Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Mom just texted me." Seokjin says, putting down his paintbrush for the first time in three hours to pick up his phone. "Guess what she said?"

Jungkook taps his chin in thought. "Hmm. Knowing your mom and knowing the fact that she's out there walking Jjanggu, I'm assuming she spotted some good-looking college kids with poor, innocent souls, who don't know what kind of mess they're about to get themselves into by associating themselves with your mother."

Seokjin blinks at his friend and looks down at his phone. "How'd you know that?"

Jungkook shrugs before returning his attention to his watercolour painting. "Two plus two equals four."

Kim Seokjin, a college senior, an art major, a son.

Strengths: Cooking steak, drawing people, singing and settling the bills. 

Weaknesses: Dancing, fashion and controlling his mother.

Seokjin sighs as he looks down at the text. Now, he wouldn't say that his mom was the most embarrassing and annoying mom in the world. That would be too much of an overstatement. But Seokjin was sure of one thing. She was either the most embarrassing mom in the world who was really, really annoying. Or the most annoying mom in the world who was really, really embarrassing.

Mom Sort Of

[Today, 8:07 am]

TWO CUTE COLLEGE BOYS

Me

[Today, 8:09 am]

MOM. Please just walk our dog and LEAVE. NO FLIRTING WITH INNOCENT STUDENTS TODAY. I want my DOUGHNUTS.

Jungkook stifles a laugh as Seokjin puts down his phone and slams his head on the table. "Oh, come on, hyung. It can't be that bad having a mom as hot as yours."

Jeon Jungkook, a college freshman, an art major, a childhood friend, an asshole. 

Seokjin is about to argue when his phone rings again, making Seokjin let out a noise that Jungkook could only express to be a miserable yodel.

Mom Sort Of

[Today, 8:11 am]

NO THEY'RE GAY AND ONE OF THEM GOES TO YALE AND I SHOWED HIM YOUR PROFILE AND HE SAID UR CUTE SO I GAVE HIM UR NUMBER

Seokjin, quite literally, falls off his chair, bringing along his mug of coffee and mug of paint water. 

"Hyung, what the fuck." Jungkook says monotonously, staring at his friend on the ground, covered in two kinds of black liquid. "It's only eight am. Your mental breakdowns about you losing your touch usually don't start for another," He briefly stares at the clock on the wall, "-two hours."

"My mother gave my number to a gay stranger who goes to Yale."

"Ah, yes." Jungkook says, casually taking a bite off his sandwich, courtesy of Seokjin. "Sunday mornings."

In a panic, Seokjin fumbles to unlock his phone again and type a long, angry message but all he can manage is;

Me

[Today, 8:16 am]

MOM YOU CAN'T GIVE MY NUMBER TO A FUCKING STRANGER

The reply is almost instant.

Mom Sort Of

[Today, 8:16 am]

YALE.

Kim Sohye, single mother of Kim Seokjin, her only son the product of a drunken one night stand. Loves Seokjin more than anything. Her son came out to her when he was sixteen. She had only smiled and went 'I know, I raised you, you bastard' and gave him a hug.

Strengths: Being a soccer mom, dancing, fashion, making seaweed soup, The Art of Seduction, working hard, loving Seokjin.

Weaknesses: Not embarrassing Seokjin.

 Jungkook can only go on staring as Seokjin continues to roll around his carpeted floor, dirtying it with paint water, coffee and Seokjin's essence. Jungkook shakes his head as he fishes for his phone. "Desperate times call for desperate measures."

It only takes two rings before their saving grace picks up. "Yo?"

"Hello? Park Jimin, code red. A soldier has fallen and I need back up. Bring ice cream, tissue and your motherly care. Over." Jungkook says, voice low and serious.

"Code red? What the fuck is going on, you okay?" Jungkook hears an unfamiliar voice ask from the other line. 

"Don't worry about it." He hears Jimin answer. "Code red just means our friend's mom did something ridiculous."

"What happened this time?" Jimin asks, talking to Jungkook now.

"She gave his number to a gay stranger who goes to Yale." Jungkook answers.

Jimin hears a distant moan in the background who he assumes to be Seokjin, who was probably on the floor.

"Oh. That's bad." Jimin deadpans.

"We're losing him as we speak." 

"I'll be there in T-minus twenty." Jimin says. "God, I hate Jin hyung. I'm missing out on a good dicking, damn it."

Jungkook grimaces. "It's eight thirty in the morning."

"Yeah, my mission is to get three before it gets dark." Jimin says, matter-of-factly.

"Wow. Don't think I heard that over my inner monologue and soulless internal screaming. See you in twenty. Over and out." 

He hangs up the phone and directs his gaze to his hyung, still in hysterics on the floor. "Hear that, hyung? Jimin hyung's getting three good dickings in one day and you haven't had three good dickings in the span of four years."

Jungkook gets a reply in the form of a fist. 

 "Listen, hyung." Taehyung starts, swinging his shopping bag with his right hand and gripping onto his ice cream cone with the other. "I'm telling you, Jimin's a keeper. If Yoongi hyung doesn't keep him, I will."

"Jimin?" Namjoon asks, barely paying his little brother any attention. "Who the fuck is that?"

Park Jimin, a college freshman, an art major, one of Seokjin's best friends, Yoongi's fuck buddy.

"Are you fucking kidding me? Yoongi hyung's been fucking him for the past two weeks. Where have you been?" Taehyung huffs, shaking his head. "And you're supposed to be his best friend? Ugh. If anything, I'm more deserving of that title at this point."

"I could care less about Yoongi hyung's sex life. He's fucked everyone in the world. What's different about this one?"

"He has really tiny hands." Taehyung says, in a reverent whisper, eyes filled with wonder.

"Really. Tiny. Hands." Namjoon deadpans.

"I'm not kidding, hyung. He's fucking hot but I also really wanna shrink him and put him in my pocket. He's like a cut-out of Dwayne The Rock Johnson's body with a marshmallow as a head."

The light turns green and the two cross the street, finishing off their ice cream cones.

"If you like him so much, why don't you date him?" Namjoon chuckles.

Taehyung rolls his eyes. "Please. He wishes. I'm way out of his league. And besides, apparently, I'm not his type. Which is ridiculous because I'm everyone's type." 

Namjoon raises his eyebrows. "Oh yeah? So why exactly are you not his type, O Great One?"

"He thinks I'm too loud and too easily distracted." Taehyung says, voice laced with disbelief. "Can you believe that, hyung?"

Kim Taehyung, a college freshman, an artist, a brother, too loud and too easily distracted.

"I can one hundred percent believe it." Namjoon answers instantly.

Taehyung gasps, looking at Namjoon as if he'd offended their entire blood line. "You take that back."

"Tae, who the fuck are you kidding? I could flash a photo of Girls Generation in front of you right now and you'd forget all about this conversation and go on to talk about when they're going to release a new full album." Namjoon says, biting off his ice cream cone.

"Now, that's just not tru- puppy!"

Point proven.

Taehyung's gaze is directed to something behind Namjoon and a bright smile instantly materializes on his lips.

"Tiny white puppy dog!" He cries, instantly walking past Namjoon before he crouches down.

Namjoon stares at Taehyung's ice cream cone, now on the ground, lonely and forgotten. He then turns around to tell his brother off and is met with the view of the most adorable puppy he's ever seen in his life who's leash was being held by the hottest woman that Namjoon had ever seen in his life. No hetero though.

"He's adorable!" Taehyung squeals, before looking up at the woman in front of him. "What's his name?"

The woman smiles warmly and crouches down to match Taehyung's level. "Cute, isn't he? His name's Jjanggu. My son and I bought him two years ago."

What the fuck.

"Son?" 

Namjoon doesn't mean for that to come out, he really doesn't. But what the shit?

For a minute, Namjoon's scared he'll get told off and there's an apology waiting on the tip of his tongue. But the woman seems more amused than anything else and she chuckles, before pushing herself up and patting herself off. "It's alright, I get that a lot. I had Jin when I was really young so, that explains all this." She says, motioning to herself. "How old are you two, by the way?"

Taehyung stands up, taking Jjanggu in his arms. "I'm Tae, a college freshman. Pratts." He nods his head, motioning to Namjoon, "That's my hyung, Namjoon, a sophomore. Yale."

Kim Namjoon, a college sophomore, a science major and-

The woman seemingly chokes. "Pratts and Yale?" She manages, her eyes wide and disbelieving. "My son goes to Pratts too. He's a senior."

Taehyung's eyes widen. "Really? Shit- I mean, woah. What's his name? Maybe I've seen him around."

The woman seems to be thinking it over in her head before she snaps her fingers and reaches for her phone in her purse. "His name's Seokjin but he usually goes by Jin-" She unlocks her phone and opens her Facebook app.

Namjoon feels his heart racing for a reason he couldn't understand. Listen, if the mom was that good-looking, the son must be a masterpiece. 

She raises her phone to show them and Namjoon literally feels the breath get knocked out of him.

"Yeah, I uh," Taehyung coughs, "I don't think I've ever seen him around. I'm pretty sure I'd remember a face like that. He's, uh, really, uh-"

"Cute." Namjoon says subconsciously.

-also, a lonely gay man.

Two heads dart up to look at him and Namjoon gulps. "Uh, fuck, no, I mean- I'm not g- Well, I mean I am gay but like, I don't mean I'd.. Fuck-"

"Kim Sohye, mother of one boy and one dog, #1 Kim Seokjin promoter." She says, reaching out her hand for him to shake. "Would you like to have my son's number? He's very cute, very gay and can cook steak."

