harlack - Tumblr blog

[harlack]

not that anyone follows me anymore but i have returned for one last hurrah

[harlack]

yall i havent posted anything on this account in like. a full goddamn year. damn.

at some point ill post the first chap of my wanna one 2park fic (thats already up on ao3 if any of u r into that) but also.....im writing a plot heavy yoonkook atm......lets see when i actually post it tho lol

[harlack]

when some of ya fav ao3 authors leave kudos/comments on ya fics

[harlack]

levis lethum

author: miraclemintman (lhommerun)

gifted to: widerhallen

length: oneshot

word count: 16,059

rating: T

author’s summary:

Having never been prefect or really an over-achiever at all, Min Yoongi can’t help but feel confused when he’s told his muggle-born Slytherin self was going to be Head Boy.

Park Jimin on the other hand just wants to get over his four year long crush, but being made prefect and therefore having to spend even more time with said crush isn’t making it easy for him.

read it on ao3

part of yoonminficrec’s summer 2016 exchange!

don’t forget to leave kudos & comments on the work!

[harlack]

43 kisses

pairing: Yoongi/Jungkook

rating: Teen and up/PG-13 status: Complete [1/1] word count: 5897 warnings: None

summary: In which the entire student body is convinced Jungkook is dating the school's sweetheart Lee Jieun, which would be great if Jungkook was just slightly straighter than he actually is. Meanwhile, a certain Min Yoongi is being forced to run a kissing booth. No one is happy about this (except his asshole best friend Hoseok and maybe Jeon Jungkook, just maybe though).

links: [AO3]/[AFF]

or

To Jeon Jungkook, rumors were sometimes a nuisance, a mild inconvenience at the very best. Something that kept people talking about him when he couldn’t be bothered to do something that would prompt them to be anyway. Normally, hearing something untrue about himself would amuse him (his favourite had been two years back when people thought the reason his hair was bleach blond was because he had been struck being lightning over the holidays, but really it was just poor judgment on his part when he went to get his hair done) and have him laughing when anyone asked him if it was true, but never outright telling them if it was. The only time he would ever come out and say something is if it got too out of hand or if the rumor was too ridiculous to start out with.

Currently the rumours were saying that he was in a secret relationship with the school’s most eligible female student, Lee Jieun. Which was fine with him. Jieun is a great girl, pretty, smart, kind, just not his type. Which meant that he could add another item to his list of “Things-I-Do-Not-Have-In-Common-With-Rumor-Jungkook”: is a triplet; made a substitute teacher cry; has a driver’s license; got struck by lightning; met the King of Denmark; and finally, is heterosexual. Now, Jungkook wouldn’t say that he was entirely opposed to the idea of dating a girl, it’s just that so far, he hadn’t really met one he could see himself holding hands with. But if there were rumors he was dating a girl, he was glad it was Jieun.

There are no ‘if’s in this situation though, because he can hear the three girls to his left discreetly try to discuss the details of his latest date and sees them not so subtly steal glances at him every now and then. Apparently he had taken Jieun out for a movie and dinner at moderately priced restaurant. He scoffs at Rumor-Jungkook, what a first date kind of date, from what he’s heard him and Jieun having been going out for a good three weeks. By now, they should’ve been comfortable enough to at least see a movie at one of their houses, and he definitely would’ve cooked her a meal, or attempted to before ordering take-out. Whoever was starting these rumors really needed a rundown on basic dating etiquette.

He sighs and brings his attention back to the teacher’s lecture, something about exponentials and graphs and he really wishes he hadn’t chosen to study maths a higher level, what had he been thinking? He hears Taehyung snoring lightly to his right and curses his ability to sleep through classes and still pass them. Although he suspects Taehyung has some sort of agreement with Namjoon and the only reason he’s passing his classes is because the older boy lets him see his old notes.

A boy sitting two rows ahead of him raises his hand to answer the teacher’s question and Jungkook only just realizes how quiet the class had been. Sparing a glance at the clock, Jungkook groans inwardly when he remembers that it was a double period lesson and wouldn’t end for another hour. He looks down to stare at his empty page and the girl on his right coughs into her hand to divert his attention to her. She looks away from him but taps on the graphic calculator on her desk and his eyes widen as he realises the reason nothing had been making sense the past half hour is because he’d been trying to get by with a scientific calculator.

He curses internally at himself for becoming so preoccupied with untrue rumors, untrue rumors concerning himself at that. A giggle from his left reminds him why he was thinking about his not relationship with Jieun in the first place and this rumor is quickly approaching the limit of going too far. As much as it does for his street cred, it’s not really worth losing class time over.

In the end, he decides to listen to the teacher so as to not flunk the class.

Once the class is over Jungkook jumps out of his seat and walks out of the classroom, trying to suppress the side eyed glance he throws at the girls who had been gossiping about him. When Taehyung follows him out, Jungkook grabs the other boy by his uniform jacket and pulls him aside to tell him that it’s time for the Jieun rumors to die.

“You know, everyone already thinks you’re dating, and Jieun is pretty hot. Why don’t you just go for it? Let the untrue become true, I saw her smiling at you in geo the other day.”

Jungkook pretends to put on a face of deep consideration and then turns to Taehyung.

“Hmm, well... those are some good points you raise, but you forgot one thing Tae,” he glances up to see his best friend’s face go from beaming to confused, “I’m really fucking gay.”

He looks at Taehyung until he sees the taller fidget under his gaze before scoffing and walking off. Taehyung takes a few moments to register his actions before rushing after him.

“Oh my god dude, I’m so sorry I completely forgot, you just seem so…” he gestures to Jungkook with his hands. When he doesn’t make to finish Jungkook decides to do so himself, “Straight?”

Taehyung nods to confirm his statement and is then met with a face full of plastic folder. He should be so lucky that Jungkook decided those cardboard ones were too heavy to carry around.

“What the fuck does that even mean?! Honestly, you’re so unbelievable sometimes.” He lowers the folder to glance at Taehyung’s face and at least the boy has the decency to look guilty.

“Just, your last crush was Ms. Lee, so like… I guess my brain just, uh,” Jungkook tries not to laugh at his friend’s flustered state, it would totally ruin his angry façade. Taehyung grabs ahold of his elbow and gives him puppy eyes, pleading for understanding and forgiveness. Luckily Jungkook’s been immune to Taehyung’s aegyo since the beginning of time, probably.

“That was like, five years ago Tae. You know as well as I do that things change, I mean, I see the way you look at Seokjin hyung,” Jungkook wiggles his eyebrows as suggestively as one can while still looking angry. Taehyung’s already a babbling mess, now he’s a blushing babbling mess.

“Stop changing the topic! That’s not what we were talking about,” but Jungkook doesn’t relent.

“Well what were we talking about then Taetae?” He cocks an eyebrow at said boy.

“Your crisis with Jieun and how it could be easily solved,” Jungkook nods at his friend to keep going, “Well really you have three options here, one, you could start dating Jieun for real but as you kindly pointed out to me that’s not happening, for obvious reasons. Two, you could start dating someone else and eventually people will catch on that you and Jieun were never really a thing. Or three, the easiest option, just fucking tell people for once that the rumors aren’t true and you aren’t dating.”

Jungkook closes his eyes and pretends to consider this momentarily before turning away from his friend and beginning to head to his class, “Nah, option three’s too boring,” if the Jieun rumors were going to die he’d prefer for them to go out with a bang, they don’t deserve a respectable death with a sermon and such in Jungkook’s opinion.

“Option two on the other hand, that sounds interesting,” Taehyung catches up with him and levels him with a bewildered look.

“But, you literally haven’t shown romantic interest in another human being since the fifth grade. How are you gonna pull that off?”

Jungkook sighs and ends up laughing a little, it’s hard to pretend to be annoyed for so long, “Coming from the guy who forgets that I’m not straight, I’m not surprised that you haven’t picked up that I have a crush the size of Incheon on someone,” Jungkook definitely enjoys the expression on Taehyung’s face when his revelation is processed by the older boy.

“Wait… what? Who!?”

Jungkook scoffs, “As if you deserve to know,” Taehyung juts out his bottom lip in a pout, “Besides, I was just kidding about the whole option two thing. If I’m gonna date this guy I want to date him for real, not just to get rid of some stupid rumors.”

“Wow you’re really serious about this guy aren’t you,” Jungkook shrugs. Taehyung takes it upon himself to latch onto Jungkook by wrapping his arms around him, “Tell me who he is. Tell meeee.”

“What the fuck Tae? I don’t-” The bell cuts Jungkook off. Saved by the bell, what a cliché.

“Fuck, we’re late.”

Or maybe not.

Yoongi doesn’t know why he’s part of the student council. He really doesn’t understand how and why he tolerates these meetings with at least 20 other class representatives and his so called best friend. He doesn’t care about school dances or sporting events, but then ah that’s right, he needs the credit for his report and Hoseok wouldn’t stop telling him how being a part of the student council meant he could make a difference in the school. What a fucking liar.

At least this meeting was about something with a little more substance than the Winter Dance. The school was arranging a fair to raise money for charity, they still needed to choose one, and Yoongi can admit that it was probably worthwhile to pay attention during the meetings. Easier said than done when you’re sat next to Jung Hoseok. It was taking him a lot of willpower not to tell his friend to close his goddamn mouth because for once they were actually doing something he cared about a little. Something he at least cared more about than Mr. Kwon’s weekend movie going experiences.

All the stalls had been chosen at this point, and all that needed doing now was assigning roles for who would operate and buy supplies for them. Someone had suggested they draw lots so that no one would be given jobs unfairly. Jimin, the council secretary, announces that they’ve finished preparations and if everyone could please come down to the front so that they can designate jobs.

As Hoseok drags him to the front to take a piece of paper, Yoongi makes sure to apologize to those they pass for Hoseok. When they get to Jimin the boy beams up at them from his chair, cheeks bunching up under his eyes and Yoongi may be cold but he’s not heartless and sends a half smile back at him. Hoseok pinches the younger boy’s cheek and laughs at his whining before taking two slips of folded paper and giving one to Yoongi before opening his own.

Hoseok lets out a sigh, “Sponge throwing, what’d you get?”

Yoongi unfolds the small yellow sticky note in his hands without much excitement, after all it’s just manning some stupid booth at the fair.

“Kissing booth,” Yoongi doesn’t process the words until he’s spoken them, fuck.

The laugh that Hoseok lets out can’t even be classified as that, it’s much closer to a cackle. Yoongi scowls and as his friend doubles over with laughter he can see Jimin behind him biting his bottom lip to contain his giggles. Some fucking friends he has.

Speaking of his asshole friends, Namjoon decides then to chime in with his opinion, “Yoongi can’t have a kissing booth shift, no one will come! As treasurer I forbid it!” Yoongi rolls his eyes but feels the relief well up inside of him. That relief is short lived however, because of one Kim Seokjin.

“Overruled, I, as the chairman of the student council, have decided that Yoongi will stick with the job the lots have given him,” Namjoon gives him a look as if to say ‘hyung are you fucking crazy’, but Seokjin continues, “Sure, it might not perhaps be the most… profitable way to use Yoongi’s time but it is what he was assigned,” he looks at Yoongi to address him, “I can’t let you pick something else because you’re my friend and that would probably end in me being accused of favouritism.”

“So what you’re saying is, if we weren’t friends then I would get to pick again.”

Seokjin nods his confirmation.

“Well fuck, I guess this is where our friendship ends.”

Seokjin frowns disapprovingly, Yoongi can hear Namjoon mutter about how everyone in the council would understand if Yoongi got to choose again. Admittedly Seokjin gets carried away sometimes when it comes to his chairman duties, sometimes it’s hard to believe this is the same guy who uses a pink flip phone and sleeps with three Mario plushies.

“It’s just one shift anyway, besides who’s to say there aren’t some poor souls out there harbouring crushes on Yoongi but are too scared to approach him? This is their only chance to get some action with him and who are we to deny them that?” Seokjin is stood up at this point, speech sounding much more sincere and moving than it probably should.

Hoseok wipes away at an imaginary tear before speaking, “Not a fucking chance who the fuck would like this guy, but okay hyung.”

Yoongi shoots him a half-hearted glare, “Thanks for that.”

“No problem.”

But Seokjin isn’t swayed and it is decided that Yoongi will have a shift at the kissing booth.

When he groans in frustration Jimin offers him a smile of pity, “At least you don’t have to buy anything for the booth?”

Hoseok throws an arm around Yoongi’s shoulders and beams at his friend’s disgruntled profile, “Yeah, I’ll buy your lipstick for you! I’m torn between a nice nude colour or a classic deep red.”

Hoseok’s lucky Yoongi doesn’t shove him too hard into the desks behind them.

