Chapter Text
A throat clears.
"Thank you, all. For meeting with me like this," Jungkook says, shifting his weight from one cramping leg to the other. He should've known better than to forego stretching as they kick dance practice into high gear before their comeback. "I know you're all really busy right now, and I appreciate it," he says to the floor in front of his four eldest hyungs, who sit cramped together on the puny couch at the back of Namjoon's studio. Bangtan's maknae never did get rid of his habit of becoming excessively formal when uncomfortable. The fingers behind his back fiddle with the nobs of the music equipment he's leaning against, his heart thudding loudly every time footsteps sound from the hallway outside.
"Jungkookie, of course we'd meet with you if you came to us with any concerns. You know that," Seokjin says, his broad shoulders uncomfortably squished between Namjoon and Yoongi. "But can you spit it out? This is disturbing." Hoseok blinks in agreement from the right side of the couch, clearly wanting to be supportive of their maknae but also genuinely spooked by the potential subject matter of this carefully orchestrated meeting. Jungkook had gone so far as to tweak his and Seokjin's vocal sessions so they could meet while Taeyhung and Jimin were busy. The dancer leans a little further into Yoongi's side.
"Whatever it is, kid, I'm sure it's not as big of a deal as it seems," the second eldest says with his signature brand of seemingly callous mothering. "What is this about?"
"Is it the response to the variety show?" Namjoon chimes in with his serious leader frown.
"No, no. It's nothing related to work. Sorry for making you worry about that," Jungkook quickly shakes his head, making his fluffy bangs flop.
"If it's not work then—is your family okay, Jungkookie?" Hoseok asks seriously, his lips not quite forming that unique pout of his.
"Yes, everyone's fine, I promise. God, I couldn't feel more stupid about what this is actually about," Jungkook huffs as he pushes away from the controls and begins to pace the tiny room.
His hyungs' eyes follow him about until Seokjin darts out a hand to snag Jungkook's wrist as he stalks by, stopping him and forcing him back around to face them. "Jungkook-ah, tell hyung what's wrong. If it is stupid, I promise not to ridicule you until you feel better about the situation."
Jungkook squares his shoulders and sighs. "Okay, I'm just going to come out and say it." The four eldest members nod in encouragement. Jungkook takes in a deep breath:
"How did you guys ask each other out?"
"..."
"Excuse me?" Yoongi grits out, never one to discuss intimate personal dealings without suffering horrifying embarrassment. He was much more in favor of letting actions speak and never giving certain emotions, real as they may be, an audible name.
Seokjin's left hand gropes blindly for Namjoon's knee before he turns wide eyes to his boyfriend, who's sporting a constipated look of relief—that nothing more serious is underfoot—mixed with trauma at having to give their youngest a version of "The Talk."
Hoseok barks out a nervous, awkward laugh from next to his grey-haired boyfriend, "Jungkookie! So you were serious about manning up after you turned 20, eh? Who's the lucky girl?"
The sassy maknae turns to his teasing hyung, "Hobi-hyung, it's been a long time since you could make fun of me for not being able to talk to girls. Besides, if it was a girl, I probably wouldn't have come to you four for advice..."
Namjoon looks up at that, a light in his eyes as his genius brain wades through all the thoughts Jungkook has yet to voice. "I wondered when you'd figure out you wanted something more with him. Or if you already had and were too nervous to say anything."
Jungkook looks down, sheepish, "I've known for a while."
"Still, about time," Hoseok smirks. "Since day one, you've been like a puppy with his favorite chew toy, don't want to share with anyone. Not that he was ever any better."
"So what changed?" Yoongi asks.
The maknae's fingers absently stroke the head of a toy lion without a mane that he grabbed from one of Namjoon's shelves. "It's a little harder to ignore now that he's gone so often for filming. I don't think I'm supposed to miss him like this. I don't like feeling so far away from him. And... well, I think things might be easier if I knew he was missing me, too."
Seokjin's gaze softens, "You know he misses you, Jungkookie. Don't tell me you haven't noticed how much more time he spends with you when he is here—because we sure as hell have. He never wants to do anything he's supposed to be doing when he's back!"
"Well, if that's true then I want... I want what you guys have. I want my best friend by my side in every way."
The four hyungs can't help but melt at that. It's true, an unspoken yet self-evident fact in Bangtan that the years of working desperately side by side and being beaten down and climbing to the top have brought the members closer to one another than many people might experience in a lifetime. And the pure love they all share is only rivaled by the intense bonds that formed between certain members. Between Namjoon and Seokjin, who became the silent source of strength the young leader never knew how to ask for when he felt like he was drowning in expectations and responsibilities. And between Hoseok and Yoongi, who both struggled with isolating inner turbulence that only calmed once they found the light that shone brightest in the other. And between Taehyung and Jungkook, who never knew how to be himself until Taehyung shanghaied his life and made it okay to be whoever he wanted.
"I guess it was only a matter of time," Namjoon sighs, though he doesn't seem exasperated, just preparing himself for a stage he knew was on the horizon, though he never knew how far off. "But what exactly do you want to know? You realize our relationships aren't exactly typical, or even imitable. Not that any relationship is." Truthfully, the members' relationships weren't at all like "normal" dating. There was infinitely more risk, but also infinitely more history and knowledge between the best friends, as well as infinitely more permanence once they decided it was worth all the potential pain and turmoil.
"I get that. I just wanted some references, you know. Besides, all the members have known about you guys forever, but I realized I don't really know when or how either of your relationships happened. Just that you guys... are. Kind of like my mom and dad," Jungkook shrugs while the hyungs look at their respective partners bashfully.
"Alright Seokjin-hyung, why don't you go first. Age and beauty before others and all that," Yoongi announces, turning to the eldest expectantly and successfully delaying his own awkwardness.
Seokjin rolls his eyes before looking to the studio door and making sure it was locked. "Fine, but we have an early schedule tomorrow so you're getting the digest."