"This is unfortunate." Taehyung says.

"This is really lame of you." Yoongi adds.

"I almost feel bad for you." Hoseok says, finishing off the Kim Namjoon Pity Party.

"I can't believe you're stalking a Pratts senior whose number you got from his mommy." 

Namjoon clicks on Kim Seokjin's profile picture and nearly screams in agony. "How the fuck is it possible to fucking look like this? Fucking tell me!" 

Yoongi directs his attention from his phone to Namjoon's laptop for a second and he examines the picture a little before whistling. "Nice. Thick lips, pretty eyes, ashy hair and way out of your league."

Min Yoongi, a college Junior, a Yale student, a music major, a childhood best friend, a dick.

"Hey, are his other pictures public?" Hoseok asks, popping a potato chip into his mouth. "We should stalk him."

Namjoon will not admit it to anyone else, but he will admit to himself. He prayed to God that this Kim Seokjin boy had more pictures of his face that were out for the public. It was only right. Beauty like that had to be shared to the world.

He clicks the next button and, thank God, it directs him to a picture of the boy from what seemed to be four months ago. He was in a chef's hat and he was holding onto a wooden spoon as he pouted at the camera.

"Well, I'll be." Yoongi says to himself. "If you manage to get into his pants, I'll dye my hair mint green."

"What are you saying? Poor bastard hasn't fucked anyone in over a year." Hoseok comments.

Jung Hoseok, a college sophomore, a Yale student, a theatre arts major, a high school friend, a son of a horsin' bitch.

"He's so lonely that he's stalking an Aphrodite looking college senior who doesn't know he exists through Facebook." Taehyung shakes his head before throwing a chip at Namjoon's head, "I told you to download Tinder! You never listen to me!"

"Please. Namjoon would scare 'em off before a real conversation could actually start. Remember that time he tried to give advice and the dude went 'I don't think that's the solution' and Namjoon went 'So.. it's the precipitate?'" Yoongi recalls, making everyone groan and Namjoon throw a pillow at his face.

"He never talked to you again." Hoseok says, adding salt to the wound.

"Shut the fuck up, will you?" Namjoon hisses. He turns to look at Yoongi, "Besides, aren't you supposed to be with that knew boy toy of yours? Jimin, was it?"

Yoongi glares. "He's not my boy toy. And yeah, but his friend called talking about some code red emergency." 

"Code red?" Taehyung asks. "Sounds bad. Did someone die?"

"Apparently, his friend's mom did something embarrassing." Yoongi said nonchalantly.

It's at that exact moment that Taehyung presses the next button and is met with a picture of Kim Seokjin with his arms around two younger looking boys, tagged as 'Jeon Jungkook' and 'Park Jimin' respectively.

Taehyung's heart gets caught in his throat.

"Hyung," Taehyung calls out to Yoongi, "- Yoongi hyung, what exactly did his mom do?"

"How am I supposed to know?" Yoongi retorts. "Something about his mom giving out his-"

Yoongi drifts off, lets the words sink in. His eyes widen and he turns to Taehyung's direction and his gaze instantly rests on the picture on the screen.

"Holy shit." He breathes out.

"Holy shit." Taehyung repeats.

"Holy shit." Says Hoseok, who had been paying attention all this time.

"What?" Namjoon says, letting go of his pen and examining his friends' and brother's faces. "What is it?"

Taehyung, stealthily and quietly, rests his finger over the mouse clicker and moves it until the pointer is hovering over the 'Add Friend' button. He searches Namjoon's face for a reaction but it seems he hasn't realized it at all.

Yoongi and Hoseok have though, and they both give him knowing looks, their eyes silently telling him to fucking press the button before he loses his chance.

Taehyung can hear the Pink Panther music in his head. He feels a bead of sweat fall from his temple as he licks his lips and finally, finally presses the button. It makes a click noise. Namjoon turns.

"What'd you just do?" He asks.

Taehyung clenches his fists, ready to make his Grand Escape.

Namjoon's eyes land on the screen and it's like he had fucking binoculars installed behind his eyes at that moment. "Kim Taehyung, what the f-"

Taehyung makes a run for it, practically flying off the bed. "Hoseok hyung, grab him! Yoongi hyung, grab his phone!"

Hoseok leaps over their food, drinks and textbooks, tackling Namjoon from behind. "Don't you dare move, you fucker!"

"Get the fuck off me, Jung Hoseok!" Namjoon screams, trying to wriggle out of the boy's tight grasp. "You son of a bitch! Traitor! Six years of friendship being burnt into fucking ashes! Ashes, Hobi! Ashes!"

"Hyung, quick, are you texting him yet?" Hoseok says through gritted teeth. "I can't hold on for much longer here."

Taehyung joins Hoseok in restraining Namjoon eventually, holding onto his legs to keep him from kicking. "Yoongi hyung, hurry!"

Yoongi bites his lip in concentration, typing the words as fast as he can as soon as he finds the contact saved 'Kim Seokjin (Aphrodite)' and he screams 'Done!' once he presses the Send button and the little green loading line disappears.

Hoseok and Taehyung let go of their hold on Namjoon and the boy leaps for his phone, Yoongi instantly dropping it on the bed, scampering away from Namjoon.

Namjoon feels tears welling up when he's met with;

To: Kim Seokjin (Aphrodite)

[Today, 5:03 pm]

Hey, hot stuff. ;) How u doin?

"Hey, mom?" Seokjin calls out, trying to swallow the lump in his throat. "What's the name of that dude who you gave my number to this morning?"

Sohye looks up from her cereal bowl and tilts her head. "I forgot. Like.. there was a Joon in the end. Shinjoon? Daejoon? I don't know, just wait for him to tex-"

"Does it happen to be Kim Namjoon?" Seokjin asks, not sparing his mother a glance, his eyes glued to the computer screen.

Jimin and Jungkook work on their own projects silently, heads bowed, eyes lowered.

"Yes!" His mom says, smiling. "That's it. That's exactly it. How'd you know?"

"He.." Seokjin turns his head slowly to meet his mom's gaze, his stare blank. "He sent me a friend request on Facebook."

It doesn't take more than half a second for Jimin, Jungkook and Sohye to gather around his laptop. 

"Let me fucking see." Jungkook says, grabbing the device.

"Don't block the view, you damn tree!" Jimin complains, swatting Jungkook's hands away.

Sohye slaps the two boys on the back of their necks. "Nu-uh! Not so fast! Mother rights!"

They all gaze at the boy's profile picture. Blonde hair pushed back, a suit and tie, a gummy smile, hands tucked into his pockets, god, fuck, he's hot. Jesus christ, he's fucking hot. God help him-

Jimin gasps beside him. "Yoongi?"

Everyone turns their heads to look at him. "Who?"

He raises a finger to point to the screen, motioning to the boy behind Namjoon in the picture, sitting on a couch, looking bored. It looked like he wasn't supposed to be in the picture, but was caught anyway. "That's Min Yoongi. The guy I've been fucking for the past two weeks. The boy who was about to give me a good dicking literally right before Jungkook called this morning."

"Oooh, how good is he?" Sohye asks, wiggling her eyebrows. "Scale of 1 to 10?"

"God, I don't know," Jimin says, sighing, "- best sex I've ever had, that's for sure."

Sohye nods understandingly. "I feel you, son. I feel."

"Mom." Seokjin whines, reaching up to rub his temples. "Be a normal mother for once, please, tell me what to do about this. This is bad. We have fucking connections."

Jungkook blinks and swats Seokjin's hand away from the mouse before speedily clicking 'Accept' before Seokjin could do anything about it. "The fuck were you waiting for?"

"Jeon fucking Jungk-" Seokjin's just about to wrap his hands around the boy's neck when his phone makes a little 'Ding!' sound. Seokjin has a very, very bad feeling about it.

He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath and gathers up the courage to pick up his phone and read the text.

Unknown

[Today, 5:03 pm]

Hey, hot stuff. ;) How u doin? 

"Fuck." Seokjin whispers to himself.

"Hot. Stuff." Jungkook repeats. "Fucking. Hot stuff."

"Hyung, answer him." Jimin says urgently. "Go on! Tell him.. tell him you think he's hot too."

"Are you fucking insane?" Seokjin argues, whipping his head around to give Jimin a hard glare. "No fucking way!"

"You already accepted his friend request though, there's no harm in replying to his text." Sohye shrugs, pouting her lips a little.

"Don't start with me, mother." Seokjin says, pointing a firm finger at her. "You started this mess. Listen, I ought to-"

Jungkook snatches Seokjin's phone away from his hand just as he's about to start his Being A Normal Mom Speech, darting off to the other side of the room. "What do you want me to call him, hyung? Honey bun? Cutie? Sexy Yale man?"

"Jeon Jungkook, you give me my fucking phone back! I'm still your hyung, you fucking brat!" Seokjin screams, tackling Jungkook to the floor, making the latter groan in pain, but his strength does not falter.

"I'm doing this for you, hyung!" Jungkook reasons, keeping Seokjin's phone away from his reach. "You've been lonely and you've been losing your touch and this is the perfect opportunity to get it back!"

"What the fuck do you mean?" Seokjin says, stretching his arms as far as he could, "Get my touch back through fucking a strange Yale boy? Give me back the phone, you bastard!"