Just when Taehyung has given up pestering him about his crush, Jungkook walks backwards into the Min Yoongi himself. Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

He manages to knock the older boy’s books onto the ground of the school’s parking lot and when he realises what’s just happened he freezes momentarily. Taehyung eyes him curiously and Yoongi cocks an eyebrow at him.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry sunbae,” Jungkook bends down quickly once he’s recovered to pick up Yoongi’s books. Taehyung looks mildly surprised at his actions and when Jungkook glances up at Yoongi he sees a matching expression on his face momentarily before it fades back into something more neutral. He stands up once he’s collected all the books and hands them back to their owner.

“Uh yeah, it’s no problem, I wasn’t really paying attention to where I was going either.” His voice is so deep and gravelly and Jungkook really doesn’t want him to stop talking. But he also can’t see any reason for him to continue and racks his brain for any sort of conversation. He can feel his face, ears and neck heating up, he’s definitely blushing oh god, and the silence that hangs is uncomfortable.

After a few moments of Jungkook staring at the collar of Yoongi’s t-shirt and Taehyung coming to a realisation, Yoongi must decide that he’s been stood there for an appropriate amount of time to be deemed polite and excuses himself. Jungkook’s stomach drops in disappointment and his words of goodbye are mumbled as he watches Yoongi walk to his friend.

His strides are slow but full of purpose. A purpose Jungkook can’t really put his finger on but he figures is somewhere between not giving a fuck and showing people that he doesn’t give a fuck.

Taehyung claps a hand on his shoulder hard enough for it to sting and laughs a breathy laugh, “I can’t believe you have a crush on Yoongi hyung.”

“Shut the fuck up he can probably hear you,” he turns to scowl at his friend, “And who said that I do. Also it’s Yoongi sunbae to you isn’t it?”

A close mouthed chuckle comes from Taehyung as he shakes his head and squeezes Jungkook’s shoulder, “Nope, it’s hyung and it has been ever since we ran that basketball camp for the elementary students together last summer.”

Jungkook shrugs Taehyung’s warm hand off of him and crosses his arms, “I didn’t know you fucking played basketball.” This warrants yet another round of low laughs to escape his friend.

“Ah Jungkookie, don’t tell me you’re jealous. You’ve really got it bad for him haven’t you.”

Jungkook’s face is hot and red but that doesn’t stop him from punching Taehyung’s shoulder hard enough to bruise.

Hoseok’s way better at first person shooters than Yoongi is, but that doesn’t stop Yoongi from playing the stupid games, after all he had spent his allowance on the newest Call of Duty installment. But even with Hoseok lying on stomach and sort of not really paying attention while Yoongi goes into MLG mode, the other boy still has a twelve kill lead on him. When Hoseok gets in another head shot kill though, and Yoongi’s bottom half of the screen fades from red to black, he decides he’s had enough.

He sighs and lets go of the controller as he leans back into his bed with his eyes closed in deep thought, “I can’t fucking believe I have to man the kissing booth.”

Hoseok snorts but doesn’t take his eyes of the screen. Yoongi cracks an eye open to see what he’s doing, “Really dude, you’re teabagging my corpse when I’m complaining about the unfairness that is Kim Seokjin.”

“Hey, counselling you takes a lot out of me, I gotta do shit like this to keep my own spirits up. What good am I to you as a counsellor if I’m depressed as fuck too,” he says as he mashes the buttons on his controller. Yoongi rolls his eyes and sits up again.

“If it’s any consolation though, I guess you won’t be making zero contribution to the revenue of the fair,” Yoongi hums for him to elaborate, “Can’t believe I’m saying this but I guess Jin hyung was right about something for once.”

“What the fuck are you on about,” Hoseok puts down his controller and turns to smile at him.

“I saw that kid that bumped into you in the parking lot, he was definitely crushing on you. Here’s to hoping he shows up at the booth to cash in on some smooches.” Hoseok makes kissy noises and Yoongi subsequently scrunches his nose up in disgust.

“Who Jungkook? Nah that kid’s dating Jieun isn’t he?” Hoseok ceases his disgusting sounds and rolls onto his back.

“Aren’t those just rumors though? Didn’t know you kept up with that kind of crap Yoongi,” he receives a glare that he has come to be immune to, “In any case, that just means you’ve got some competition for his affections.”

Yoongi scoffs and sets up the next round, “Sure. Anyway it’s finally time for me to destroy you in CoD.”

Hoseok bolts into an upright position and scrambles for his controller, “Hey, that’s not fair!”

It’s lunch when Jungkook sees Jimin. The other boy is on his tip toes trying to tape up posters for something when Jungkook and Taehyung approach him.

“Yo Jimin,” Taehyung holds a clenched fist out for him to bump, Jimin levels him with a gaze and the other boy retracts his hand upon seeing that Jimin’s hands are kind of busy right now. Jungkook on the other hand is slightly more helpful and reaches up to hold down a corner for Jimin at the top of the poster. Jimin smiles gratefully at him and tapes it down.

“So what’s this for?” Jungkook asks.

“Just you know, advertising the different booths for the fair this weekend,” Jungkook hums and Jimin tapes down another corner. Taehyung looks almost genuinely scandalised.

“And you have to do this yourself? You’re secretary Jimin! You should be abusing your power and getting all your council subordinates to do all the hard work, otherwise what’s the point of being elected?” Jimin giggles at Taehyung’s words.

“Kinda hard to boss them around when half of them are older than me but okay Tae, sure.” Taehyung just shrugs his shoulders at Jimin, “I’d be doing it if I were you.”

Jungkook rolls his eyes, “Ignore him, what booth are you gonna be running?”

Jimin pauses momentarily and turns to face them, “Ah well, since I’m secretary I won’t be running any of the booths so much as the whole fa-”

“JUNGKOOK! YOU WON’T FUCKING BELIEVE IT!” Jungkook and Jimin flinch at Taehyung’s shouting and he receives a smack to his arm.

“What? And keep it down Tae, god.”

Taehyung doesn’t say anything though and just points at the poster Jimin has just put up with the largest grin on his face. The poster is pastel and covered in hearts of varying sizes, the title text informing him of a kissing booth.

“Your point is?”

Taehyung sighs like he’s disappointed with Jungkook’s observational skills and takes a step towards the piece of paper. His finger lands in the middles and traces a path to a list of names before stopping on the third one, Min Yoongi. What the fuck.

“Jimin are you aware of our Jungkookie’s fixation on a certain Min Yoongi?” Taehyung asks as if he knows the secret of the meaning life itself and won’t tell you unless you beg him for it.

“Um, yeah,” that has Taehyung’s bravado breaking though, “He’s kinda really obvious about it, also he told me when I asked him about it.”

Jungkook flashes Taehyung a smirk and Taehyung’s arm retracts so fast he swears he can hear the air currents he makes with it.

“Well, anyway, apart from Jungkook being the actual worst best friend in the world, I am the best one,” Jimin and Jungkook exchange looks, “And I have a plan.”

“Let me guess, you’re gonna get them to kiss at the fair,” Jimin supplies.

“How did you know?”

“Lucky guess.”

Taehyung brushes it off and takes ahold of Jungkook’s forearm, “You sir, are going to kiss your crush and end your dating Jieun rumors. Two birds, one stone!”

Jimin brings a hand to his face and Jungkook scoffs.

“At the fucking fair’s kissing booth? Sure Taehyung.”

Jimin leaves the bickering pair to put up the rest of the posters.

The day has finally come, today Min Yoongi will have to kiss strangers for a thousand won a peck.

His shift rolls around after lunch and when he arrives to relieve the underclassman girl preceeding him of her duties he glares at the line of boys that had accumulated. They quickly leave once she has.

He sits behind the booth for the first few minutes not really knowing what to do with himself, he gets a text from Seokjin telling him there’s lip balm in the collection box. He pulls it out and spreads the artificial strawberry tasting stickiness on his lips.

It’s not too bad actually. As predicted not many people approach the booth. Only a few older ladies asking for a press of lips on their cheeks before pinching Yoongi’s and calling him a darling. At some point a six year old girl comes along and insists that she kisses his cheek instead. It’s a little slobbery and she smells like sweat and baby wipes but it’s short too so Yoongi doesn’t mind. He minds more that she tells him she only wanted to kiss him because he reminded her of Grumpy Cat, of all dead memes, why that one?

After half an hour a soaked and soapy Hoseok visits Yoongi and compliments him on the five thousand won he’s earned.

“Jungkook show up yet?” He teases. Yoongi’s smack is far more audible because of Hoseok’s wet state.

“No and he’s not going to. Fuck off.”

And fuck off Hoseok does, but that doesn’t mean he goes quietly. At first he’s laughing but then he’s screaming when he nearly slips. Serves him right.

There’s only twenty minutes left at this point, Yoongi’s glad it’s almost over.

The thing about Jungkook’s crush on Yoongi is that it’s a long term thing. Something Jungkook has invested time and thought into, an adoration that grew over time. He hasn’t had the chance to talk to Yoongi very much, just acknowledging each other in the hallway or simple greetings in passing. But Jungkook has gotten to see Yoongi from afar, has grown attached to the older boy’s gummy smile and droopy eyes.

It’s not just Yoongi’s physical appearance that Jungkook’s attracted to though. The older boy is infamous for having a sharp tongue and his wit has gotten him out of as many problems as it has started. But Jungkook knows that Yoongi is also a kind person, often giving younger students advice when they ask for it and always sticking by those dear to him. Jungkook had overhead Yoongi consoling a crying first year by the science labs a few weeks back and it had only made his feelings for the other stronger.

It’s because of these complex and sincere feelings Jungkook harbours for Yoongi that he’s not about to let months’ worth of pining go to waste à la Taehyung and his stupid plans.

Unfortunately Taehyung is sneakier than Jungkook gives him credit for which is how he finds himself not fifteen metres from the kissing booth. The kissing booth currently being manned by Min Yoongi.

He turns to Taehyung, “No.”

Taehyung smiles at him and jerks him towards the booth with surprising strength. Yoongi must see them approaching because he stops playing whatever app on his phone and looks up at them.

“Uh, hey.”

Taehyung directs his grin at Yoongi now, “Hello Yoongi hyung, running the kissing booth are we? Cool, cool, it’s a thousand won a kiss right.”

Yoongi nods at him. Taehyung’s grin widens and he reaches into his jeans pocket, “Great.”

When Taehyung’s hand is out from his pocket again there’s a wad of crumpled notes in it now. He slams them down on the table and Jungkook feels like dying, “Forty three thousand won for forty three kisses then! Not for me though,” he pulls Jungkook forward with his free hand, “This guy right here.”

Jungkook turns to glare at Taehyung, “Taehyung what the fuck.”

Taehyung finally looks back at him again, his expression serious and darker, “Jeon Jungkook you better sit your ass down and take these forty three kisses or so help me god I will have them myself.”

Jungkook laughs at that, “You wouldn’t fucking dare.”

Taehyung’s mouth twitches and he lets go of Jungkook to pull out the chair opposite Yoongi, “Well since this brat doesn’t want them and I’m assuming there’s no refunds I guess I’ll take his place.”

Yoongi looks confused but more amused as well, “Sure.”

Taehyung smiles before closing his eyes and leaning in slightly. Yoongi goes in to meet him halfway and right before their lips touch Jungkook grabs Taehyung by the shoulders to pull him out of the chair, “Fine you win.”

Taehyung rises and pumps a fist in victory, Jungkook makes sure to shove a leg of the chair into Taehyung’s shin when he pulls it out. Once he’s sat down though he finds it hard to look Yoongi in the eyes. His eyes flicker up to the other’s face momentarily and he can see Yoongi is sort of smiling too.

“Hey I don’t really mind who I’m kissing as long as I’m bringing in revenue but uh, Jungkook, doesn’t this count as cheating on Jieun?” Jungkook groans and Taehyung laughs. Of course this rumor would come back to bite him in the ass like this. He should’ve gone with option three and ended it like a normal person, but no here he was with crush about to kiss him and asking him about his not girlfriend.

“I take it you’re not dating then,” Jungkook makes eye contact with the other boy and sees that Yoongi is smiling fully at him.

“Well, let’s get to the kiss then.” That has Jungkook nodding dumbly and his eyes fluttering shut. He waits expectantly for a press of lips against his but he nearly opens his eyes again when he feels a warm pressure under his chin pulling him forward. There’s a moment where nothing happens and he can feel Yoongi’s breath on his lips before the other boy finally leans forward.

Yoongi’s lips are soft and gentle, Jungkook moves his own lips against them slightly and goes to deepen the kiss before pulling back in embarrassment, Yoongi’s hand still holding his chin. He looks down at Yoongi’s pale skin and the blush on his face probably deepens but at this point he can’t really tell. Yoongi notices his gaze and pulls back his hand.

“Sorry, you were kinda far away so I had to.”

Jungkook looks down and nods, god this is so embarrassing.

He stands up and searches for Taehyung, when he spots him he finally lets out the breath he didn’t know he was holding and speaks, “Okay, that’s done, can we go now?”

But Taehyung does make to leave, he just continues smiling at Jungkook, “Oh no Jungkook, I paid for those forty three kisses and forty three kisses is what you’re gonna get.”

