Chapter Text
Jeongguk often visits Yoongi in his studio, the Genius Lab.
He likes it there, enjoys watching his hyung work his magic over music, it doesn’t matter whether Yoongi is composing, doing arrangement or penning lyrics for his or their future album.
Jeongguk wishes to be someone like Yoongi, like the rap line hyungs who make their own music and produce well-made songs for the group and sometimes, even for others. He aims to produce a song that is good enough to be included in the next BTS’ mini-album too. That’s why he’s been bothering, as Yoongi seems to imply, the elder in his studio lately, trying to learn to mix and match beats or ask the elder’s advice and feedback regarding the sample he made the day/night before.
But for some reason, the pull of sleep always gets to him whenever he’s there. Falling asleep on the couch, sometimes lying down with his knees curled up, just to fit his length in that small of a space or with him sitting, his head tip forward, hands on his stomach, legs outstretched. He wonders why, it's not that he’s getting less sleep these days but maybe it has something to do with the calming vibe the place emits... or the low uttering of words Yoongi makes as he works.
It's oddly comforting. Being there. Feeling the couch on his back, the smell of scented-candles Yoongi likes to collect on the shelf, the beats and melodies playing in the background every now and then.
Jeongguk really likes it there. Maybe loves it even.
***
The sound of the bell and Yoongi’s grunt as he rises to his feet to get to the door, make the side of Jeongguk's face turn up a bit.
”Oh, of course, it’s you.” Yoongi says as he opens the door.
Jeongguk smiles, beaming and bright. Yoongi shakes his head at him but sends him a small smile of his own before he trudges back in front of his work computer. "Why?" Jeongguk says as he gently closes the door behind him. "Are you expecting someone else?” He moves to peek around Yoongi's shoulder, to see what's keeping the elder's busy. Yoongi doesn't seem to mind that he does, when usually he prefers to hold off showing any of his unfinished work to anyone. He doesn’t wait for Yoongi to respond though, "The others deemed this place off-limits. You scare them, hyung.” He pauses as he gets settled in on the couch. “Having the locks only make you more unapproachable."
A scoff is heard next, "And yet, you're here." but Yoongi’s tone is soft and no bite.
Jeongguk chuckles. The Past Jeongguk won’t even dare talk back to any of his hyungs, especially Yoongi. He’s shy like that. But things have changed. He’s more playful and jolly now. And a brat, as for Jimin.
"Well, you need human interaction at some point."
There’s a huff that distinctively Yoongi. It's the sound he makes with pouty lips and a nose crunch. Ahh, cute! But doesn’t say aloud.
Something catches his attention though, the cup of Chinese takeouts on the table, long forgotten, has dampened Jeongguk’s happy vibe. He peaks at them and says, “You haven’t eaten much.”
Yoongi only hums, too focused on whatever he’s doing. Jeongguk pursed his lips at that. Yoongi is a stubborn man. The kind of guy who refuses to take a break, particularly if his muse is flowing freely and smoothly out of him. He won't stop until he’s done, or at least he deems the thing good enough. Until then, he will forgo the eating and taking care of himself. Jeongguk believes this problem has long been solved. Especially after getting a scolding from one their managers and a lecture from Bang PD-nim about self-care. But now, there are shampoo on Yoongi’s shelf, toiletries, and clothes to change into. Foods get delivered regularly, to make sure he’s eating on time, that he’s eating properly. But sometimes Yoongi still forgets about this, like now.
”How are things going so far?”
Yoongi doesn’t answer right away, but he leans his head in Jeongguk’s direction, acknowledging he heard him just fine. “I think I have something good here.”
Jeongguk nods, not that Yoongi can see him, and so he adds, “That’s great! I can’t wait to hear them.”
There’s a faint smile at the corner of Yoongi’s lips, but doesn’t say anything.
A few seconds of silence pass between them before Jeongguk continues, “Then, come back here and finish this meal, hyung. Or I’ll eat them.”
Yoongi dismisses it with a wave of his hand. ”You can have them.”
But Jeongguk shakes his head.
“Yoongi hyung.”
He says it gently, but it carries weight. A warning.
Soon after, the music stops and Yoongi sighs. He turns to Jeongguk and stares at him for a second before silently drags his swivel chair in front of the small table by the couch. Then, Yoongi devours the takeouts fast and without further complaints.
Jeongguk chuckles, ”You’re gonna choke, hyung. Slow down, will you?" But Yoongi ignores him and continue inhaling the food as fast as he can. "Hey, if we lose a Genius producer such as you... BTS would fall!”
Yoongi snorts.
Jeongguk grins.
Yoongi has eaten almost everything, except some of the spicy chicken wings, in which the elder pushes towards Jeongguk. Eat, what he means. Grateful by his hyung's action, Jeongguk, in return, passes the bottled water to Yoongi. “Not bad, right?”
Yoongi rolls his eyes, hard and exaggerated, but comes off as funny and cute. “Well now, I’m too full to work.”
"Oh, come on! When has that stopped you?"
And they both laughed and all is good and right again with the world.
***
Looks like Jeongguk has fallen asleep again, because the next thing he knows he’s hearing the bell and Namjoon’s deep voice, asking, “Is that Jeongguk? No, don’t answer that. Who else visits you here, anyway?” A pause, like he’s considering his next words. “Guess, no one but Jeongguk!"
“But you’re here, I assume it’s me you’re here after.”
”I’m no visitor.”
”Whatever.”
“So this lodger of yours —”
"A welcome presence unlike some."
"Whoa. I feel like I should be offended by that but hey, this kid snore just as much as I do, and you ain’t complaining!"
"Oh come on, Joon. Let him sleep."
Namjoon snorts. When he speaks again, his tone is teasing. "You’re not supposed to play favoritism here, hyung."
Yoongi ignores the jab and asks instead, "If you ain’t here for anything, then go, let yourself out. You’re a nuisance.” But he’s smiling, Jeongguk can tell.
"Eyy, hyung!”
The friendly banter between the two has Jeongguk feeling light and happy. But he soon finds himself having a hard time keeping still and faking sleep, especially when Namjoon leans and softly plays with his hair.
”You’ll wake him up. Stop it.”
“He looks like a baby like this, ain’t he, hyung? Ahh, I miss rooming with him. To think we all share the same dorm, but I hardly see this kid even there anymore.”
Yoongi doesn’t reply to that, neither Namjoon for a minute or two.
”Should stop hogging all his time, hyung.”
”What now?”
”Uh, nevermind. I gotta go! Have some quality time with your boy, Jeonggookie."
And then, Namjoon is gone.
Jeongguk can tell Yoongi goes back to work as though Namjoon dropping by didn’t happen.
No longer can pretend that he’s still asleep, he says, voice a little rough with disuse...
"Shall I start paying the rent then?"
When he opens his eyes, he’s surprised that Yoongi is already looking at him. But the light above Yoongi’s head makes it hard to read what’s going on on the elder’s mind. Then an almost soft smile plays on the side of Yoongi’s lips, his eyebrow arching just a little.
"You’re aware this room ain’t big enough for Golden Closet an—“
”So we need a better place then.”
”We?”
”Yeah, like lamb skewers and furniture business kind of We, hyung.”
“Oh.”
”BigHit can lend us some space, if we ask.”
”Ah, yeah... You’re probably right. We should.”
Jeongguk smiles.
Heart beating, leaping, racing.