"What better way is there?" Jungkook retorts as he shoves Seokjin back and frees himself from his grasp. "Just fucking give this a chance!"

Seokjin comes for him again when he sees the boy beginning to type out a message. Seokjin gives out a loud battle cry as he jumps on his dongsaeng's back. "Give it to me, Jeon fucking Jungkook!"

"Fucking hell!" Jungkook cries out, trying to type as much as he could before Seokjin could grab the phone. In the middle of the mess, Jungkook had managed to click Send and Seokjin cries out and dramatically falls to the floor, realizing what had happened when Jungkook had stopped using his strength on him.

There's a dead silence.

"Oh no." Jungkook mutters.

Jimin raises his head to meet Jungkook's eyes.

Sohye stops eating her cereal midway.

A cold wind passes through Seokjin's back.

Jungkook's eyes look panicked and scared as he meets Seokjin's gaze. "Hyung, listen- I didn't- I didn't mean to type-"

"Jeon Jungkook."

Seokjin wasn't kidding around now. His voice was scarily low. Almost inaudible. His eyes dark and intimidating. Jungkook gulps and counts down to his death in his head.

"Hyung, I swear I didn't-"

"What did you send?" Seokjin asks, putting out a hand, silently asking for his phone. "I'm going to count to three. If it's not in my hand by then, you're going to fucking regret it."

"Hyung, I didn't mean to! I just wanted to type something like hey man, uh, I want us to get to know each other more, you want to hang? But then you were screaming and I was screaming, and I accidentally typed what I was scream-"

"One."

"Hyung, please don't-"

"Two." Seokjin says, voice getting firmer each time.

Jungkook closes his eyes and chucks the phone at Seokjin. Sohye and Jimin gather around him, eyes peering over his shoulder to peek at the screen.

"Ohhhhhh, dear lord." Sohye sing-songs, before picking up her bowl and heading out the door. "This won't be pretty. Have fun, boys."

For a second, Seokjin considers murder and suicide.

To: Unknown

[Today, 5:16 pm]

Hey, you. ;) I waNT FUCKING

In an apartment building twenty minutes away, Unit 402-B, four boys are gathered around in a circle in the bedroom, blinking blankly at Namjoon's iPhone screen. 

Chapter Text

“Are we sure about this?” Yoongi asks as Taehyung hurriedly shoves his breakfast into his mouth and swings his backpack over his shoulder. “For all we know, this Seokjin dude could be a jerk.”

“Hyung,” Taehyung answers, giving Yoongi a pointed look, “He’s friends with Jimin. Do you really think Jimin would associate himself with jerks?”

“Yes.” Hoseok says, joining in their conversation. “A good example would be the fact that he’s fucking Yoongi hyung.”

Yoongi swivels around to give Hoseok a dirty look. “Son of a bitch.”

“Alright, listen.” Taehyung says, putting both hands up. “I’ll text Jimin, tell him about the issue at hand, ask him if they’re game to meet up, I’ll see the guy for myself and everything will go according to plan. Trust me.”

With those words, Taehyung gives the two a little salute and skips out the door, slamming it shut.

Yoongi pops a mint into his mouth, staring at the closed door. “This is gonna be a fucking disaster.”

“I know.” Hoseok says, turning back to his homework. “Isn’t it great?”

Kim Taehyung is a man who does not waste time.

Taehyungie

[Today, 10:08 am]

my brother is the gay guy from yale who got your friend’s number

Jiminie

[Today, 10:10 am]

i stalked his profile so i know. what do you have in mind, kim taehyung?

Taehyungie

[Today, 10:12 am]

text me where u are later around lunch

Taehyung lets out the most diabolical smile.

“What the fuck is up with you?” Namjoon asks from the driver’s seat, with a freaked expression.

Taehyung coughs awkwardly, masking his emotions, in order for his plan to succeed. “Damn,” He says, rolling his eyes, “- can’t a guy find a text funny? Jesus, what’s up your ass today?”

Namjoon takes a breath to retort, but Taehyung cuts him off with, “Oh wait. Nothing’s been up your ass for years.”

“I’m the one driving, you shit-hole. You and the two dicks still owe me for the little stunt you pulled a few days ago. I could leave you on the street right now, see if I fucking care.”

Taehyung’s phone makes a ding sound and Taehyung has to bite his tongue to keep from squealing.

Jiminie

[Today, 10:15 am]

i’m game

Jimin develops a little skip in his walk and it freaks Jungkook out. He tries to ignore it. Focuses on the lollipop in his mouth and the Instagram pictures he’s scrolling through on his phone. But Jimin lets out the most sinister laugh he’d ever heard in his life and he snaps.

“Hyung, what the fuck? What the fuck.” Jungkook deadpans. “You have Bubbles’ face but Mojo Jojo’s laugh. What is going on?”

“You know that Yale dude?” Jimin starts, “- I’m friends with his little brother.”

“Jesus.” Jungkook comments, his shoulders shaking a little as he chuckles. “His friend’s your fuck buddy and your friends with his brother. Jin hyung’s gonna flip.”

“I think he wants to meet up.” Jimin says, looking up at Jungkook. “You know, let Jin hyung and this Namjoon guy meet each other in person.”

“Hmmm,” Jungkook hums, his eyebrows crinkling in thought, “We get to embarrass Jin hyung and he gets a potential good dicking by a hot Yale guy? It’s a win-win.”

Jimin’s phone lights up.

Taehyungie

[Today, 10:18 am]

aww yeeehhhh

“I’m losing my touch, guys!” Seokjin wails, raising his sketchbook in the air as if about to slam it into the concrete. “It’s not working!”

“Hyung, calm down, please.” Jimin says gently, holding onto the older’s forearm. “It’s literally only been ten minutes.”

“But this is so simple.” Seokjin whines, running his hands through his hair. “I should be able to do this in my sleep and yet,” He dramatically flops down on the bench, “- I am like this.”

“Here,” Jungkook says, handing over a chocolate bar, “You aren’t yourself when you’re hungry.”

“This is not about food, Jeon Jungkook!” He exclaims, at the same time grabbing the chocolate bar, “- this is about me, losing my touch!”

“No, this is you freaking out, because you’ve obsessively stalked Kim Namjoon everyday for the past three days.” Jimin says pointedly.

“Okay, look,” Seokjin says defensively, slamming his sketchbook shut. “The only reason I obsessively stalk him is because I am concerned about what the hell this dude thinks of me now. I want fucking? I want fucking?”

“To be fair,” Jungkook says, raising a finger up, “- you could’ve texted him that it was your friends and mom messing around once we all left your apartment.”

Seokjin stares at Jungkook, aghast. “Nonsense! When you all left, it’d already been four hours since the text was sent and he didn’t even reply. The only knowledgeable thing to do is to never text the guy again. Ever.”

“You haven’t even unfriended him on Facebook.” Jimin points out.

“How am I supposed to know if he posts a new picture then?”

Jimin and Jungkook sigh.

“Anyway,” Seokjin says devouring what was left of the chocolate. “That’s not the issue at hand. The issue at hand is that I can’t paint a fucking tree!” He wails.

“Uh, excuse me?” They hear a voice call out from behind them, right as he taps the three on their shoulders. “Hey, Jimin!” He says brightly as Jimin gives him a high five. “Jeon Jungkook and Kim Seokjin, am I right? What’s up?” He says, turning his attention to the other two.

Jungkook, who had been informed of the plan, pats himself off as he stands from his position on the bench. “Jeon Jungkook, freshman, art major.” He says, reaching out a hand which Taehyung shakes. He motions to Seokjin with his head, “Kim Seokjin, senior, having an emotional breakdown over a tree.”

“A tree as in a tree or a tree as in Namjoon hyung?” Taehyung asks, genuinely curious.

“Both.” Jimin and Jungkook say in unison.

“Oh my god, you’re his brother.” Seokjin says, seemingly just coming out of his initial shock. “Oh my god, you are Kim Namjoon’s little brother.”

Taehyung smiles. “Kim Taehyung, freshman, Kim Namjoon’s little brother.”

“Shit, listen, I-“ Seokjin begins to say, blinking rapidly. “About the text a few days ago, you think you could explain to him that-“

“It wasn’t you and it was your friends?” Taehyung finishes, an understanding smile on his face.

Seokjin nods hopefully. “Could you?”

“We figured that much. The text he sent you was sent by us too.” Taehyung chuckles, waving his hand nonchalantly. “Don’t worry too much about it. He’s as mortified as you are.”

There’s a wave of relief that washes over Seokjin. Also a wave of disappointment that Kim Namjoon of Yale didn’t think he was ‘hot stuff ;)’ after all. But you didn’t hear that from him.

“But, hey,” Taehyung says, catching Seokjin’s attention, “You know what he looks like, right? He isn’t that bad on the eyes, is he? You think you’d be up to… meet up with him?”

Seokjin blinks. “Huh?”

Jungkook and Jimin throw their arms around the boy, trapping him into the conversation. “Come on, hyung!” Jimin says cheerfully, flashing his eye smile that he knew Seokjin couldn’t resist. “Try to live a little once in awhile, yeah?”

“You’re losing your touch ‘cause you’ve been so unhappy these days. You’ve done nothing but work.” Jungkook adds, gently squeezing his shoulder. “It might be fun. Besides, your mom usually has a good eye when it comes to men.. for you, at least.”