Before he can even get a word in, Yoongi speaks up, “You heard the man, get back down here Jeon Jungkook,” and nothing makes sense anymore but Yoongi’s smiling fondly at him and asking him to sit down so that they can continue kissing. It’s too much for Jungkook to handle so he just plops himself back into the chair wordlessly.

Yoongi leans the rest of the way in and presses a kiss to his lips before Jungkook can even register what’s happening. He pulls away much quicker than the first time too.

“That’s two.”

This time Jungkook is the one to lean forward, “That’s three,” he supplies lamely after pulling back.

After kiss eight it occurs to Taehyung that it’s probably weird for him to stand around and watch his best friend kiss their crush, even if he was the one to pay for the kisses.

“You better deliver on all those kisses Min Yoongi! Or I’ll report you to Jimin for fraud!”

Yoongi waves Taehyung off as he goes and Jungkook tries and fails not to appreciate his pale exposed throat as he stretches for the gesture. Once he’s settled he smiles at Jungkook.

“Sorry about that sunbae,” Yoongi chuckles, “Don’t worry about it, and call me hyung, I feel we’re close enough at this point.”

Jungkook laughs at that too, “Yeah, you could say that.”

A playful look settles on Yoongi’s face as he continues, “So what was all that about then?”

Jungkook clears his throat and avoids Yoongi’s gaze, “Ah well, you see um…” there’s some small voice that sounds suspiciously like Taehyung in his head screaming at him just to confess. And for once he listens to that voice because fuck it, he’s already come this far, “Taehyung has some very strange ideas for getting me to confess.”

Yonngi tilts his head, “Confess?”

“To you that is, because I uh, I like you, Yoongi su- hyung,” he pauses to chew on his bottom lip, “Oh you totally don’t actually have to kiss me thirty five more times, I’ll just uh-”

Yoongi giggles and that’s not a sound Jungkook ever imagined hearing come from Yoongi, “Yeah I know, my shift actually ends in about two minutes anyway so it would be kind of impossible.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, oh.”

It’s quiet for a beat, Jungkook still can’t meet Yoongi’s gaze. Suddenly Yoongi leans over the table to kiss Jungkook’s almost pout, “That’s nine.”

Jungkook finally looks up at him, his lips slightly parted and wet. When he doesn’t make to say anything, Yoongi clears his throat, “I know traditionally the person confessing would be the one asking for a date, but traditionally I don’t kiss until at least the second date so,” he grins at Jungkook, “I guess I can make an exception for you.”

Jungkook’s eyes widen and he plays with the hem of his shirt. His heart is pounding a little too hard to be considered safe and he doesn’t exactly trust himself with words right now.

“Is that a yes or a no, Jungkook?” Jungkook nearly gets whiplash from how fast he nods his head.

“Yoongi! I’m here to free you from this hell!” If Jungkook jumps in his chair a little Yoongi pretends not to see it.

“Youngjae, finally. Great timing too,” as Youngjae gets closer he catches sight of Jungkook and arches an impressed brow at Yoongi. Yoongi nods and gets up, a little bit in better spirits than he was when he started the day.

“Good luck, and uh, have fun I guess.” And with that Yoongi grabs Jungkook by the wrist and leads him away from Youngjae and the kissing booth. His hand slides down and fits itself into Jungkook’s palm and he looks up at Jungkook.

“I hope this is okay.”

“Oh yeah, this is better than okay.”

They walk hand in hand along the booths, Jungkook’s heart fluttering and Yoongi as his anchor to keep it from floating away.

“Originally I was thinking about a date tomorrow but, we’re already here so why not have one today as well?” Jungkook stops and nods at the older boy, “Yeah, today and tomorrow sounds great. Um, what do you want to do? There’s loads of fun stalls, Jiminnie told me all about them but I guess you probably know that being on the student council and all.”

Yoongi hums, “Yeah, but I was thinking of something kinda different,” and with that he pulls Jungkook behind a long abandoned booth, pressing the younger to the back of it.

Jungkook looks down to see Yoongi looking up at him through his lashes and smiling. He leans up slightly but stops, Jungkook thinks it’s to give him the opportunity to push Yoongi away but why would he want to do that? So he closes the distance between them and thread his fingers through Yoongi’s hair.

The soft press of Yoongi’s lips is almost familiar to him now and he can’t wait to make the rest of Yoongi feel the same way to him. Yoongi runs his tongue along Jungkook’s bottom lip, raw from being bitten at, and Jungkook parts his lips to deepen the kiss. It’s a slow and lazy kiss and Yoongi’s fists bunch up in the front of Jungkook’s shirt. He pulls back and Jungkook settles his hand on Yoongi’s hip.

“That’s ten.”

Jungkook can’t help the silly smile that overtakes his face, “Thirty three to go.”

Yoongi smiles back at him and nuzzles his face into Jungkook’s throat.

“I thought you said you didn’t kiss until the second date,” Jungkook says, the vibrations of his voice buzzing through Yoongi.

“I guess I can make a few exceptions for you.”

(The Jieun rumors die out the following week, not because Jungkook walks in on Monday with his hand in Yoongi’s though, but because someone had caught her kissing Kim Taeyeon behind the Wheel of Luck at the fair.)

[harlack]

ok but for real tho.. . . . .y am i so bad at writing descriptions for my fics :’’(

[harlack]

i shouldnt be writing since my exams are in less than a month but as it turns out writing is a really nice way to destress in between study sessions

[harlack]

your trans girl yoongi fic means so much to me thank u so much

wow thank u for reading, im glad u liked it so much : )

hopefully youll enjoy the rest of it too (once its written . ..oops) but thank u again for this message

[harlack]

iii. back at her house was an irish setter

fanfic: california english: part 2

pairing: Yoongi/Jungkook (transgirl!Yoongi) rating: Mature chapter: 3 of 22 word count: 6628 warnings: Transphobia, dysphoria, some (not too explicit) sexual content

story summary: He doesn’t realise it when he first meets Yoongi. Doesn’t realise it when they grow to become friends either. Doesn’t even realise it when he joins Yoongi’s rap group. No, Yoongi has to tell Jungkook.

Luckily Jungkook is able to realise he’s in love with Yoongi on his own.

chapter summary: Jungkook doesn't kiss Yoongi.

links: [AO3]/[AFF]

or

Jungkook doesn’t kiss Yoongi when she tells him about her mother.

She laughs bitterly when recalling her childhood, apologising that he has to hear about her sob story when he should be out with kids his own age making memories instead of hearing about hers. She seems to have disregarded the whole ‘I’d go straight for you’ ordeal, Jungkook is relieved.

They’re on the floor of their studio, wrapped in blankets and propped up on pillows, thighs pressing against each other as they wait for Namjoon and Hoseok to find someone to fix the heating, again. It’s just the two of them, has been for the past hour; seems it’s much harder to find someone to fix a heater that’s stopped working than a heater that won’t stop heating. At least at the price they’re paying them for. They’ve been watching the sky through their one small window as a distraction from the cold, observing how the sun colours the thick mist orange as if on fire. Talking just to keep the moisture in their mouths from freezing over.

Jungkook turns away from the sight for the first time in half an hour to frown at Yoongi. He pulls out a hand and slips it under her blanket to grasp hers. This seems to startle Yoongi who is used to being the one to initiate any hand holding between them. He runs his thumb over her knuckles and she looks up at him.

“Sorry, sorry, I know. I should stop putting myself down and all that,” she sighs, “Can’t be confident onstage if I’m a self deprecating piece of shit offstage.” And while that’s not the reasoning Jungkook had in mind it’ll have to do for now.

“Yoongi, you don’t have to tell me about it you know.” She smiles at him, the studio is quiet and Jungkook is almost scared to say anything else, scared that he’ll ruin the moment they’re sharing.

“I know, but I like to finish things once I’ve started them,” she looks back out the window, the sky is a gradient of purple to pink to orange now. The sun is setting, the day ending, and they’ve only recorded two verses.

“My dad passed from cancer when I was eleven, I didn’t know it then but he had a treatable stomach cancer, he could have lived if they’d found it sooner. But he was always too busy working to support his wife and kid. I don’t think I ever really stopped crying for a week straight, and mum was never really the same after that either,” her exhale when she pauses is shaky and her eyes slightly wet. Jungkook doesn’t say anything, just squeezes her hand lightly and waits for her to continue.

“Truth be told I don’t remember much of him, he was hardly home and I was too preoccupied with whatever it is eleven year olds find interesting. But what I do remember is how he always tried to show me he loved me, through gifts and through spending time with me when he could. I remember the way he would look at my mother and how she always seemed calmer when he was home, how he was her home. And I know it’s selfish of me to wonder, but I do, I wonder all the time if my father would have loved me just as much if he had found out I was a girl.”

Somehow Jungkook finds himself with his body pressed up against Yoongi’s and his arms wrapped around her waist. It’s hard to tell where his blanket ends and Yoongi’s begins.

“I’m sure he would’ve, your mother does, doesn’t she? He loved you, I can’t imagine it would change much,” he can feel the rise and fall of her chest and hopes she can’t feel the way his heart starts to beat faster.

“But I’ll never know.”

The words are spoken so softly and quietly that Jungkook knows they weren’t meant for him to hear. Had he not been so close to Yoongi he wouldn’t have. His gaze flickers up to her face to find her eyes closed; he decides to pretend to not have heard. Lets her keep the parts of herself she doesn’t want him to have to herself.

“You’ll meet my mum soon,” she shifts to position herself closer to his chest, lets his arms pull her in closer, “If you come to my birthday party that is.”

“Is that an invitation?” She doesn’t laugh but the staccato puffs of breath she lets out are good enough for him.

“She’ll like you, at least more than she likes Namjoon, she never forgave him after he mixed in syrup instead of fertilizer when he watered her plants,” Jungkook lets out a short laugh, “And you’re in university, she’s all about you scholarly types.”

“Does she live nearby then? Or are you going to have to drive for three hours to pick her up.”

He feels the gentle tickle of Yoongi’s hair under his chin as she shakes her head, “I still live at home.”

And this Jungkook didn’t know. He’d always assumed she lived with Hoseok and Namjoon.

“Not because I can’t afford to move out or whatever, just, my mum’s not in such great shape. There was… an accident, when I was fifteen. She’s been in a wheelchair ever since then and it’s hard for her to do some things by herself. I bought her a dog when I tried to move out, one of those care dogs, but I felt too worried and was texting her every twenty minutes to see how she was doing. Eventually I just moved back in, the apartment is far too big for just her anyway.”

Jungkook has already felt too many corny feelings for Yoongi but he can’t help the surge of admiration he feels for her. Yoongi is not all the person he thought she was when he first met her, as unoriginal as it sounds, Yoongi is so much realer and more amazing than Jungkook could have ever thought her to be.

“Of course I’ll come.”

“Good,” her fingers tap a rhythm out on his forearm, “dress nicely, but don’t dress up too much, Hobi wore a suit the first time he met my mum and she’s been trying to marry me off to him ever since then. ‘What a lovely, well dressed and well mannered young man’ she’s convinced. But she’s never seen Hoseok try to fit five rice cakes in his mouth at once and then proceed to throw up on the sidewalk.”

Jungkook laughs airily and runs a hand up her arm to press her closer. For warmth of course.

Jungkook doesn’t kiss Yoongi on her birthday.

He arrives at the address twenty minutes before the time she told him. It’s in the nice middle class suburban area, apartment 9B. He stands on the soft welcome mat and smiles when he catches sight of the decorative porcelain cat statue by the door. It’s white and in a lying position with its eyes closed, it reminds him of Yoongi.

He’s dressed in jeans and a down jacket with a blue dress shirt underneath, not exactly a three piece suit but at least it’s not denim on denim. (Taehyung had sent him a selfie of his outfit for the night claiming to be ‘rocking the full denim ensemble !!!! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و’.) In his right hand he holds a bag with a present inside, he’s eager to see Yoongi’s reaction when she opens it.

He presses the doorbell, retracts his hand, and waits a few moments before he hears a familiar voice shout about getting the door and the soft thumps of socked feet approaching the door. The door opens slightly before jarring to a stop because of the latch lock still serving its function. Jungkook covers his mouth with his hand to stifle his laugh and can almost see Yoongi scowling through the door. She closes the door momentarily before pushing it open and greeting Yoongi with a scowl on her face.

“You shouldn’t laugh at me on my birthday you know, now I might not let you in,” somehow Jungkook manages to sober up and puts on a faux serious face. She crosses her arms and arches a brow at him.

“You’re early. Didn’t I tell you it was at six?” He shrugs his shoulders lamely and Yoongi stops pretending to be mad at him, “Figured you could use some help.”

She smiles and moves towards him for a hug but is stopped when a voice calls out for her, “Yoongi-yah! Who is it?”

She turns back to respond and takes Jungkook’s free hand before dragging him inside, “It’s my friend Jeon Jungkook, I’m bringing him in.”

