were the only ones who did, but they encouraged me to let you in. And I’m so glad that they did.”

Feelings create a lump in Jimin’s throat and he turns on his side to face Yoongi fully. “But why me?”

Yoongi turns on his side, tucking his arm under his head like a pillow. “Because you sound Iike my favorite song.”

Jimin gasps and Yoongi chuckles. “Hyung, you can’t say stuff like that to me!” He’s overwhelmed. Here’s this man, who he has admired for years, laying himself bare in this sacred space of music and dance. If Jimin weren’t already a little bit in love with him, he would be now. As it is, his feelings swell to bursting.

”Thank you, Jimin, for coming into my life,” Yoongi says, ignoring his protest. “I needed you. Please, accept this song as thanks.”

Jimin shakes his head as he reaches over to gently wipe away a tear that’s falling down Yoongi’s cheek. “You are worth more than this song,” Jimin says.

”You, Jiminie, are worth a hundred songs. I hope that we can work together again,” Yoongi sniffs. He reaches up and takes Jimin’s hand. He presses a gentle kiss to the palm, pulling a gasp from Jimni. “You’re welcome in my studio, any time.”

”And in your kitchen?” Jimin can’t help but tease remembering the meal they shared. 

“And in my life,” Yoongi says more seriously. “If you’ll stay.”

”I’ll stay.” The promise comes easily. How can he not when a man tells him that he sounds like his favorite song?