“Okay, look,” Seokjin says gently pushing his two friends away from him. “I appreciate the gesture, but I don’t have the time. Besides, mom and the two of you have done enough damage to my image. It can’t be repaired. So regardless of how hot he is-“

“So you think he’s hot.” Taehyung points out, stroking his chin.

“Is that all you got from that?” Seokjin groans. “I’m not doing it. No. Ain’t got the time, ain’t got a reason. Okay? Nice meeting you,” He says, patting Taehyung on the arm, “- and see you two later.” He says, smacking Jimin and Jungkook on the back before walking away.

The three boys stare at Seokjin’s retreating figure silently.

“Yeah, okay, whatever, so what’s the plan and your number?” Jungkook asks, facing Taehyung.

Taehyung’s phone is out in an instant.

Okay, game plan.” Taehyung says, clapping his hands to get his two friends’ attention. “What time is Namjoon hyung coming?”

“He has a class until seven.” Hoseok says. “We have a little over an hour left. So what fucked up shit are we doing this time?”

“All you have to do is invite him to watch that new hit movie. Plane to Busan? Yeah, that-“

“Plane to Busan.” Yoongi deadpans.

Taehyung waves him off. “Anyway, yeah. Invite him to the movie and make him think we’re all going together when in reality, we’re gonna be meeting Jimin, Jungkook and Seokjin hyung in front of the cinema and then we push them both in! They can’t say no ‘cause we already have the tickets and Jimin says Seokjin hyung hates wasting money and we all know how long Namjoon hyung has been waiting to see this movie.”

“I think I vaguely heard this plan from Jimin a few hours ago, but okay.” Yoongi says nodding once before returning his attention to his laptop.

“What are you guys anyway?” Taehyung asks, taking a seat beside his hyung. “Like, this is more than a fuck buddies thing now, isn’t it? It’s been going on for over two weeks and you haven’t talked about wanting to fuck anyone else.”

“That’s none of your concern.” Yoongi says, eyes not leaving the screen.

“Is he that good?” Hoseok asks, wiggling his eyebrows. “Care to share?”

That earns him a really hard smack on the head. “If you say that again, I’ll break your dick.”

Taehyung and Hoseok look at each other.

“A crush.” They say in unison.

“Mom, have you paid your electricity bill yet?” Seokjin says through the phone, as he struggles to put his leftovers back in the freezer.

“Yeah yeah, I did two days ago. Have you gone grocery shopping for the week?” Sohye asks back.

“Mmm.” Seokjin hums. “Done.”

“Alright, you should head to bed now. Don’t you have an early class tomorrow?” She reminds him. “Go to sleep. Good n-“

“Wait, mom,” Seokjin says hurriedly, “You have a minute?”

“You okay? What is it?” She asks instantly and Seokjin knows she probably just dropped everything she was supposed to be doing.

“It’s nothing big, I just-“ Seokjin sighs and flops down on his couch, “I’m in a slump with my art. Nothing’s really going right. I can’t make anything I like and I’m just… tired all the time.”

He hears her sigh on the other end. “Things have been sucky, huh?”

Seokjin groans. “I don’t know what to do about it.” He pauses a little before adding, “- oh and hey, I met Kim Namjoon’s little brother today. Kim Taehyung?”

“Ooooh.” She says excitedly, as if she’s just heard the juiciest gossip of the year. “How was it? He’s cute too, ain’t he?”

“He is.” Seokjin admits. “He kinda reminds me of a giant puppy.”

“So?” His mom says and Seokjin can fucking hear her munching on something. Popcorn, probably. “How was it? What’d he say? Tell me everything. Don’t leave a single detail out, you brat.”

“You’re unbelievable.” Seokjin retorts. “He asked me if I wanted to meet his brother in person, which I declined, before you say anything ridiculous.”

“What?” His mother cries, slamming her bowl down. “Kim Seokjin! I did not raise you to be this way! I don’t claim you!”

“Mom!” Seokjin whines. “You created this mess in the first place, woman! Don’t expect me to go along with it! You always do the weirdest damn shit!”

“Hey,” She says firmly and he can just picture the hand on her waist right at that moment. “This is the single greatest thing I have ever done and the single greatest person I could’ve ever set you up with.”

Seokjin huffs. “I’m hanging up.”

“You know why you’ve been so down these days?” Sohye adds, now on a roll, “- because you never give yourself a break. You keep working yourself to the bone and I worry about you! Jimin and Jungkook do too! You gotta let lose once in awhile, my friend-“

“What the fuck. I’m your fucking son. You’re my mother. My flesh and blood. Person who conceived me.” Seokjin deadpans.

“Right.” She notes. “And if I were your dick, I’d be crying.”

Seokjin actually hangs up this time.

Mom Sort Of

[Today, 11:31 pm]

how dare u

Me

[Today, 11:33 pm]

What kinda damn parenting

Mom Sort Of

[Today, 11:34 pm]

good night, i love you to the moon and back. :*

Seokjin smiles to himself and shakes his head. Ridiculous.

Me

[Today, 11:35 pm]

I love you more

Kim Sohye, a single mother, master of The Art of Seduction, certified MILF, Kim Seokjin’s entire world. A drunken one night stand is what she always says. A drunken one night stand is what everyone has always believed. But Seokjin knows it’s a big fat lie. Biggest fucking lie ever. She says it so he doesn’t get fixated on finding a father who had left them before he was born. She says it so he believes that it had always been just him and her and there couldn’t have been any hope to have a complete family. Seokjin believed it until he was fourteen. But one night when his mom was asleep, he saw the box of pictures and love letters in the basement. His mom was only turning sixteen when she had him. There was a boy she’d been friends with for a couple months. They fell in love. One night, they got drunk and had sex. She found out she was pregnant nearly three weeks in. She told him as soon as she knew. He fled. He disappeared from the face of the earth and never showed himself again. Seokjin doesn’t even know who he is. Seokjin doesn’t care enough to try. But he can’t forgive him.

He can’t say he hates him, though. Seokjin doesn’t feel all that bad about not having a father. In fact, he was kinda glad things were the way they were. That meant he had his mom all to himself. And, god, he couldn’t imagine it being anyway else. She was the fucking greatest. The best in the world. One in a billion. She was beautiful, she was strong, she was hard-working, she was fun, she was smart, she was caring, she’s a drinking buddy, a best friend, his personal psychiatrist and more than anything else, a mother.

Sohye had a choice. She could’ve never had him. She could’ve saved herself from the ridicule she got from everyone. She could’ve saved herself from being disowned by her family. She could’ve saved herself from a shit ton of pain but she chose Seokjin over anything and everything. She worked from the bottom all the way to the top, studied hard, worked hard and gave Seokjin everything he needed and more. Not only that, but she became the most frustratingly hot and cool mom that anyone could only ever dream of having. And as much as Seokjin hated it, he loved it just as much. His mother had given up such a comfortable life just so he had a chance at something better. And that’s what kills Seokjin the most. How in the back of her head, she probably always wondered what would’ve happened if she’d just never had him.

People work towards a goal. Whether it be money, recognition, success. Seokjin works because he wants to give his mom a life better than what she could’ve ever imagined in her head.

Seokjin isn’t one for relationships and romance. Those kinds of things always lead to disaster. Break-ups. Infidelity. Unwanted pregnancies. But if there’s any kind of love that he does believe in,

Mom Sort Of

[Today, 11:37 pm]

>:( impossible! i love u most

- it's this one.

“Man, I’ve been waiting to see this movie forever!” Namjoon says, practically skipping his way to the cinema, his two friends and brother following closely behind him. “I mean, I’ve barely had the time. And now that I’m free, I hear my brother here already bought me tickets.” He smiles, looking genuinely touched, as he throws an arm around Taehyung.

Taehyung smiles brightly at his clueless brother, batting his eyelashes. "Aren't I the best brother ever?"

“Best brother ever.” Namjoon boasts, his eyes turning into crescents.

Hoseok and Yoongi look on, not knowing whether they should laugh at him or cry for him.

“Hey, shouldn’t we all buy popcorn and drinks first?” Namjoon suggests, as they get closer and closer to their designated cinema.

“Uh,” Taehyung stutters, turning around to face their two friends, all three of them knowing that Jungkook and Jimin had already got that covered. “I’ll go buy them then. You hyungs go there first, okay?”

Hoseok gives him a thumbs up sign and Taehyung takes that as his cue to leave. He pats the three on the shoulder, going particularly hard when it came to his older brother.

“So,” Yoongi starts, looking bright, “You excited or what?”

“You know,” Namjoon starts, eyebrows raised, “- you three have been weirdly enthusiastic today. Is something happening?”

“What? No, no,” Hoseok says waving his hand, “We’re just happy we all have the chance to go out again.”

“You’re the worst liar in the world and you know it.” Namjoon says, pointing to Hoseok’s wavering smile.

They finally reach Cinema 5 just in time and Yoongi brings out his phone. “This plan better not fuck up.” He says to himself.

“Huh?”

A smile materializes on Yoongi’s face as he reads Jimin's text. He looks up and grabs Namjoon’s shoulder and twirls him around. “Go and say hi to your date.”

“What the fuck are you talk-“ The words die in Namjoon’s throat when he’s met with Aphrodite in specs, clad in a grey polo shirt and jeans, holding onto two buckets of popcorn, soda bottles in a plastic bag clutched in his left hand. “Oh my god.”

Aphrodite looks just as shocked as he was. “Oh my god.”