Jungkook takes about two steps before a large furry object bounds towards him and he startles backwards into the closing door. The dark brown dog gets on its hind legs and positions its paws above his waist, the heart shaped tag on its collar clinking with its movements. Jungkook laughs as he pets its head and tries not to get any slobber on his trousers.

“Saja sit! That’s no way to treat guests,” there’s a whine before the dog backs down and walks over to Yoongi literally with its tail hanging between its legs. It sits and looks back at Jungkook as if asking for help and he makes his way over. He crouches down to scratch Saja behind the ear and doesn’t notice as another person enters the room.

“Ah Jeon Jungkook, it’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Min Yoona, Yoongi’s mother.”

Yoongi’s mother is skinny and dark haired. Her posture is better than Jungkook could ever hope for his to be and he notices the delicate way her hands are folded in her lap. Her face is mapped with wrinkles that aren’t too deep and hide her age but give away the hardships she’s been through. He realises Yoongi has her mother’s eyes, Yoona’s crow's feet are the same as her daughter’s when she smiles. Her smile is less gummy though, and far more motherly. He would have been calmed by her warm presence had she been anyone else’s mother, but as it is he really wants to make a good impression.

He rises and bows, “Nice to meet you Yoona-ssi.”

There’s a small smile on her face showing her approval and she nods before speaking, “Such a nice, handsome, well-dressed boy. Strong too I bet,” she looks to Yoongi who closes her eyes and nods solemnly, “Good. Come with me, we need someone to bring out the extension table.”

And with that she swivels around and wheels her way down the hall. Jungkook looks to Yoongi questioningly who smiles teasingly and shrugs as if to say “You said you wanted to help”. He leaves Yoongi’s present on the floor next to his shoes.

When Jungkook has brought the table out and Yoongi’s mother is in the kitchen filling Saja’s bowl with dog food, Yoongi sidles up next to him and nudges him with her shoulder.

“Thanks.”

“It’s no problem,” his eyes flicker over her figure and she rolls her eyes fondly, “You look great, happy birthday by the way.”

She huffs out a laugh, “Thanks, again.”

The doorbell rings twice to announce the arrival of Jimin and Taehyung. Jimin greets Yoona on behalf of the both of them while Taehyung almost flings his body to the floor to play with Saja. She licks at his face and he giggles, rubbing her belly and looking like there’s nowhere in the world he’d rather be. Eventually he looks up at Yoongi, “What breed is she again?”

“Irish setter, although I feel like she’s got a little bit of boxer in her too.”

Seokjin arrives seven minutes later, straight from work but looking like he’s energised and excited for the party even though he’s just spent the last seven hours teaching sixteen year olds about communism in China. He bends down to give Yoona a hug after greeting Yoongi and handing her his present. He’s able to engage the woman in a seemingly lovely conversation and Jungkook leans over to Yoongi.

“You know, I’m surprised she wants to marry you off to Hobi hyung,” he whispers, “Jin hyung seems more like the perfect son in law material.”

Yoongi snorts and whispers back, “They get along well yes, but mum doesn’t trust someone who is willingly employed in the education sector to be able to make a good husband.”

Jungkook feigns bewilderment and turns to look at Yoongi with wide eyes, “She doesn’t like kids? Wow noona, you must really have been a handful.”

Yoongi pushes at his shoulder and smiles at him, “Yeah, one time I threw a fit because I had to eat dinner and during that time my tamagotchi died and I vowed to never take care of my mum when she grows old. I even wrote a statement saying she wasn’t my mother anymore,” Jungkook can hear Taehyung shout joyfully when Saja sits for him, “She still keeps that piece of paper in her wallet, pulls it out sometimes when I ask her for money or a favour.”

Jungkook knows that she’s said all that to be funny, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t catch the irony in her words, even if that wasn’t her intent. Because here she was, however many years later, still living with her mother to make sure she wouldn’t encounter too many problems in her old age. Always worrying probably too much about the most important woman in her life, the woman that represents what’s left of her family.

But since it’s Yoongi’s birthday and she was just joking around, Jungkook doesn’t comment on any of that. Instead he plays along.

“Guess you were right then,” her eyebrows furrow in confusion, “What you said about passive aggressiveness being hereditary, seems it’s true for your family too.”

Yoongi laughs in agreement and pulls Jungkook to the kitchen. Jimin is there too, rummaging through the fridge for a drink until he catches sight of Yoongi and smiles guiltily. She waves him off with a, “Go ahead, you’re the guest,” and he pulls out some cans of sprite. He sets a few on the counter and offers one to Jungkook.

Apparently Namjoon and Hoseok don’t know what a doorbell is and knock thrice before being let into the apartment. They greet Yoongi with birthday wishes and Yoona coos over finally getting to see her favourite of Yoongi’s friends. Hoseok embraces her wholeheartedly and Namjoon sets a bottle of wine with a ribbon tied around it on the table. It is quite clear who her favourite is even without the pieces of information Yoongi had given Jungkook.

Jungkook doesn’t kiss Yoongi when he gives her his present.

The party has been going for a while now, they’ve eaten, sang happy birthday, talked, played games. Taehyung was able to dig up an old WeSing karaoke disc from Yoongi’s stacks of dvds and Namjoon tried to set up her old Wii console before Jimin stepped in seeing how much of a hazard he was turning out to be. After butchered versions of classic songs such as Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ and 2NE1’s ‘I Am the Best’ and a variety of ABBA singles Yoongi decides to bring out the cake to stop Hoseok and Namjoon from screaming into the extension mic.

They sing again, Yoongi groans and blows out the candles halfway through Taehyung’s enthusiastic third “Hip hip hooray!” to get them to stop. Jungkook finds it cute how easily embarrassed she is.

They eat the cake. They’re quieter now, probably from working all day and then having the wildest party one can have with Yoongi’s sixty year old mother present. It’s ten o’clock and they’ve opened the bottle of wine Namjoon and Hoseok had brought.

“Sorry we didn’t get you something more creative,” Namjoon says from his spot on the couch. Yoongi has her head tilted downward with the rim of her wine glass nearly touching the tip of her nose and shakes her head. The movement has the garnet liquid sloshing around and Yoona looks like she’s about to scold all of them about not getting anything on her couch. It’s probably for the best she doesn’t want to marry Yoongi off to Seokjin, he’s far too much like Yoona.

“Don’t worry about it, I’m just glad you could make it. Besides, you can never go wrong with alcohol,” they laugh at the statement and Jimin raises his glass.

“Cheers to that.”

A little while later Taehyung yawns and he and Jimin decide it’s best for them to head home. Yoongi hugs each of them and they present her with a new set of headphones, “Something light but good quality so you can work on the go,” Jimin tells her. She thanks them and tells them to hurry home so they don’t catch colds or miss out on too much sleep.

When Namjoon and Hoseok leave Jin is in the kitchen helping with the dishes. The two boys go over the schedule for the next week and remind Jungkook to protect his voice, the next show is going to be a big deal apparently. Yoongi doesn’t bother to thank them for coming but her gratitude is obvious in her tone, even if the words she speaks are, “Yah, just go home you losers. No one wants to deal with a grumpy either of you.”

Goodbyes are said and then Yoongi is closing the door after them. It’s just her and Jungkook in the hallway, faint laughter comes from the kitchen meaning Yoona must’ve joined Jin by now.

Jungkook clears his throat and bends down to pick up the bag he’d left by his shoes when he came in. Yoongi’s present.

When he stands and faces her she looks at him with amusement and a brow arched. He offers her the box and she takes is with tentative fingers, unsure of what he’s getting at.

“Happy birthday noona,” it may be the alcohol, it may be because they’re alone, but it’s the most sincere Jungkook has ever heard himself sound in a long time.

“What’s this? I thought you and Jin were giving me a present together.” She takes the box out of the bag and shakes it up and down slightly, it’s quite heavy but doesn’t make much sound. She frowns in concentration and Jungkook wishes he was fast enough to capture the pout that forms on camera.

He shakes his head at her, “Jin hyung got you anti ageing cream, I personally don’t agree with the statement a present like that makes so I got you something else.”

He watches in anticipation as she removes the lid and smiles to himself at the small gasp she lets out.

“Jungkook, you really didn’t have to, how much did these cost you?” His savings had taken quite the blow but she didn’t need to know that. The look of wonder on her face and the giddiness laced in her tone are more than enough to make up for it though.

He chuckles softly and reaches into the box to take out one shoe of the pair of nude pumps he had bought her. The heels are only three inches, for now, Yoongi is very busy these days and doesn’t have time for a broken leg or fractured ankle. He brings it up to eye level for Yoongi so that she can get a closer look, this also gives him the opportunity to watch as a smile blooms on her face.

“It’s not quite a designer dress but, I’m getting there,” he places the shoe back into the box and Yoongi puts the lid back on. She holds the box close to her chest like a child would with their favourite stuffed animal, it may be her birthday today but she’s never looked this young and innocent to Jungkook before. Her gaze is heavy on him and her eyes glisten slightly even in the low lighting, he blushes and looks away, the moment almost too much for him.

“I hope you like the colour.”

There’s a soft press of lips to his cheek that he can barely register before Yoongi is looking up into his eyes with her small smile still there for him to see, “I love them Jungkook. Thank you, really.”

Jungkook doesn’t kiss Yoongi when they’re drunk.

They’re still high off their last show, the turnout even bigger than they expected. When they get off stage they’re laughing and slapping each other’s backs. Yoongi pulls him into her side as they descend down the stairs to the green room and wipe the sweat from his temple with her sleeve.

Jin congratulates them when they get to him as usual, what’s unusual is that Jimin and Taehyung are with him too this time. Jungkook throws himself at the two and pulls them in for a hug, “Hyung you came.”

Taehyung hugs him back just as tight and Jimin laughs, “You did great out there Kookie,” he pulls back to smile at them.

When they’ve settled finances with an employee of the venue Hoseok whoops at the figure they’ve been presented. Even with the cost of renting the place it’s a hefty sum, they can thank the materialistic nature of their fans for buying merch and the graphic design student from Jungkook’s software engineering class for designing said merch for that.

It’s only natural that they decide to go out for victory drinks afterwards.

They end up at the bar where Jungkook had first met them, where it had all began. Namjoon’s choice because he’s poetic like that. So what if it’s a little pricey? It’s the memories and significance the place holds that matters.

They sit at a booth after ordering drinks they really have no business pretending they can afford.

“To Jeon Jungkook, without him we’d be a very different group,” Jungkook doesn’t even bother to reject Namjoon’s words. Just smiles and laughs as they clink their alcohol filled glasses and pat him on the back. It feels nice to be appreciated, to have people be glad he’s there. It also feels nice to have Yoongi’s hand stay on his back after she congratulates him like all the others.

It’s definitely the alcohol, the way he leans into her touch just slightly.And he’s very sure he isn’t imagining the way her hand moves up and down his back and shifts him closer to her. All of that is real and Jungkook looks over at her to find her smiling at him with a light pink blush dusting over her cheeks and the bridge of her nose.

They try out new drinks, some more syrup and soda than alcohol and some closer to hand sanitizer in alcohol content than to an actually potable drink.

At one in the morning Taehyung has at least three of those little cocktail umbrellas in his hair and Jimin’s shirt is gone. Namjoon has taken to lying down in their booth lecturing the space next to Jin’s thigh about the importance of preserving local cultures and beside him Hoseok has passed out with his forehead pressed to the tabletop and a smear of colourised sugar on his cheek. Jin is taking selfies and ‘uploading them to Facebook’ but earlier when Jungkook checked his feed there was nothing there so he had leaned over to see his hyung emailing himself the dozens of pictures.

Yoongi has her arms wrapped around Jungkook’s waist and her head resting on his shoulder as she laughs at whatever Taehyung had just said. Jungkook sips on a rum and coke and a hazy part of his mind tells him now is the perfect time to look down and admire Yoongi’s profile. He doesn’t do this though, but only because he can’t seem to aim the straw of his drink into his mouth. Sensing his struggle, Yoongi reaches up to still it, nearly spilling the drink in the process, but eventually Jungkook is able wrap his lips around the hollow piece of plastic. His lips graze Yoongi’s fingertips and she looks up at him and winks. He blushes and tries to continue listening to Taehyung’s story.

It’s hard to do so though when Yoongi relaxes and settles her head by his throat, nose and lips pressed innocently against his collarbones as she drifts in and out of consciousness. Jungkook is stiff and doesn’t quite know what to do with himself in his hazy state, to his right Jimin has pulled out his phone and taken pictures of his flustered state and coos over them.

Namjoon orders a final round of drinks, some sodas because they all need to wash out the bitter taste their last shots had left in their mouths. Hoseok wakes up and bets that he can finish his soda faster than anyone else but ends up running off to the bathroom halfway through racing Taehyung.