It’s only then that it sinks in to both of them, exactly what situation they’d just been placed in against their will. Namjoon has half a mind to turn around and kill his friends and the other half is telling him not to be rude to the other. But Aphrodite seems to beat him to it, already turning around to punch his two friends in the stomach.

“Yoongi hyung, run! We’ll text you where to meet later!” Jimin wheezes, already making his Grand Escape, Jungkook following close behind, overtaking him a second later. Yoongi and Hoseok follow their example, running to the opposite direction, but not before giving their friend encouraging smacks on the back.

The two victims are frozen in place, not knowing whether they should chase after their friends or just go ahead and watch the damn movie. Namjoon is the first to find the guts to look at the other.

“Hey, uh,” He starts, awkwardly, “I- I know this is probably super weird for you but.. I, uh, I’ve sorta been waiting to watch this movie for a really long time so I actually really wanna go in there whether you go or n-“

“I’ll go.” He says simply, nodding his head to the direction of the entrance. “I don’t want to waste a perfectly good ticket. Let’s go.”

Namjoon feels the wheels in his brain start to turn. “Yes, si- I mean, yeah, okay.”

Seokjin calmly leads the way, bringing out his phone and typing something unknown. Namjoon envies how cool and collected he was.

To: Mom Sort Of

[Today, 2:22 pm]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH

The five boys become close approximately four minutes after initial contact. An hour later, they’d already proclaimed their brotherhood and loyalty to each other.

“Okay, truth or dare.” Taehyung says, looking at Hoseok.

“Dare.” Hoseok answers instantly, not breaking eye contact. “I’m in a good mood. I can do anything.”

“Get a ticket to the most recent horror film and watch it alone.”

“Okay, maybe not anything.” Hoseok says after half a second of thought, making everyone crack up.

“Relatable.” Jimin laughs, smacking the table. "You should've just gotten truth then, you lame-o.”

“Fine. Truth.” Hoseok says, waiting for Taehyung to comply.

“Hmm,” The latter hums, stroking his chin with his finger, “Okay. When was the last time you’d given or received a blowjob?”

He thinks it over for a minute before answering, “Two weeks ago. Party. I was on the receiving end.”

Yoongi grimaces. “Shit, is that the guy from your Lit class who you’ve been thirsting over for the past month?”

Hoseok draws circles on their table. “Maybe.” He says, not meeting Yoongi’s eyes.

“You disgust me.” Yoongi says, moving his chair further away from his friend. “I’ve seen him sneeze into his hand and wipe it onto his friend’s hair.”

“This is how life is. We take what we can get.” Hoseok retorts, making everyone burst out into a fit of giggles again.

“Man, seriously,” Jungkook says, wiping away stray tears, “- it would’ve been more fun with Jin hyung here. He needs this in his life.”

“Namjoon hyung too.” Taehyung says, a slight pout on his lips. “He never has any fun anymore ever since he got to college.”

“Is that why you guys sent the message to Jin hyung for him?” Jimin asks, unconsciously playing with Yoongi’s fingers on the table. “Because you want him to let loose once in awhile?”

“Because we wanted him to get some dick.” Yoongi deadpans.

“Fuck, we’re all the same here.” Jungkook says, shaking his head in amusement. “Trying to set up two people who’ve had less action in three years than we have in a week.”

“But at the same time,” Jimin adds, “I kinda hope they hit it off really well. You know? Like, more than just a ‘I wanna fuck’ way.”

The three go quiet, nodding in silent agreement.

“What’s he like?” Jungkook asks, breaking the silence. “Namjoon hyung, I mean. What kind of person is he? Other than the fact that he’s a Yale boy.”

“He’s…” Yoongi sighs, before continuing, “- he’s the smartest dumb kid I’ve ever met in my life.”

“The most emotionless emotional person.” Hoseok adds.

“The manliest soft nerd boy.” Taehyung points out.

“And a really good friend.” Yoongi says. “He’s smart academic-wise but dumb when it comes to making his own decisions. He’s not very affectionate but he shows that he cares in any small way he knows how. He’s a fast learner but he gives up too easily-“

“He’s actually really sensitive. And a really honest person.” Taehyung finishes off. “He’s awesome. You’ll love him.”

Jimin and Jungkook look at them with fondness. “You guys look cute when you talk about him.”

“How about Jin?” Yoongi asks, crossing his arms. “I, too, wanna know what we’ve gotten our friend into.”

“Jin hyung’s… kinda lived an unconventional life.” Jungkook says, cocking his head to the side, an image of Mrs. Kim appearing in his head, “- mainly, because of his unconventional mom.”

“Oh, we’ve heard.” Hoseok says, leaning back on his chair. “And we’ve seen. Courtesy of his Facebook. Shit, man. God damn.”

“If I were straight, I’d wanna tap that.” Taehyung says. “Don’t judge me.”

“No one’s judging.” Jimin says, waving him off. “I think that everyday of my life.”

“So Jin hyung’s kinda weird too.” Jungkook continues. “He’s really talented and he does nothing but work these days. He’s a good cook. And he’s independent and strong both physically and emotionally.”

“It takes a while to be his friend.” Jimin adds. Jungkook groans at the reminder.

“God, it took forever before he actually called me one of his friends. For a fucking year he’d refer to me as his ‘neighbour’ like bitch, what the fuck? I’ve watched you fucking poop.”

Jimin nods, strongly agreeing. “Fucking same! Half a year in, he introduced me to you and called me his ‘underclassman’ and it was the first time in my life I wanted to hit someone three years older than me.”

Hoseok, Taehyung and Yoongi blink at them.

“But anyway,” Jungkook continues, “Once you are his friend, god, he’s like a mother, you know? He takes care of us really well. Cares about us more than our own brothers probably do. And once he starts to really care about you, you just know. You’ll know.”

“How?” Taehyung asks.

“It’s different each person, I like to think.” Jimin says. “For me, I knew it when my dog died and Jin hyung hid all the photos of Jjanggu whenever I came over because it made me cry.”

“I knew that day I got sick in high school and he went to my place and brought me food without me asking him to.” Jungkook says. “It’s the small stuff. Tiny stuff. That’s how you’ll know.”

“Jesus,” Yoongi chuckles breathily, “- I wonder how they’d confess to each other if they end up falling in love?”

“Namjoon would stutter out an ‘I kind of maybe like you I’m not sure’ and Seokjin will give him a candy bar.” Hoseok deadpans.

“I wonder how they’re doing right about now?"

Meanwhile, one floor up, Cinema 5

“Oh, Jesus.” Seokjin flinches when the zombies start banging on the glass doors.

Namjoon awkwardly drinks from his soda, trying his best not to turn his head to look at the boy beside him. He doesn’t have the nerve to tell the boy that he’s resting his arm on his arm and it’s falling asleep.

The first few minutes had been painfully awkward. But once the action started, Seokjin had obviously forgotten all about the awkwardness and had started swearing every three minutes. Namjoon doesn’t know how he can focus on the fucking movie when Aphrodite himself was sitting beside him.

Ten minutes later, Namjoon is half whispering half screaming.

“They can’t kill him off!” He says furiously, as the man tells the main character to take care of his wife for him. “He’s been the most useful character so far!”

The man dies. Namjoon is heartbroken.

“I can’t believe this.” Seokjin says, shaking his head. “I feel cheated. I want a refund.”

“It’ll be fine.” Namjoon says, clearing his throat and sitting up. He feels he's trying to convince himself that more than Seokjin. “Maybe it won’t be that bad.”

“You’re right.” Seokjin says, keeping himself positive. “It’s one person. Psh. It’ll be fine.”

The movie is close to ending and Seokjin and Namjoon are bawling.

“Why did he have to do that?” Seokjin sobs, angrily wiping his tears. “He didn’t have to sacrifice himself that way!”

“What’ll his daughter do?” Namjoon wails, looking pained. Broken beyond all repair.

“Namjoon, what are we going to do?” Seokjin says, clutching onto the boy’s wrist, “What was the point of this movie? Where’s the fucking justice?”

Namjoon lays his hand on top of Seokjin’s and looks at him earnestly. “This movie… was a lesson. It talks about our moral compass. What would we do if we were in that situation? Would we be too terrified to think? Can we really hate the people there for locking them out of the train when in reality, we might do the same if we were in their situation?”

“Bullshit!” Seokjin cries as the credits continue to roll. “Zombie apocalypse or not, I would never toss a person to their deaths!”

Namjoon closes his eyes and nods earnestly. “Shit,” He sighs, “- you right.”

The two continue to talk, wiping their tears as they make their way out of the cinema.

“Man, I paid to see action not to cry thrice throughout the fucking movie.” Namjoon half whines half laughs.

“I fucking know.” Seokjin agrees. “They could’ve warned me it’d be that sad, shit.” Seokjin says.

“Tag the triggers.” Namjoon adds. “Hashtag major character death or some shit, you know? Like in fanfiction?”

Seokjin actually laughs out loud at this and punches Namjoon lightly on the arm.

It is then that the two pause and realize, man, when did they get this comfortable with each other? They walk slower this time, Seokjin turning around to face Namjoon and Namjoon turning his head to meet his eyes. Seokjin still looked sticky and his eyes were still red in the edges. Namjoon’s initially styled hair was now a mess thanks to all the hair-pulling out of frustration. They stare at each other for two seconds and burst out laughing.