When they stand up to leave they wave at the bartender who calls taxis for them, it’s also the same bartender who had returned Jimin’s shirt to him. None of them are really in a state to be using any other form public transport really, and they all have someone to go home with to make sure no one ends up in the next paper’s obituary. Well, everyone except Yoongi. Her mother’s apartment is halfway across town and they all decide it’s for the best if she sleeps over at someone else’s for the night.

“Well it doesn’t look like she’s letting go of Jungkook’s waist anytime soon so what about you guys take her, hyung?” Namjoon says. Jungkook can feel Yoongi nod into his throat and Jin says he was going to offer anyway as the oldest hyung.

The rest of them let them take the first taxi and Jungkook hauls Yoongi into the backseat with him. She sprawls herself out across the seats and rests her head in Jungkook’s lap, seeing this Jin opts to ride shotgun. He falls asleep almost right after telling the driver their address.

The ride is silent until Yoongi becomes restless and Jungkook decides to card his fingers through her hair to calm her down. This solution works until one of his fingers gets caught in a knot in her hair and he pulls a bit harder to free it and ends up poking Yoongi in the eye. She hisses in pain and pulls the offending hand away from her to scowl at it. She shifts to look up at him, one eye closed and the other one squinting and Jungkook feels a little like he’s being scrutinized.

“You’re drunk.” Jungkook nods his head lamely and goes to apologise for nearly taking her eye out but instead says, “At least I’m not the only one this time.” Yoongi snorts and Jin stirs in his sleep.

When they arrive at their apartment Yoongi covers for the ride, insisting that she do this or she’d be taking advantage of her hospitality. Jungkook scuffs his boot while trying to support half of his hyung’s body as they make their way to the elevator.

After Jin has been dumped on his bed and is snoring quietly, Jungkook rummages through his closet for a duvet or a blanket or a pillow or anything really. He manages to find a duvet and pillow set, sans the pillow and duvet cases though, and hopes that Yoongi isn’t allergic to feathers.

She’s sitting cross legged on the couch when he steps back into the living room and she smiles dumbly at him. The butterflies in Jungkook’s stomach stir even when he’s quite sure he has pure alcohol pumping through his veins. When he gets to her she reaches out to hold his forearm and blushes while setting the bedding he had brought down next to her.

He helps her lie down and ends up tucking her in too when he sees her nearly get tangled in the mess of duvet. He bends down slightly to make sure her arms aren’t exposed to the cold March air.

“Jungkookie-yah, you’re the dongsaeng, I should be taking care of you,” she says quietly.

“It’s okay noona, I like taking care of you,” he can hear his words slurring together and how Yoongi giggles at him.

Her eyes flutter closed and she leans up slightly with lightly pursed lips. In the moment right before his lips are about to catch hers, Jungkook turns his face to the side slightly and the kiss lands on his cheek instead. He decides he doesn’t want his first kiss with Yoongi to taste like alcohol.

Still, he warms at the way her eyelashes tickle his cheek and the softness of her lips. When she pulls away she falls asleep again almost the instant her head hits the pillow. He whispers a goodnight to her before heading to his own room.

He falls asleep wondering if that had been his only chance to kiss Yoongi.

Jungkook doesn’t kiss Yoongi in front of her mother.

He’s standing on the welcoming mat outside of her apartment again. Yoongi had asked him to come over to hang out because she felt like it was her turn to host.

She answers the door surprisingly fast and it almost feels like she’d been waiting for him. He shrugs off his jacket and she takes it to hang it up somewhere. When he steps in Saja runs up to greet him and he pats her head before following after Yoongi.

Yoona is in the living room with a book in her hands and a pair of glasses on the bridge of her nose. She looks up at the pair and smiles at Jungkook.

“Ah Jungkook, the handsome boy, lovely to see you again,” Jungkook blushes at the comment and Yoongi whines at her mother to stop embarrassing her friends before she has none. Yoona chuckles and Yoongi pulls him to her room as he mumbles out a greeting.

He hadn’t gotten to see Yoongi’s room the last time he was here. It’s quite spacious and the walls are painted a baby blue. Yoongi has a desk with various pieces of recording equipment and stacks of notebooks on it next to a hi-fi stereo. Her bed is black and queen sized and the curtains next to it are drawn apart only slightly to let in a few rays of natural sunlight.

It’s not messy but Yoongi still apologises for the state her room is in.

They settle on the bed and watch the newest episode of their favourite drama together. Yoongi hadn’t really mentioned what she meant by ‘hang out’ but they’ve never had a problem with finding something to do in the past. After the episode is over and Yoongi is done cringing over the song they’d played over the main characters’ first kiss scene, Jungkook shows her pictures of Jin he had taken while he was on the phone with Namjoon.

They scroll through the photos in silence for a few minutes before Yoongi looks up at him with a serious expression, “They have to be dating right? The only time I’ve seen Jin hyung that happy is when he got an email that his new Mario figurine order had shipped.”

Jungkook laughs and Yoongi tells him more about his ‘Jin hyung and Namjoon are definitely dating’ theory.

They decide to work on a track, Yoongi is on the floor with her headphones on as she listens to the beat Namjoon had sent her the other night. Jungkook is sat in the swivel chair by her desk and looks over the new lyrics she’d written while the drama had been playing.

Eventually she unplugs her headphones and asks for his opinion. The track is fast paced and high energy at first, and then drops to half time for the pre chorus while Namjoon croons halfheartedly over the synthesizers (“Don’t worry about that, we’ll get you to record it later”). The lyrics almost make it sound like it’s a love song, which it could be for all he knows, all they have right now is half of Namjoon’s verse, the pre chorus, and the very minimal instrumental of the chorus. But Jungkook can already tell it’s going to be one of their best songs.

“I have a suggestion for the chorus, what about a guitar riff for the chorus, maybe with some distortion or layering to give it depth.” Yoongi smiles at his words.

“You’ve really been learning a lot haven’t you Jungkook-ah?” She plays the section over again and Jungkook scrambles to scribble a simple riff in guitar tab form. When he hands it to her a wrinkle of confusion forms on between her brows.

“You play guitar?”

“A little,” she nods her approval but asks that he transpose it to just standard music notation since she herself does not play guitar.

“Numbers are for losers and people who are good at math, I am neither of those two things,” is the reason she gives him though.

While he does this, Yoongi goes into an in depth explanation of how she wants the track to sound. She tells him about maybe bringing in a session violinist and using the deep voice effect Hoseok has been dying to put in a song. She also mentions that she wants to give him the bridge rap, the final rap.

“You’ve earned it kid, I want you to go wild with it! Do whatever you want,” she contemplates her words, “Well clearly not ‘whatever’, it has to be good and it has to fit the song of course.”

At this point she’s rambling about all the possibilities and ideas she has for the song and Jungkook has stopped writing. He doesn’t want to disturb her, she sounds confident and relaxed and it feels like he’s really getting to see the true Yoongi. He watches her face and hand gestures as she explains how she wants to utilize the doubling effect and add other vocals, just to try out a new sound.

She must seem to realise how long she’s been talking because she cuts herself off abruptly and looks over at Jungkook. Seeing how he’s looking at her has her blushing and looking away. Jungkook bites back a laugh as he gets off the chair and sits beside Yoongi, only a few millimeters away. He leans in towards her to whisper into the shell of her ear.

“Hi.”

She pushes at his shoulder and still doesn’t meet his eyes, “Yah, don’t look at me like that, it’s unnerving,” and this time he allows himself to laugh.

He crawls to sit in front of her so she’s forced to look at him or strain her neck trying not to. He chuckles again and tucks away a bit of her fringe. She looks at him with a small pout playing on her lips and Jungkook is sure he’s smiling at her with his obvious overbite on display but he doesn’t really care right now.

Well, that is until her gaze wanders down from his eyes to his lips and he licks at them subconsciously. She looks into his eyes again and neither of them move. Both waiting for the other to do something.

Eventually something does happen.

Jungkook doesn’t kiss Yoongi, so Yoongi kisses Jungkook first.

He isn’t expecting her to kiss him and his eyes remain open for a while when she first leans in to brush their lips against each other before his eyelids flutter closed. He recovers quickly though, one hand coming up to cradle her jaw and deepen the kiss.

Yoongi’s lips are warm and soft, her skin underneath his fingertips is smooth and the way she places a hand on his thigh to support herself as she chases his mouth is nothing short of what Jungkook had wanted his first kiss with her to be like.

She pulls back momentarily, eyes still closed and Jungkook notices the light blush on her cheeks, before kissing him again. She bites down lightly on his lower lip and he allows for her to push her tongue in. Jungkook uses his other arm to wrap around her waist and pull her into his lap. Yoongi’s arms link together around his neck and their noses brush against each other from the change in position and close proximity.

The kiss is still quite slow and languid, like they’ve been waiting a long time to do this and want to drag it out as much as they can. One of Jungkook’s hands slip under Yoongi’s t-shirt and she shudders and lets out a gasp, breaking the kiss. Jungkook uses this opportunity to place light kisses along her jaw and down the column of her throat, her gasp turns into a moan and he smirks against her skin. Then she’s pulling lightly at his hair and he meets her lips with his own.

Suddenly they hear Saja bark loudly from the other side of the door to Yoongi’s room as if she knows what they’re doing and Jungkook tries to swallow the giggle Yoongi lets out. They break away from each other momentarily before pressing their foreheads together and laugh quietly.

Eventually Saja tires and the sounds of her feet on the floor tell them she’s gone. Yoongi rubs circles into the skin of Jungkook’s throat with her thumb and he sighs contentedly. He slips his hand back out from under her t-shirt lets go of her waist to lean back on the palms of his hands.

“I really like you noona,” Yoongi smiles at him and leans forward to press her lips to the spot right under his left eye.

“I know,” she breathes against his skin.

Jungkook jerks slightly to look her in the eyes when he asks, “What do you mean?”

“I’ve known for a while, I kinda wanted to see if you would make a move though. Fuck you for being so cute that I couldn’t help myself,” Jungkook hides his face under her jaw in embarrassment and wraps his arms around her again.

“God, was I really obvious?” He feels her shake her head no before she speaks.

“Not really, well, except for this one time you told me you’d go straight for me.” His eyes widen and he’s glad she can’t see him. One of her arms reaches back blindly behind her before she finally gets a grip on her phone.

She scrolls through her camera roll and smiles widely once she’s found what she was looking for.

“Your choice of wording was quite beautiful, glad to have you in the group,” he groans and she presses play.

“Yeah of course I know, but that’s not the point noona. The point I’m trying to make is I’d go the full monosexual for you. One hundred percent hetero and definitely no homo.” Past him says, past drunk him.

He groans some more before pressing his lips to her cheekbones and begging her to stop the video. She laughs loudly and turns the volume up even louder.

“The full monosexual Jungkook, I’m flattered,” he bites down on the skin below her jaw lightly and whines, “Can we please pretend that never happened.”

She pulls away to kiss him the lips and answers sweetly, “No,” he’s about to start pleading with her, “But if it’s any consolation I really like you too.”

And yeah, maybe as it turns out Yoongi hadn’t forgotten about the whole ‘I’d go straight for you’ ordeal, but finally getting to touch her like this and kiss her for as long as he wants is more than enough to make up for it.

[harlack]

hi im a big fan of your writing and i saw you comment on a fic named 'Hold Me Tight' by downthehill on AO3 and i just thought that you might like to know the whole fic is plagiarised :// its stolen almost word for word from a 2013 ziam fic called 'But the sun comes up instead' by blackwayfarers (heres a link if you want to compare archiveofourown(.)org/works/1080507 ), it seems their other fic 'Min's Cafe' is also stolen from a 2012 sterek called 'No Refills' by scottmcniceass

this is a re-ask from the original person who sent me this message, because i wanted to protect their privacy. 

and after looking at this, it is completely true. here is downthehill’s fics: 

Hold Me TightMin’s Cafe

and respectively, they’re ripped off, word for word, from the 1D fanfic “But the sun comes up instead” by blackwayfarers and the sterek fanfic “No Refills” by scottmcniceass. 

I’ve already informed the authors (by commenting on their fics, but if anyone knows these authors, pls tell them about it) and reported downthehill on ao3. Plagiarism is not acceptable. 

eta: the user’s works and profile is unavailable. idk if it was her or the website itself, but the fics aren’t accessible anymore. 

[harlack]

now that ive decided to also post entire fics/chapters on tumblr i realise i have to make the font bigger so that you can actually read it

[harlack]

i said i had a taegi in store and posted a yoonkook oops

i swear its in the works its just very long and still not finished D’’:

[harlack]

i want you too (but not how he has you)

pairing: Yoongi/Jungkook (onesided for a large part), broken!Yoongi/Jimin rating: Teen and up/PG-13 status: Complete [1/1] word count: 3,032 warnings: None

summary: “and for once i would like to know how it would feel to have your hands on my cheeks, your fingers in my hair, eyes still and only on me.

but i’ll have to learn to get by with just grazes of clothed elbows and thighs, looks that you’ll never see, longing for it to be me.”