Namjoon raises his hand. “I believe I haven’t properly introduced myself. I’m Namjoon. Beyond being a Yale student, I like to rap, I cry watching zombie movies and I’m 100% not the one who sent you the hey hot stuff text.”

Seokjin laughs at this and shakes Namjoon’s outstretched hand. “I’m Seokjin, but you can call me Jin. I’m older, so it’s ‘hyung’ to you. Beyond being from Pratts, I like to cook, I cry watching zombie movies too and I’m 100% not the one who said I wanted fucking.”

Namjoon sighs playfully. “Shame.”

Seokjin gives him a dirty look and smacks him. “Only just formally met you and being an asshole already.”

Namjoon chuckles and looks down, playing with his feet. “Hey, uh, today was really fun.” He mumbles, too embarrassed to look up. “Most fun I’ve had in a while. College takes a toll on people, you know?”

Seokjin nods. “I know more than anyone.” He says and smiles when he adds, “I had a lot of fun too.”

They knew this was the part where they should probably say goodbye and part ways and probably never see each other again if they didn’t want to. In the end, this really was only something their friends had tricked them into doing. The two stand there, face to face, not knowing the next move. Knowing it was time to say their goodbyes, but at the same time, knowing they didn’t really want to.

“Wanna…” Namjoon starts, making awkward hand gestures, “- hang a little longer?”

Seokjin inwardly breathes a sigh of contentment. “Yeah.”

The two walk together, discussing the movie some more and laughing some more, forgetting about their friends who’d been watching from a safe distance all the while, jumping around and holding hands.

“I’m yodeling!” Taehyung says, clutching his chest, “My heart is nutting so hard!”

The sky had gotten dark by the time they’d ended up sitting by a river, sausages clutched in one hand and canned beer in the other.

“Okay,” Namjoon says leaning back and taking a bite of his sausage, “- so what’s the deal with your mom?”

Seokjin laughs and shakes his head. “You know, I wish I had the answer that to that,  but sadly, I think I’ll have to live my whole life not knowing why she is the way she is.”

Namjoon smiles. “Must be fun," He says, opening his beer can, "I mean, having a mom like that around.”

“It’s a headache, that’s what it is.” Seokjin retorts but Namjoon sees the look on the boy’s face and he knows he doesn’t really mean it.

Seokjin turns his head. “How about you? How does your relationship with your mom go?”

Namjoon tilts his head and smiles. “My relationship with both my parents are good. But compared to yours?” He raises his eyebrows, “It’s relatively normal.”

Seokjin takes a big gulp of his beer and nods. “Yeah. Well,” He shrugs, “- wouldn’t have had it any other way. It’s all good.”

“Cheers to that.” Namjoon says, raising his own beer and the two clink their cans together.

“You think our friends still think we’re in the mall?” Seokjin asks, starting to get concerned, initially not caring very much.

“Knowing my friends, I’ll bet you they were jumping for joy the minute they saw us talking as we got out of the movie theatre.” Namjoon laughs.

Seokjin smiles to himself, silently agreeing. “They’re a handful.”

“They’re why we’re here now.” Namjoon adds.

Seokjin is silent for a minute, thinking over in his head how fucking right he was.

“Guess they’re not all that bad.” He says softly, more to himself than to Namjoon.

Namjoon smiles, taking another sip of his beer and crumpling up the wrapper where a sausage used to be. “It’s nice that we went here today. There isn’t a lot of people. And the view’s pretty fucking amazing.”

Seokjin is about to agree, turning his head to look beside him when he feels his entire world stop. It was a full moon that night, there were more stars than usual. The bridge close by lit up with pretty yellow lights and the river was calm and clear, practically glowing in the night. A sliver of moonlight makes it’s way to rest on Namjoon’s face, his hair slightly messy, from both the movie and the wind. He leaned back, his left leg stretched and his other one bent, holding a canned beer in his right hand. It was beautiful.

“Wait,” Seokjin says hurriedly scrambling to open his bag, taking out his sketchbook and pencil, “Stay just like that.”

Namjoon raises his eyebrows. “Damn. Tell me to dress up when you want to draw me, slow down.” He laughs.

Seokjin shakes his head fervently. “No. This is perfect. Just stay like that.”

Namjoon does. He doesn’t need to stay still for all that long, but he stays as long as Seokjin asks him to. He’d turn to look at the boy whenever his head was down and Namjoon couldn’t help the smile that made it’s way to his lips as he stared at the boy, who’s tongue was out, eyebrows furrowed in concentration.

When they say good night, Namjoon knew it wouldn’t be their last night. He wouldn’t let it be.

When Seokjin gets back to his apartment and closes the door, the first thing he does is reopen his sketchbook and turn the pages to look at his newest artwork. He dashes to his desk and turns on the lamp, laying his sketchbook gently on the table.

He blinks.

Not a minute later, his phone is pressed against his ear, his mom’s ringtone playing on the other line. It only takes three rings for her to answer.

“Jin?” Sohye answers, sounding like she’d just woken up from a deep slumber. “What’s up, kiddie?”

“Mom,” Seokjin says, voice uncharacteristically soft, “Just wanted to say thanks.”

“Hmm?” She hums, obviously only half awake.

“Nothing. Sorry to disturb you. Just wanted to say… thank you.” He says, smiling and hanging up the phone before she could answer.

He looks down at his work again. It’s only a draft. Not even half finished. But it’s the best one he’s made in a really long time.

Chapter Text

Yoongi crosses his arms and leans back on the couch, taking in the view in front of him. Seokjin is on the couch, with his sketchpad in his lap, his legs sprawled on top of Namjoon's lap, who was currently focused on the episode of Stranger Things playing on Netflix.

"Did I miss something?" Yoongi asks, redirecting his attention to the rest of their friends.

"Well," Taehyung starts, "While you were busy with your education and future, these two had been flirting like closeted high school boys in love."

Seokjin momentarily pauses from his drawing to snarl at Taehyung, before reverting his attention back to his sketchpad as if nothing happened.

"Hey, come on," Yoongi says, nudging Hoseok's arm, "- I need a full update."

"It's literally exactly what Taehyung just said." Hoseok says, leaning closer, making sure Seokjin and Namjoon couldn't hear them. "They're together, like, every single time they're free. Whenever they look at each other, I can hear Careless Whisper Saxophone Instrumental on loop in my head."

Yoongi steals a glance at the two and hums in thought. "I don't know, man. It looks more like a The Little Mermaid's Kiss the Girl to me."

"I don't know what you're all talking about." Taehyung says from beside them. "It screams My Humps by Black Eyed Peas."

"Listen," Hoseok says, holding up a hand to get their attention. "They just need a little more pushing. Like, the slightest damn push. That's all they need. It's so close to happening, it's ridiculous."

"Call me crazy but I don't think we need to push them anymore." Yoongi answers, stretching his limbs out.

Hoseok and Taehyung both look at him, eyebrows raised. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," He says, giving his friend a serious look, "- if they really genuinely like each other, they'll make it happen for themselves."

The three of them look across the room, to see the pair snuggled closer than before, the tips of Jin's hair tickling Namjoon's chin. Namjoon looks down at him, soft and smitten and Seokjin, obliviously continues watching the show.

"I don't think it'll take too long at all." Yoongi says softly.

"It better not." Jimin says, suddenly plopping down beside him, a bowl of popcorn in hand. 

"Seeing how smitten Seokjin hyung already is," Jungkook adds, falling onto the beanbag chair next to the couch. "- I'd say we'll have to wait two months at most."

"Would you bet on it?" Taehyung asks, nudging him.

"I don't wanna bet anything, you fucking scare me." Jungkook says, swatting him away. "But I have a little idea on how we can push them just a little bit."

They all look at him, expectantly. 

Jungkook clicks his tongue and crosses his legs, before saying it like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "Alcohol."

"Uh," Taehyung whispers, leaning into Jungkook. "I'm pretty sure we did this for Namjoon hyung and Seokjin hyung, not these two."

Jimin face is buried in Yoongi's neck and the boy is sobbing as he proclaims his undying love. "Yoongi hyung! You are my- my everything. My sun, moon and all my shitty stars. Love of my life. Sunshine of my world. Treasure of-"

"I'm not drunk yet, but I'm going to throw up." Hoseok says before downing another drink. 

"H-hey, Jimin," Namjoon says, eyes lidded, his words getting even more slurry after every shot glass Hoseok gives him, "Stop being gross, man."

"Love isn't gross, hyung!" Jimin proclaims, before face-planting into Yoongi's dick.

"Charming." Yoongi deadpans.

See, here's the thing. Seokjin is a man who has his shit together. Really. He studies good, gets things done, pays the bills, cooks meals for himself, he's a man who has his shit together. However.

However. After a little over twelve shots of Vodka or Tequila or both, he doesn't really know which drink they're giving him anymore, he lost his sense of taste after the eighth one, or was it the ninth, his shit becomes slightly, less together. Sorta like liquid shit. When you have too much dairy in one day. So given he is now a man who has his shit in the form of liquid (he is starting to regret this metaphor), everything he's been feeling comes spilling out of him. 

"Namjoon!" He says in a loud voice, grabbing onto the said man's collar. "Namjoon!"

"Man," Jungkook says, stumbling into the living room from getting another bottle of beer. "Man, I wish I were sober enough to properly make fun of them."

"Dude." Taehyung says, leaning heavily against him, "Dude. I'm fucking drunk and your figure is starting to look like a big blob to me, like the bacteria you see under a microscope during lab-"

"That's weirdly descriptive, Taehyung."