A/N: My first angst piece, not my strongest area but it’s always good to practice.

links: [AO3]/[AFF]

or

Jungkook has to remind himself to unclench his jaw whenever he sees them. Yoongi with his arms wrapped around Jimin’s frame while the other boy has his face turned towards him, resting his forehead against Yoongi’s temple, his throat, his collarbones. Hands intertwined and almost never straying apart from each other, eyes sending meaningful looks when they have to separate.

It’s not fair to either of them for Jungkook to treat them with any hostility. Neither of them knew how he felt. How when Jimin reaches to touch Yoongi he wants nothing more to stand up and walk out of the room. How when Yoongi looks at Jimin with a tenderness Jungkook never thought he was capable of his chest feels tight and too full at the same time.

Jimin had fallen in love with Yoongi first, he knows this. But Jungkook couldn’t stop himself from falling for Yoongi and his gravelly voice, pale skin and pretty hands. Yoongi had fallen in love last. Had fallen in love with Jimin when Jungkook was in too deep with his feelings and it was too late for him to try to stop loving Yoongi. It had been clear that when they first started dating that Yoongi was unsure of how things would go with Jimin, and maybe Jungkook shouldn’t have held on to the hope that Yoongi just wouldn’t be able to bring himself to feel the same way for the other boy but he still did. He still did and it was stupid of him. If the sincerity of his feelings and Jimin’s kindness didn’t have Yoongi falling for him, his pretty face, sculpted body and beautiful voice would have.

In some ways he was glad that Yoongi had picked Jimin over him. He doesn’t know how Jimin would have handled the rejection, if he would ever have been able to talk to the older boy again. Jimin had always been so nice to him, Jungkook almost wouldn’t be able to bear knowing he was the cause of the other boy’s sadness. Almost.

He’s known them both for a little over two years now, ever since he first started at the university. Jimin had been kind enough to show him around and he had met Yoongi when he had found the other boy sleeping on the floor of the communal bathroom. As it turned out they all had mutual friends and ended up seeing each other much more than any of them had anticipated. He grew fond of Jimin quickly, even if it didn’t seem like it to anyone else. The way the boy would do anything for his friends, the comprises and lengths he would go to for them was something Jungkook had never been at the receiving end of before. It made him feel appreciated and strangely happy, but Jungkook was never good at expressing his feelings.

Yoongi was someone he had always respected, maybe even admired, but at first he had found it hard to talk him by himself without stumbling over his words. This is all changed after one night where the two of them, both slightly drunk, had a heart to heart and confessed that they weren’t going down the paths they wanted. After that Yoongi spoke to him more, smiled at him and remembered small things about him that no one else would, like how he likes his kimbap with full grain rice instead of white. Jungkook had always been aware of how attractive Yoongi was, with his lithe frame and fragile features, the older boy was somewhat ethereal in combination with how pale he was. It could have come across as intimidating, but the way his features light up when he smiles and how his laugh brought colour to his cheeks made Jungkook want to look at him forever.

But being so close to the two of them, it was hard for Jungkook not to notice Jimin’s feelings. How his touches would linger on Yoongi and how he would look at the other boy when he thought no one was watching him. When he’d finally gotten the courage to confess and ask Yoongi on a date, the first person Yoongi had gone to was Jungkook naturally. His throat had felt tight as he listened to Yoongi talk about how he had never thought of Jimin in that way before, but that there was no way he could’ve said no to him in that moment. It made him realise that his situation with Yoongi was probably very similar, Yoongi had only ever seen him as a friend, a younger brother and Jungkook had never given him any clear indication to think otherwise. He nearly chokes on his words when he advises Yoongi to take it slow and to remember to take into account his own feelings and not just making sure Jimin was happy. Yoongi thanks him and when they hug Jungkook holds on for slightly too long but the other boy doesn’t say anything.

He realises his words may have made Yoongi think more about his feelings for Jimin than if he had said nothing. May have made Yoongi fall in love with Jimin faster than he would’ve on his own.

When they make it official in front of all their friends Jungkook’s mouth hurts from forcing himself to smile.

He busies himself with his studies, it gives him an excuse to not see them when they ask him to come out with them. He forgoes sitting with them at lunch and speaking to them during lectures, his excuse for the latter being that at least he doesn’t want to fail his classes.

Taehyung sees right through him, the looks he gets from the older boy are sympathetic and far too sad and it makes him feel pathetic. At least he’s a good distraction. He talks to Jungkook when the other two are caught in their own world, steers him away from the couple when they’re being too touchy with each other. When he asks Jungkook if he wants to talk about it Jungkook feigns ignorance and receives a disappointed look.

But Taehyung can only distract him when he’s around.

One night, Taehyung is bed bound by the flu, and Jungkook, being the good roommate that he is, goes out to ask for antibiotics. Many people living in the dormitories had fallen ill over the past week. It’s only natural for him to go to Jimin, the boy is kind and hates seeing people suffer, his roommate Namjoon had been sick and Jungkook figures they’d have something left over. Medicine is expensive and hard to come by without a prescription and he just needs it so Taehyung can feel better.

He should’ve knocked, should’ve announced he was coming in before pushing open the unlocked door to Jimin’s dorm.

When he looks inside he sees Jimin, back pressed against the wall and hands gripping the bedsheets beneath him, with Yoongi sitting in his lap, sucking the younger boy’s lip into mouth. He quickly steps out but can’t bring himself to just look away and leave, no matter how much of an invasion it is to such an intimate moment.

Yoongi has his hands on either side of Jimin’s face as they kiss. He angles his head upward, Jimin chasing his mouth, before running his tongue along the other boy’s lower lip. Jimin keens, his voice high and airy, and moves his hands to grip at Yoongi’s thighs, the kiss deepens and one hand moves to Yoongi’s ass. Yoongi disconnects their lips and a low chuckle escapes his lips. He opens his eyes and Jimin whines at the loss of contact. The air is heavy as the two breathe each other in, Yoongi’s gaze intense and unwavering on Jimin’s face making him blush and look away. Jimin’s chest rises and falls as Yoongi moves one of his hands to run his fingers through Jimin’s orange locks.

“I love you.”

Jungkook feels a weight in the back of his throat and closes the door as quietly as he can. He sinks to the floor and cradles his head in his hands. There’s a wetness around his eyes and he looks around to make sure no one is around to see him.

It’s hilarious and sad how much he wants Yoongi to say those words to him instead. To feel his hands cupping his face and his lips on his own. To have Yoongi look at him the same way he looks at Yoongi when the older boy isn’t looking, with adoration and a softness that’s suffocating because he knows there’s no one else he looks at like this.

It takes a few moments for his ragged breaths to return to normal. For him to be able to swallow without feeling like he’s going to throw up. He looks up at the ceiling and tries to blink away the tears he has in his eyes. One escapes and he wipes at it harshly. He pushes himself off the floor and heads back to his dorm.

He doesn’t know when it starts. When Yoongi and Jimin start to fall apart. He’s at a point where he’s avoiding them for days on end and none of his other friends talk to him about them, knowing how much it would upset him.

So when he runs into Jimin in the hallway of the natural science building he tries to be casual and hasty to get a move on. But what stops him is the dark circles around Jimin’s swollen eyes, and the way the other boy looks like he may cry at any moment. He makes a promise to hang out after Jimin mentions how little they’ve seen each other lately and that he misses him. He wonders what could make the ever smiling Park Jimin look so sad, something he had never seen to this extent before.

They meet for coffee after Jimin’s afternoon lectures, Jungkook offers to pay and Jimin just smiles weakly at his offer, which is so out of character for Jimin, who always insists to pay or at least split the bill.

He learns that Jimin and Yoongi are fighting, they haven’t spoken for two days and some sick part of him is happy. The rest of him comforts Jimin as he recounts the hurtful things he had said to Yoongi, how he doesn’t even quite remember what they were fighting over. The part telling him to be angry at Jimin for saying those things about Yoongi is suppressed as he reaches over to hug the older boy, he feels tears soak through his jumper and Jimin apologises in choked words that sound painful for him to speak.

When they part Jimin looks worse than he did before but thanks Jungkook for listening. He gulps down his guilt as he tells him it’s no problem.

Taehyung is out for a study group when Jungkook hears a knock at the door of their dorm.

It’s the day after his coffee with Jimin, he’s still torn on how to feel and his conscience sits heavy in chest. He’s perched on his bed, computer in his lap and dressed only in a white t-shirt and checkered boxers. He sighs as he stands up and makes his way to the door, not bothering to cover up more.

When he opens the door it’s to an exhausted looking Yoongi who asks to come in. He sits on Jungkook’s bed and said boy leans back on the door after he closes it. Yoongi doesn’t meet his eyes for a few moments and Jungkook can hear both their breaths as he waits for the other to do something.

Yoongi pats the space next to him and Jungkook makes his way over.

It becomes clear that while Jimin may not remember what they were fighting over, Yoongi certainly does. Maybe it’s because they’re fighting over something closer to Yoongi, something that he cares about more than Jimin.

“Jimin doesn’t get it, he doesn’t understand how hard it was for me to give in to my parents. He says I should be happy that I’m going to get a degree so that I can get a steady, well paying job and that my parents care enough about me to push me to it.”

As Yoongi explains how Jimin had belittled his insecurities and worries and called him selfish, Jungkook can only listen and offer words of agreement. He does after all relate, not wanting to study medicine but being forced to by his parents or risk being disowned. Yoongi tells him the unmodified versions of what Jimin had told him he said to Yoongi. He’s shocked that such cruel words had come out of Jimin and isn’t surprised when he feels Yoongi shake beside him.

When Yoongi brings up a trembling hand to wipe at his eyes, his sweater covered elbow grazes Jungkook’s thigh and he isn’t entirely sure if he oversteps his boundaries by pulling the other boy into a hug. He can’t bring himself to care when he feels the way Yoongi deflates into his frame and exhale heavily against his shoulder. He wraps his arms around the boy’s torso and Yoongi stops trembling after a while.

They break up the following week. Every time he sees Jimin his eyes are red and puffy and every time he sees Yoongi he looks dishevelled and beyond tired.

He sees more of Yoongi though. The older boy making more time to see him now that he’s less preoccupied. He also senses that Yoongi may feel guilty for making such small efforts to see him when he was Jimin, although he has no proof of this.

It’s almost as if the last five months hadn’t happened, like there was never a time where they didn’t speak or at least text each other on a daily basis. Yoongi acts like nothing has changed for the most part.

Except they have, there’s an empty space in their conversations where Jimin used to be. Jungkook still sees him, in lectures and around campus, the dorms specifically. After two weeks Jimin seems brighter, more like himself and Jungkook slowly stops feeling guilty for still having feelings for Yoongi. They both tell him it’s probably for the best they broke up, things weren’t going to work out between them anyway. Jungkook just finds that it’s a shame that their prospects for a platonic relationship are seemingly ruined too. But after a month they start talking more again. Jungkook walks in on them laughing quietly over something or other in the lounge area and it gives him great relief to know they’re on better terms, even if the air between them will always be awkward.

After three months Jungkook realises Yoongi starts acting slightly differently around him. It starts with lingering touches and shared looks that make his stomach churn. One time when they’re at the cinema together watching a movie, Yoongi reaches over the armrest to place a tentative hand on his fingers. When they say goodbye to part that evening Yoongi’s gaze strays to his lips and Jungkook licks at them self consciously. Yoongi’s eyes quickly snap back up to his and he smirks before heading on his way home.

When they eat lunch with Taehyung in the university’s cafeteria he feels Yoongi’s eyes on him even as Taehyung tells them a story about the girl who had come to his astrophysics lecture thirty minutes late and interrupted the whole class. He tries to ignore it and give Taehyung his full attention, but everytime he looks back at Yoongi those dark brown eyes find his and he blushes before looking away. He shifts slightly in his seat only to have Yoongi’s calf graze his own.

He brings Jungkook sports drinks when he comes over sometimes, knowing Jungkook’s schedule well enough to know that he’s often been out for a jog right before he visits. He helps him by getting notes for biology from his older friend when Jungkook complains about the professor speaking too fast for him to write anything down. It’s little gestures like these that have Jungkook feeling giddy and nervous at the same time.

Yoongi is over for a movie night when he kisses Jungkook for the first time.

His hands reach up to cradle his face and it’s everything Jungkook had thought he wanted. But it isn’t, it’s too much like the way he had seen him kiss Jimin. Jungkook isn’t Jimin, he wants the parts of Yoongi the Jimin didn’t get to have, to make Yoongi his own. He pulls Yoongi’s hands away from his face and rest them on hips, moving over to sit in Yoongi’s lap and fisting his own hands in the front of Yoongi’s shirt.

Yoongi’s lips are soft and slick and Jungkook parts his own to let Yoongi’s tongue into his mouth. Yoongi tastes like coffee and mint and all of Jungkook’s senses become overwhelmed with Yoongi, Yoongi, Yoongi. The older boy’s hands move up his sides, one slipping around to support his back as he hoists Jungkook up slightly to deepen the kiss. Jungkook moans and grips at Yoongi’s shoulders, the kiss is forceful and desperate until they have to part for air.

When Yoongi looks up at him with his unwavering gaze Jungkook realises he doesn’t want Yoongi to look at him like that either. He wants Yoongi’s eyes all over his body, seeing the way their fingers wrap around each other, how their skin contrasts so beautifully in colour, how Jungkook fits perfectly in Yoongi’s lap. He sighs and says what he wanted to tell Yoongi when he’d first started seeing Jimin, maybe even before that.

“I love you, Yoongi.”

Yoongi says nothing, just watches Jungkook’s adam’s apple as he swallows. He moves to kiss Jungkook again and Jungkook realises that this is just how it had been with Jimin. Jungkook loving Yoongi before Yoongi loved him and Yoongi slowly catching up with him. With this realisation he tries to pull away but is stopped by Yoongi’s hands on his back and the words that leave his mouth. Words that prove Jungkook’s fears completely wrong,

“I love you too.”

[harlack]

ok honestly the amount of ‘research’ ive done for the taegi x files fic is a fair bit but also mostly ive been using it as an excuse to watch nature documentaries i love that shit

[harlack]

let it be known that i write in bursts, the first 2000 words of disappearing act done poorly were written over 3 months and the rest of it in like a week

hopefully ill be able to write another chapter of california english part 2 quicker than i was for chapter 2

[harlack]

ii. tight neon tights, t-shirts with big letters

fanfic: california english: part 2

pairing: Yoongi/Jungkook (transgirl!Yoongi) rating: Mature chapter: 2 of 22 word count: 6,702 warnings: Transphobia, dysphoria, some (not too explicit) sexual content

story summary: He doesn’t realise it when he first meets Yoongi. Doesn’t realise it when they grow to become friends either. Doesn’t even realise it when he joins Yoongi’s rap group. No, Yoongi has to tell Jungkook.

Luckily Jungkook is able to realise he’s in love with Yoongi on his own.

chapter summary: Yoongi starts to do a lot of things (and Jungkook notices them all).

links: [AO3]/[AFF]

or

ii. tight neon tights, t-shirts with big letters

Jungkook notices Yoongi starts to smile a lot more once she’s come out to everyone.

Everyone may be an exaggeration, but finally telling Jimin and Taehyung is a step in the right direction. She had stressed and worried and nearly managed to even convince Jungkook that it was a bad idea to come out to them. Luckily, while Jungkook held her hand and her doubt seeped into him with every word that left her mouth, Namjoon, the unexpected voice of reason, managed to convince her to tell them by reminding her that these were her friends. Friends she’s had for over two years now. Friends who loved her very much. And if her telling them she wasn’t a boy made them feel any negative emotions, she had every right to cut them out of her life. Namjoon promised he would too, Jungkook does as well after his momentary panic and feeling the older boy’s stare bore into the side of his face.

Of course none of that is needed however. Jimin, overcome with emotion, cries when she tells him and Taehyung hugs her and tells her he loves her all the same. Jungkook suspects they have some common ground on how who they are as people is rejected by the majority of society and even communities they’re supposed to feel safe in; which is why Jimin and Taehyung are not only understanding but in some ways can empathise with Yoongi more than any of their other friends could.

She laughs more too. It’s a low, gravelly beautiful sound even though she occasionally squeaks and Jungkook is glad she feels comfortable with her laugh. He’d hate to have to give up hearing it. She laughs when they’re out eating, when they’re in the studio, when Jungkook’s written a witty lyric. She’s laughed to the point where it sounds airy and she’s doubled over, nearly in pain, grin wide and gums on display. Jungkook has never been one to be cheesy but her laugh makes him want to write love songs instead of hip hop tracks. He could never tell her that though.

Jungkook notices Yoongi starts to dress differently.

She’s more experimental, one day opting for a grey sweater and bright red, skin-tight pants that would look gaudy if not for her skinny legs, and the next an oversized t-shirt with an english phrase written in black bold letters paired with jeans with holes so big in them her knees knock together when she’s out too long in the cold February air. Still, she looks far happier with her appearance. It’s not clear from what she says, but from the way she holds herself, steps more like strides and shoulders less hunched, that makes it clear she’s content. Namjoon tells him that Yoongi’s had most of these clothes for a good year but hadn’t had the confidence to wear them previously.

There are more holes in her ears now. Two new ones joining the one she already had on her left ear and a cartilage one on her right. She’s not supposed to take out the original earrings yet but Jungkook can’t remind her of this when the coloured pieces of metal make her look so good.

They’re at McDonald’s again (they can’t really afford much else, time wise and finance wise) when Taehyung puts his hand on Yoongi’s.

She lifts an eyebrow at him and he smiles at her, full and rectangular, before speaking.

“Yoongi I just got a raise and I figured, we’re already at the mall… let’s do some shopping, I’ll buy you something even!” Yoongi looks at him for a quiet moment, Taehyung’s smile is no smaller than it was before. Jungkook wants to laugh at the contrast of the two beside him.

“Yah, don’t waste your money on me Taehyung-ah, save it for something you want yourself.” Taehyung pouts and lets out a sound of protest, before he can say anything though, Jimin interjects.

“But Yoongi, we were so broke the last time it was your birthday and we didn’t get you anything, let us make it up to you.” Yoongi seems unfazed by his argument, spoon stirring the melted remains of her chocolate sundae, “It’s my birthday again in a month, just wait until then.”

Jimin and Taehyung share a look and it seems that Jungkook isn’t the only one capable of noticing things because Yoongi shoots them a glare full of warning, “You two have something planned don’t you? I told you already if you want something just come straight out and say it, I can’t fucking stand your weird cryptic bullshit.”

“Jungkookie lent us Clueless and there was a scene that particularly spoke to us,” Jimin begins, “You know when they’re giving the new girl a makeover? They do her hair and buy her new clothes and all that. We want to do that for you!”

Yoongi’s face scrunches up in a way that makes her look like a whining child, “But why?”

“Because we want to Yoongi! Just let us do this for you.” Jimin throws his hands into the air. Jin and Hoseok snicker and Jimin sticks his tongue out at them. Taehyung uses this opportunity to lean over the table and stage whisper to Yoongi.

“Jimin wants to see how you would look in a skirt, he was always going on about how pretty your legs are.” Jungkook sees how Yoongi tries and fails to suppress a blush and Namjoon snorts.

“How very allosexual of you Jimin,” Namjoon’s dimples make him look even younger than Jimin as he teases him.

“I’m asexual, not blind,” he quips, “And don’t pretend you haven’t been imagining Yoongi in a dress ever since she came out to us.” He points an accusing finger at Taehyung who shrugs and sits back down.

“I’m not denying that, I think Yoongi would look very cute in a dress.” There’s a solid smack on his shoulder before Yoongi stands up to throw away her plastic cup. She heads toward the exit and hollers to the rest of them to hurry the fuck up or they’ll never see if she looks good in a skirt or not.

They must be quite the sight the seven of them. Six boys being led around the brightly lit mall by a short and blonde girl who looks the most intimidating of them in her button covered leather jacket. Clad in ripped jeans, fake varsity jackets and big boots some may have mistaken them for hooligans with their loud conversations and tendency to walk in a cluster of bodies if not for the way they smile politely at the older ladies and wave at the young kids they pass by.

They stop in front of Uniqlo and watch as Yoongi looks at the mannequins on display. After a few moments she leaves without a word and walks right into Forever 21, Namjoon is almost left behind in the confusion.

Despite Taehyung and Jimin’s words of protests she leads them to the clearance section, claiming she’d rather have a good deal than an overpriced t-shirt. There’s hardly anyone there at the moment for which Jungkook is grateful for. Yoongi grabs onto the sleeve of his jacket and drags him over to a rack with monochrome coloured clothing hanging from it.

“You’re the only sane person here other than Jin, and I don’t particularly trust the taste of someone who willingly buys a tasseled hot pink scarf for themself. I need your opinion on what looks nice.”

Turns out needing his opinion means Yoongi holding up two completely different articles of clothing and asking Jungkook which one he prefers. He doesn’t know why she even bothers because it seems she’s already decided what she wants, shaking her head while putting something back when he picks the ones she doesn’t and half smiling when he picks the same one as she does. Still, she doesn’t make to move until Jungkook gives his opinion, as if it were some test on Jungkook’s taste of clothing.

Jungkook is also assigned to carry all of the clothing she picks. They move through the clearance section rack after rack and by the time she holds up a mint crop top and a black formal skirt to him he’s carrying so much he can hardly move his head to point at the top. She realises this and laughs.

“So obedient, you can’t even walk but you haven’t complained at all even though you’re carrying more clothes than I’ve owned in my entire life,” before she takes half the pile she pinches his cheek and says, “You’ll make a good boyfriend someday Kookie.” He blushes and they head to the fitting rooms.

She takes a pair of black leggings and a dark blue top that reaches mid thigh and tells him to wait on the couch they have outside the fitting room with the rest of the clothes. While he waits he looks at the floor, face still warm even though his fingers are stiff and cold. There’s a patterned blouse that caught Jungkook’s eye because he thought it would look nice with Yoongi’s hair that he can’t stop thinking about. He pulls off his red beanie and blinks as he ruffles his hair. There’s the sound of the curtain drawing open and when he opens his eyes Yoongi stands in front of him, the dark blue of her top contrasting with her milky skin and making her hair look like the moon in a starless sky.

“Thoughts?” She says. There’s a slight hesitance in her voice and Jungkook can feel that his mouth is slightly agape. He shuts it quickly and scans over the rest of her figure. Jimin and Taehyung were right, Yoongi does have nice legs. Dainty ankles and slim calves covered in black distract him for a moment. He tries not to stare and meets her eyes, a grin lighting up his face.

“You look really good noona,” Yoongi laughs and Jungkook does too.

Before she can try on another outfit they’re joined by Taehyung and Jimin, the former of which handing her an olive green button up dress.

“I wasn’t kidding when I said I think you’d look nice in a dress,” Taehyung tells her sincerely. Yoongi’s expression softens at his words and she grasps his hand momentarily when she takes the dress from him.

“Wow Yoongi, you look so pretty, like a fairy or something.” Jimin tells her after noticing her outfit and she sputters momentarily before going back into the fitting room to put on the dress. The duo settle on the couch next to Jungkook and eye the impressive pile of clothes. After understanding what had happened they send a tired looking Jungkook sympathetic gazes and he smiles lazily at them.

Hoseok finds them while Yoongi changes and adds a long white scarf to the pile.

“To be honest I don’t know jack shit about fashion, but I felt awkward just walking around by myself doing nothing so I took that,” he explains.

“We thought you were with Jin hyung and Namjoon hyung.”

“I was but they were standing by the accessories looking at the earrings for what the guard most of thought was too long if the way he kept glancing over at us meant anything. I left because I didn’t want to be thrown out of the store for doing nothing but standing around and not being a teenage girl.”

“That guard should learn to fucking mind his own business,” Yoongi says, stepping out of the small room and towards her friends.

“You try telling him that without getting kicked out,” Hoseok laughs, “And besides, I kinda get it, we’re not exactly the typical Forever 21 customer you know?”

Yoongi huffs out a breath and Jungkook notices how she looks. Her hair is slightly mussed but it adds to her look, the dress isn’t too tight and form fitting and makes her look pretty but intimidating at the same time. The green of the dress compliments her skin tone and makes her look more edgy than if it had been blue, the buttons and cut are reminiscent of an old style nurse’s outfit. She still wearing the black leggings, whether it be because of the cold or insecurity Jungkook doesn’t know, but it makes her legs look long and slender. She’s not wearing any socks though. Jungkook calls someone other than his mother beautiful for the first time that day.

Yoongi blushes and Hoseok and Taehyung laugh, Jimin however sends him a look, it’s discreet and questioning and Jungkook can only hope he won’t bring it up later.

“See? I have good taste!” Taehyung says and Yoongi rolls her eyes. Before she heads in though she leans over to whisper a word of thanks to Taehyung, “It is a really nice dress Tae, thank you for finding it for me.”

Seokjin and Namjoon find them after another three outfit changes and the former compliments Yoongi’s pale pink hoodie. They stay there for at least two hours, Yoongi trying on outfit after outfit and them all complimenting her. Jungkook wonders if they sound insincere to her, he hopes she knows that she is pretty.

In the end they go through the clothes that had looked best to try and pick something. Hoseok yells about the striped crop top he had liked and Seokjin tells him it’s too cold for something like that, he also tells him that they can’t have Yoongi’s midriff on display with such young ones around. Yoongi laughs and Jungkook glares at his cousin. Namjoon suggests the grey down jacket, saying it is both practical and fashionable. Jimin points out the only size they had left was three sizes too big for Yoongi and that she had look like an angry troll in it.