"Yeah." Taehyung says, raising a finger against his lips to shush him. "Not to ruin anything between us. But do you wanna make out with me?"

Jungkook blinks. Then, he shrugs. "I like a man who doesn't waste his time."

"Seokjin!" Namjoon screams back, just as loud and obnoxious, squishing Seokjin's cheeks in his big hands. "Taehyung and Jungkook are making out right now! My little brother and your best friend!"

Seokjin groans. "Why'd you have to say that, Joon? My head's already spinning, I don't need that image in my head."

"Hey." Namjoon says, lowering his head to match Seokjin's level. "Hey, you know what?"

"What?" Seokjin asks, blinking sleepily.

"Don't be weird or anything but, I think you're really fuckin' pretty, Seokjin." Namjoon says, words slurry, voice low, but honest. "Really."

Seokjin releases a breath he didn't know he was holding in and he only realizes how close their faces are when he feels how his breath ghosts over Namjoon's lips. "Well. Don't be weird or anything, but I think you're really fuckin' pretty too, Kim Namjoon."

Namjoon smiles at this. "Really?"

"Really." Seokjin says, voice close to whisper than anything else.

"Oh my fucking god." Hoseok says, already a little far gone. "Oh my fucking god, just go get a room. Everyone. Get a fucking room. Jesus Christ."

Namjoon and Seokjin do get a room. They don't know if everyone else got a room, but they sure did. They're not exactly sure how they managed to maneuver themselves into Seokjin's bedroom, but they do, and suddenly, the door is locked, the lights are off, they're both half naked and in bed.

"Shit, Jin. Shit." Namjoon says, as he kisses down the side of Seokjin's neck. "Haven't.. haven't done this in awhile."

"Yeah." Seokjin breathes out, eyes closed. He's so drunk, he doesn't even know if he can open them again. He tries. Yup. He can't. "Yeah, me too. Fuck, Joon. I'm so fucking hammered."

"Yeah haven't been..." Namjoon says, slowly kissing down his abdomen. "Haven't been this drunk in awhile too."

"Wow." Seokjin says, once he manages to open one eye. "You look really hot like that."

"Are you seeing yourself?" Namjoon asks, unbuckling his belt. "So are we doing this? Are we really? Are you sure? 'Cause we can-"

Seokjin shuts him up by blindly grabbing for his face and pulling him downwards to shove his tongue down his mouth. "When have I ever been sure about anything in my life?" 

And so they get into it, mouth to mouth, skin against skin, hips grinding together. Until Namjoon stops. He stops. There's something wrong.

He sits up and unzips his pants and shoves his hand down his boxers. "Oh my god."

"What? What?" Seokjin asks, eyes heavy and lidded. "What's wrong? Is your dick gone? Did I drunkenly castrate you? Oh my god-"

"No, what-" Namjoon looks at Seokjin, with terror in his eyes. "No. My.. my dick.. I can't feel my dick. I can't get hard. I'm numb, Seokjin. Holy shit. I'm so drunk that I can't feel my dick."

"What? How can that be when-" Seokjin reaches down to grab at his own jewels and he gasps, genuinely terrified. "I am soft."

"Okay, no. This can't-" Namjoon says, with a voice that sounds sure and final. The most sure he's sounded all night. "No, Jin. We're hammered, we're numb and honestly, I feel like I'm going to either pass out or vomit. I like you, I.. I don't want our.. our first time to be-"

"Yeah." Seokjin says, properly lying back down in bed, head flopping on the pillow. "Yeah, I'm so numb I don't even know where my anus is."

When Sohye arrives at the scene, Taehyung and Jungkook are passed out on the floor, Yoongi and Jimin are all over each other on the couch, Hoseok has fallen asleep with his head in the toilet, and Seokjin and Namjoon are in the room, half naked, pants unzipped, cuddled in each other's arms.

Sohye looks into her paper bag of condoms. "Damn."

Namjoon wakes up first. His arm feels numb, his body feels heavy and his head is throbbing. He groans and grimaces once he opens his eyes and sees light. 

He's about to hoist himself up when he feels himself being anchored back down to the bed and he looks to his side, confused. His eyes widen. Fuck. Fuck. Motherfucking shit. What the fuck and how and when and why.

Kim Seokjin was lying on his arm, shirtless, jeans unzipped, showing a peek of his red boxers and morning wood. The top of his head tickles Namjoon's cheek and he tries to quietly calm himself down and recall what happened the night before.

Okay, so they were drinking. They were taking shots. Music and rap and dance. Shot glasses. Beer, Vodka, Tequila. Yoongi and Jimin being gross. Kissing. Taehyung and Jungkook making out. Yeah, fuck, that happened. Gross. No. Focus, Namjoon. Seokjin. They were talking. They were talking, then they called each other pretty, right? They called each other pretty, their faces were close, Hoseok told them to get a r-

"Fuck." Namjoon groans out loud, running a hand through his hair, everything coming back to him. 

"N-namjoon?" Seokjin says, voice hoarse and suddenly, Namjoon tenses up completely. "Joon, that's you, right? What are we doing here?"

"Uh," Namjoon stutters, slowly removing his arm from under Seokjin's head. "Do you remember what happened last night?"

Seokjin's face crinkles up. It stays like that for a few seconds, before recognition finally falls over his face. "Ah."

"Ah is right." Namjoon says, staring at the ceiling.

It's silent for a few seconds. Neither of them really wanted to talk about it, too hungover and confused to think about it at all. At the same time, they didn't want to cut the moment off either. Half naked, lying in the same bed, honestly, their dream come true though neither would admit it to each other or to themselves. 

"Yeah." Namjoon says finally, after some thought, swinging his legs off the bed. "We should.. probably get dressed. Check if the others are alive outside."

Seokjin sits up, his headache screaming at him to lay back down and get more sleep, but he powers through it and puts on a shirt.

"Aww." Namjoon says, motioning to the two cups on Seokjin's bedside table. "Looks like someone already made coffee for us." He takes one mug and puts it to his lips and when Seokjin's head pokes out of his shirt, he's only half a second too late.

"Joon-ah, no! That's-"

Namjoon chokes and spits the dark liquid all over the carpeted floor, feeling the alcohol from the night before come back up.

"That wasn't coffee, was it?" He chokes.

"Paint water."

"Right."

"We hosted the party for you and you're telling me you guys didn't bone?" Hoseok asks exasperatedly, rubbing his temples. "But you guys looked so into it when you stumbled into his room!"

"We were but-" Namjoon scratches his head, frustratedly, "- we were fucking hammered, Hoseok. I couldn't feel shit. I like the guy, I don't want our first time to be like that."

The room falls silent.

Namjoon looks up to stare at his friends. "What? Why are you all looking at me like that?"

"That's the first time you ever said that out loud, holy shit." Yoongi says, after taking a sip of his hangover juice.

"Jungkook and I already have a fuckin' date planned." Taehyung argues, smacking Namjoon on the back. "Step up your game, hyung."

"Fuck, now that I think about it, I told him I liked him last night." Namjoon said, recalling how he told Seokjin the same thing he just told his friends.

"And?" Hoseok asks, leaning in. "What'd he say?"

"I don't think he said it back." Namjoon said, sighing, "I said it in passing, I don't think he even realized I said it."

"Then say it again!" Taehyung insists, jumping up and down on the bed a little, before groaning, remembering his headache. 

"It was way easier to say when I was wasted." Namjoon grumbled. "I don't know how I'm gonna fuckin' go about it now."

"You're gonna have to talk about this eventually, you know." Yoongi says. "I mean, you don't actually think that you can just go on with your friendship like nothing happened after you guys literally almost had sex, right?"

Namjoon groans in despair, throwing his body backwards into the bed, grabbing a pillow and putting it over his face. "I hate it when you're right." He says, voice muffled.

"You should do it soon, you know." Hoseok says, tapping his fingers on Namjoon's thigh. "Before things get all awkward. 'Cause if you guys get awkward, we all get awkward, and I don't want any of us to get awkward, know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I know what you fucking mean." Namjoon sighs, sitting up. "I'll fix it."

"How?" Yoongi asks. "You can't do anything right without us. What would you be without us." 

"Just trust me." 

"Namjoonie," Yoongi says earnestly, "Joon-ah. Bro. Brotha from anotha motha. The last time you told me those exact three words, you nearly burned all our hands with stove fire."

"That was one t-"

"The time before that, you broke my laptop."

"Okay, but that wasn't my fa-"

"And the time before that, you-"

"You know what?" Namjoon says, raising a hand to stop his friend. "Never mind. I'll just say, I'll do my best."

"Now we're talkin'." Taehyung says, giving his brother a firm slap on the back. Hoseok gives him a thumbs up and Yoongi just gives him a look that Namjoon knows means 'Don't fuck this up.'

"God, I really don't wanna mess this one up." Namjoon says honestly, giving his friends a helpless look.

"If things work out well, then congratulations, we'll drink with you." Yoongi says, "-And if they don't, well, then-"

He grabs his mug of hangover juice and raises it in the air, "- At least you tried and we'll still drink with you."

Indeed, what would Namjoon be without them? 

Sohye is sitting on Seokjin's couch, reading a new book she'd bought and Seokjin leans against the kitchen counter and stares. He has half a mind to explain himself and half a mind to completely forget the entire thing with Namjoon happened, but he knows he can't pretend it didn't happen, because it did, and his mom saw them, and he still feels Namjoon's fucking hands against his skin and his lips and-

"You're thinking out loud, you idiot." His mother says, staring up at him, a small smirk on her face.

"Jesus." Seokjin says to himself, lowering his eyes and shaking his head, hopelessly. "God, I don't know what I've been doing."

"Hey," Sohye says, putting her book down and patting the space next to her. "- you know better than to hide anything from me. You can't. So come here and just make things easier for the both of us, yeah?"

Seokjin gives his mom a small smile and he makes his way to her side, flopping down beside her. "What do you wanna know?"

"What do you wanna tell?" She asks back, giving him a look.

Seokjin's quiet for a minute. He allows himself to think about everything that's happened with him and Namjoon so far. Allows himself to think about their friends and the drunken shenanigans and afternoons of studying or video games, karaoke nights, late night convenience store trips and walks along Han River. He thinks about how when their two small groups of friends merged, it felt like things were just meant to be that way all along and Seokjin doesn't even remember how he could've been completely happy with his friend group of just three, instead of seven. And there's so many things he feels, so many things to say, so many stories and moments he wants to share, so many things to be grateful for and sorry for and, fuck, so many questions about what this is and what he needs to do but he only ends up saying one thing.

"Ever since he came along, art has been the easiest fucking thing in the world, mom." He says. And his voice cracks towards the end and he doesn't realize how scary it is until he says it. "And that freaks me out."

"Why?" Sohye asks, raising a hand to rub her son's back.

"You know why." He says.

"No, I don't." Sohye answers back, leaning forward to look him in the eye. "Really. Tell me."

And Seokjin looks at her properly. It's times like these that she's more than that cool, hot, ridiculously fun and embarrassing young mom that she always is. It's times like these that Seokjin looks at her and just sees his mother.

"I know.. I know about dad." Seokjin says, voice low and so raw that it hurts. "When I was fourteen, when you were asleep, I went to the attic and found the love letters in your box."

His mom is quiet. Seokjin can't tell if she's shocked or if she knew that he knew.

"I didn't care, mom. I don't care if he left. I don't care if he didn't want me. I don't care about any of that. I just care about you, and the fact that he left you to take care of me by yourself and raise me and give up a whole better life for me, you know? How could he have written you all those things, and sound like he meant it and then just fucking-" Seokjin lets out a shaky breath, lowering his head, focusing on his hands clasped together, "- how can people be capable of that? I don't understand. How can someone who loved you so much just.. he just left you with this burden and-"

"Kim Seokjin." Sohye says, voice both soft and firm at the same time.

"What?" 

"Look at me." Sohye says, grabbing Seokjin's face, forcing them to look each other in the eye. "Yes, things were hard. Yes, it hurt when he left. Yes, I struggled on my own. It was hard. It was fucking tough and I was terrified. But not even for a second, not even for a fucking millisecond, did I ever, ever think you were a burden, do you understand me?"

Seokjin gulps.

"You are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. Ever. And there will never be anything greater."

Seokjin doesn't usually get emotional over his mother, their bond was too strange and comical to ever have these sorts of moments, but right now, he feels a lump in his throat and the tears spill over before he even realizes it. His mother pulls him into an embrace and he absolutely melts into it, wrapping his arms around her waist, face buried in her neck.

"Your father left in fear. He was young, we both were, and I don't hate him for it. I couldn't even if I tried. Because he gave me you." Sohye whispered into his ear. "Love is very difficult sometimes. Love is complicated and terrifying and sometimes, it's just plain shit."

Seokjin chuckles at this.

"But I know even after everything, I am grateful for your father, because he gave me you." Sohye says, rocking him from side to side. "I know that love, no matter what, in every shape and form, is beautiful. I learned that from you and because of you. I loved your father once. But I will love you forever. You are what love is to me. Not him, not anyone before him, or after him. It's you."

Seokjin has to hold back a sob at this, but he's not gonna admit that to anyone. 

"So you get out there, and you do something about this because I've never seen you look at anyone the way you look at him." Sohye pulls away to look at Seokjin and she smiles as she wipes his tears away. "And you go and find what love is for yourself."

Seokjin sniffs and nods his head. "I'm fucking terrible at stuff like this though. You know that, mom."

"I do." Sohye sighs playfully. "Whatever you do, as long as you mean what you do, something great will come out of it."

Seokjin smiles. "Thanks, mom."

Sohye pats him on the back. "Now, go wash up and get ready for bed. You stink."

Seokjin shakes his head and gives his mom the stink eye before heading to his room. He stops by the door frame, thinking it over in his head a little before turning around. "Hey, mom?"

"Hmmm?"

"You're what love is to me too." 

It's only a matter of seconds for his mom's eyes to go misty and she urgently waves her hands telling him to wash off as she fans her eyes. Seokjin chuckles. "Good, night mom."

"You're so fuckin' soft." Sohye grumbles, wiping stray tears from the side of her eyes.

"Language, mom. Jesus."

It is five days later that they see each other again. Without their friends, that is. The five days had passed without much awkwardness or tension, thankfully. They'd both almost wanted to pretend nothing happened, seeming as everything was still going well. But after a knock on the head from Yoongi and a kick to the butt from Jungkook, it had to happen.

It was 5:03 pm. Seokjin had just gotten home from his three to four thirty class. He knew it was happening today. Namjoon left his Sociology book from yesterday's study session and he said he'd pick it up today after class. It had to be today. It was going to happen today.

It was 5:19 pm. Namjoon still had not arrived. Seokjin had been rehearsing what to say for the past several days and yet, nothing he'd rehearsed still sounded right in his ears. Too scripted, too cheesy, too stiff, too wrong. Nothing worked. 

It was 6:07 pm when he heard the knock on his door. Fuck. 

"Joon-ah," Seokjin greets when he opens the door, "Hey."

"Hey." He answers, slipping his shoes off. "Sorry. For leaving my shit here, I mean."

"Nah," Seokjin waves him off, getting his book from the coffee table and handing it to him, "Friends leave their shit in my house all the time, no biggie."

Namjoon takes the book and raises it. "Thanks."

They both just stand there awkwardly for a moment, looking at each other, waiting for the other to say something first, not wanting to be the one to bring it up.

"Uh. I guess I should-" Namjoon motions to the door with his free hand, "- study or something."

"Oh." Seokjin says, laughing awkwardly. "Yeah, yeah, don't wanna keep you from- yeah."

They make it to the door when Namjoon suddenly twirls around to look at him at the exact same time that Seokjin starts to speak.

"Wait-"

"Listen-"

They pause.

"You go first." Namjoon says.

"No, you go first." Seokjin argues.

"No, yo-" Namjoon stops himself and closes his eyes, releasing a deep breath. "Okay, look. Okay. About that night.. I'm.. I'm sorry, I didn't want our first anything to be when we were wasted. But I.. well, honestly, I don't regret what happened."

Seokjin looks at him. "You don't?"

Namjoon shakes his head. "I'm hoping you feel the same?"

"I do." Seokjin answers.

"What I mean to say is," Namjoon says, scratching the back of his neck. "I sort of like you. I think. A lot. A little."

"You sort of like me, you think, a lot, a little." Seokjin says back. "I'm gonna need you to walk me through that just one more time."

"Fuck, god, I-" Namjoon takes a deep breath and says it again, this time, firmly, as he steps closer to Seokjin. "I like you. A lot. Really."

Seokjin smiles, taking a step forward so they're nose to nose. "Then that's fucking great." He says, breathily, before leaning forward and pressing his lips against Namjoon's, this time, both of them completely sober.

Namjoon makes a low noise, before wrapping his arms around him. "Wait-" He says, against Seokjin's mouth, "- you haven't even said you liked me back yet."

"Mmm," Seokjin hums, their lips pressed together, as he blindly leads them to his room, "- I'll say it when we're in bed, yeah?"

"Jesus fuck." Namjoon says, glad that he doesn't have to be scared of Drunken Castration and Numb Balls because yup, his definitely didn't feel numb right now and it's either Seokjin's hard too or he has a branch in his pocket. "Yeah. That works for me."

They step into his room, and Seokjin clumsily turns on the lights. "Joon-ah, lets-"

He catches Namjoon staring at his walls before his eyes land at the two mugs sitting on the bedside table, with a big, dorky smile on his face. 

"What?" Seokjin says, blushing. "Stop-"

Namjoon shakes his head, capturing him in another kiss. "I like you too."

"I haven't even fucking said it, you piece of shit." Seokjin mumbles.

"You don't fuckin' have to if you have this going on." Namjoon smiles, motioning to his room.

"Shut the fuck up." Seokjin laughs, before pressing their lips together again and falling into bed.

Paintings and sketches are scattered all over Seokjin's walls. It's the only way people ever know how much they mean to him. An old sketch of young Jungkook riding a bike. A painting of Jimin playing with his old dog, a bright smile on his face. Jjangu, with his tongue out, being held by his mom. A colorful drawing of the seven of them together, singing karaoke. And right above his bed, the sketch of Namjoon sitting by the Han River, beer can in hand. 

Namjoon stares at the unconscious boy beside him, lying on his stomach, the blanket draped over his lower half. He leans down to kiss the top of his head, before reaching over to grab one of the mugs and take a sip of coffee. Somehow, he knew, he just knew, he meant as much to Seokjin, as Seokjin meant to him.