When Jungkook’s halfway through making his argument for the graphic t-shirt that had complimented her hair when Taehyung pops up, shopping bag in hand and grin the widest it has been all night.

“Sorry Yoongi but I already made the choice for you,” he says while handing her the bag. She opens it looks inside the bag before her head snaps up sharply.

“You little shit, I said clearance section only. I took it out because I saw the tag on it when I was changing, how the fuck did you notice?”

“We thought you might do that, so we gave one to the girl at the counter to hold on to for us,” Jimin chimes in with. Yoongi starts scolding them for wasting their money on her and it takes them a full four minutes before they can calm her down enough to walk out of the store. During this time Jungkook is able to sneak a look into the bag, inside he sees the olive dress Taehyung had picked out and he’s grateful to them once again because she had looked really good in it. The two boys look a little beaten down and Yoongi stops mid sentence to look at them.

“I’m sorry, you were just trying to be nice, I love it,” she pulls them in for a hug and they look stunned for a moment (Jungkook almost laughs), “Thank you.”

Jimin looks like he might cry and Taehyung clings to her happily, “Well they were probably going to ban us from the store if we didn’t buy anything over thirty thousand won after being there for two hours, anyway,” he says cheekily.

Hoseok squeals in delight right about when Yoongi looks ready to let go and the boy latching onto her back prevents her doing so. Taehyung pulls Namjoon and Jin into the hug and Jungkook steps back to escape the same fate. He can hear Yoongi grumbling which prompts Namjoon to wrap his arms around the rest of them and squeeze them into her harder.

When they head home Jin tells Jungkook he has to head back to the school to pick something up.

“You okay getting home on your own? You can just come along with me if you want, it’ll take like half an hour, forty five minutes at worst.” Jungkook smiles and shakes his head, “Thanks hyung but I really need to start on my assignment.” The older boy nods in understanding and and waves a goodbye before heading on his way.

Jungkook deflates slightly and tries to remember the bus schedule for a bus that stops nearby their apartment, he also tries to remember where a bus stop is. A warm palm in his own has him jumping a bit and he hears a familiar snicker before seeing Yoongi smiling at him.

“I know where to catch a bus,” she says and pulls him away from the spot he was rooted to.

As they wait for the bus Yoongi tells him about the new microphone she bought and how if he’s lucky he’ll be the first singer to use it. Jungkook can’t bring himself to do much else other than nod numbly as he tries not to focus on the weight of her hand in his and how she rubs circles into the back of his hand with her thumb absentmindedly. When the bus arrives she squeezes lightly before letting go of his hand to look for her bus card and he tries not to miss how nice the little bit of pressure had felt. Jungkook himself had forgotten his bus card, figuring Jin was going to drive him back as well, and drops his coins while trying to pay. The tips of his ears are red and hot and he sits down next to Yoongi hiding a laugh behind her hand.

They sit in silence for a while, Yoongi resting her head on the back of the chair and Jungkook looking over at her every now and then. It’s quite cold in the bus and Yoongi’s cheeks are coloured a light pink, her nose red and eyelashes fluttering as she opens her eyes to look at him.

“Thanks for not joining that hug and nearly killing me, I appreciate it,” she leans her head on his shoulder, “At least I know one of my friends cares whether or not I can breathe.”

“No problem.”

Two stops later and Yoongi speaks again, “Do you want a hug too?”

“What?”

She sits up a bit and looks at him earnestly, “A hug, you didn’t get one earlier and I-”

“Yeah.”

She laughs and her eyes scrunch up, crow’s feet prominent and endearing. She leans in and and wraps her arms around his torso. They have to strain because of the way they’re sitting but neither of them let go. She sighs and he feels her shift to rest her chin on his shoulder.

“Hey kid I think this is your stop.”

Jungkook notices Yoongi’s hair gets longer.

Her roots air only visible for two days before they’re blonde again. Jungkook wonders if her scalp is suffering because of it.

One day after lectures he arrives to the studio to find her playing with the longer strands of her hair.

“I don’t like it,” she tells him. He tilts his head in confusion. She continues, “My hair, it’s too long and it doesn’t look as nice as when it was shorter. It’s also a fucking pain to take care of.”

“Do you want to cut it then?”

He closes her eyes and leans back into her chair, swivelling slightly from side to side, before answering, “Yes, but I also want to do something different with it.”

“Why not dye it then? Your hair’s already light enough to make it practically any colour.”

She sits up and and claps a hand on his thigh, “You fucking goddamn genius.”

They’re on the floor of Jungkook’s bathroom, plastic bag with hair dye in it between them. Yoongi had decided on a pink colour, not too bright or striking but something more peachy and soft. She’d asked Jungkook if he wanted to get something too, he had argued that his hair was too dark for any dyeing and she’d thrust a bottle of dark purple dye in his hands. He checked the label and it claimed to be able to give darker hair colours a slight purple tint. He’d shrugged his shoulders with a “Why not?” and they checked out, Yoongi paying for both the dyes.

Yoongi wraps a small towel around her neck and reaches over to tuck in a corner of Jungkook’s one that had started to slip out. Jungkook pulls out plastic gloves and the other necessary equipment for dyeing their hair. They’ve spread out newspaper on the floor and even in the basin because they’re fucked if they stain any of Jin’s apartment. Jungkook needed a place to live thank you very much.

Yoongi uses the nylon fiber brush to paint streaks of purple dye into Jungkook’s hair. They make eye contact through the mirror as they talk. Jungkook appreciates the way Yoongi’s laugh echoes in his bathroom and how careful she is not to get any dye on his face. And the one time she does he gets to appreciate how her soft fingers gently wipe away the purple seeping into his skin.

When Jungkook lifts Yoongi’s fringe to start covering it with the dye she scrunches up her nose.

“Sorry I just don’t like people touching my hair.”

His laugh is bright and airy, “Do you want to do it yourself?”

She shakes her head no, “It doesn’t matter, I don’t even like the feeling of me touching my hair.”

They make quite the pair, Jungkook stood behind Yoongi in a plastic hair cap lathering bright pink dye into her hair while she looks disgruntled and tense. Jungkook can’t help but laugh and she glares half heartedly at him.

When they’re done they rinse their hair under cold water from Jungkook’s shower head. Yoongi looks even more displeased with the change in temperature and Jungkook amuses himself by watching her facial expressions.

When Jin comes home that day it’s to the smell of chemicals and the echoing sounds of laughter from the bathroom. He scolds them for nearly using white towels to dry off their hair and hands them his older, darker coloured ones. Once they’ve dried off Yoongi looks in the mirror and smiles at her reflection.

The next time Jungkook sees Yoongi her the pink is slightly faded and he hair is cut in a similar fashion to how it had been when they had first met. Jungkook tells her it looks good and Yoongi tells him he’s not too bad himself.

Jungkook notices Yoongi’s make up.

It’s quite subtle at first, especially when the colour of her hair distracts most from her face, but it’s definitely there. Light pink blush on her cheeks, eyes thinly lined brown, and lips shiny with scented lip balm. Then it’s contouring makeup, dark kohl liner with a hint of grey eyeshadow, and nude lipsticks that make her look less pale. It’s not everyday she does this, and Jungkook finds she’s just as pretty with or without makeup, just in different ways.

It’s an unproductive day in the studio. None of them are able to string together more than four words which actually are original and sound nice together. Every beat or melody created is generic and uninspired or just off in a way that can’t be redeemed. Hoseok even tried going into the booth to record a verse but ended up stuttering through it with his voice breaking. To make matters worse, the one time it had actually sounded quite good, Yoongi had apparently pressed the key to stop recording ten seconds before the verse ended. Namjoon tells them to call it a day early, stating that they won’t be able to do anything productive and that they should rest (and Jungkook study).

Jungkook’s halfway through lacing up his boots when Yoongi asks him to come with her to buy mascara, “You don’t have to of course, but I wanted to spend some time with you. You know, when we’re not both on the brink of pulling all our hair out from our incompetence.” and Jungkook can’t say no to that.

Going to the mall to buy makeup turns into going to the mall to go to high end fashion stores and Yoongi trying on the most expensive dresses and heels when Jungkook points out a cocktail dress on display in the window of Gucci.

They raise a few eyebrows of the employees who work there with their worn out hoodies and dirty sneakers but no one says anything. No one offers to help them either but that’s beside the point. At least they haven’t sent a guard after them to make sure they don’t steal anything, not that they know of at least.

She tries on a high waisted pleated skirt coupled with a black and white long sleeved jumper. It makes her look even more petite than usual and when Jungkook asks her to give him a spin she rolls her eyes at him and turns to walk away. Jungkook, a little disappointed but not surprised, slumps into the couch by the fitting room and waits for her to come out. When she does, she’s not yet changed out of the outfit but instead has added black platform high heels to the ensemble.

She has her hands slightly raised as she walks to try to keep balance and is looking down at her feet so as not to trip. When she’s in front of Jungkook she looks up at him and gives him a wink before twirling, her skirt flowing and her face radiant as she smiles and Jungkook is slightly breathless because of it. The moment is short lived however as Yoongi stumbles a little and falls forward towards Jungkook who snaps out of his daze to catch her with his razor sharp reflexes, one hand catching her wrist, the other on her hip. Her face is only a few centimetres away from his and her eyes are open wide in what he assumes is fear until she collects herself and glances up at him. Her gums are visible as she laughs and Jungkook smiles softly at her.

“Maybe 5 inch heels aren’t the greatest starting point,” now it’s Jungkook’s eyes that widen, “5 inches? No wonder you fell, do you have a death wish or something?”

She stands upright again and hits his shoulder, “Shut up they looked nice,” and Jungkook can’t deny that.

At Topshop she decides to try on something edgier and more comfortable, something she’s more likely to wear everyday. “I like a ‘rougher’ style of clothing anyway, plus I need it to look more intimidating, I’m already short and look like a fairy, according to Jimin at least,” she says while checking herself out in the mirror after having changed into black ripped jeans, a white t-shirt and a green outer jacket.

Jungkook doesn’t bother to tell her that while at first glance she may look quite cute and soft, she has an aura about her that’s intimidating and cool, and instead teases her with a, “Yeah you do.”

She sends him a glare before turning around and starting to undress. There wasn’t a waiting area outside the fitting room, much to Jungkook’s dismay. He blushes as she bends over slightly to pull the t-shirt over her head, revealing white skin and bony shoulder blades. Her complexion is pale from never venturing outside the past few months without at least two layers of clothing covering every expanse of her skin, almost enough to resemble a corpse but Jungkook is sure that were he to reach out and graze his fingers along her spine, they’d feel warm against her soft skin.

She discards the jacket and t-shirt on the stool next to the mirror and Jungkook sees her blushing reflection in it before averting his eyes again. He is somewhat pleased that he doesn’t seem to be the only one affected by the situation.

When she’s done she turns around to face him, moving too quickly and suddenly for Jungkook to register and her face ends up too close and her chest pressed to his. His jaw locks and her eyes flicker downward to his lips momentarily before she quirks an eyebrow, “You ready to go kid?”

“Y-Yeah,” he responds dumbly before putting distance between them by drawing open the curtain and stepping out of the small space. His face is no doubt red and the store’s heating does nothing to help his situation. He waits for her by the line of people waiting for a fitting room and some of the women eye him curiously. There are warm fingers being slipped between his own suddenly and then he’s being dragged away, Yoongi looking over her shoulder and smiling at him.

“Just one more shop I promise,” and there’s really no need for her to say this because Jungkook would probably follow her for the rest of the night no questions asked if she kept holding his hand and smiling like that.

They step into Dior with it’s pastel colour scheme and flowery fragranced air. The first floor of the store is spacious, only the walls lined with clothing racks whereas the rest is walking space, mirrors and the occasional mannequin. Apparently only the newest seasonal arrivals are on this floor and even Yoongi is too scared to touch even an earring, fearing she’ll be charged for getting a fingerprint on it and have to spend the rest of her life in debt. They move to the second floor and it’s far less intimidating, less salespeople and more clothes and the fitting room is in sight. She tells him he must be tired and that he can go sit down while she finds something to wear.

While waiting he checks his phone and sees a message from Jin along with 4 missed calls. He knows already that he’s fucked.

seokjinnie hyung 06:36 You better be dead in a ditch somewhere right now, that’s the only excuse I’ll accept at this point. You also better reply to this as soon as you see it telling me where you are because you were supposed to be home an hour and a half ago and I wouldn’t be so worried if it weren’t for the fact you’re never out unless it’s for school, rapping or with the rest of us.

It’s almost seven and really it’s not even that late but Jin does have a point. He fumbles through typing a message as quickly as he can.

jungkook 06:57 im so sorry hyung but dont worry im just out with yoongi at the mall. im not dead but should i be hoping i was?

He gets a reply within half a minute.

seokjinnie hyung 06:57 Oh.

seokjinnie hyung 06:57 I see how it is.

seokjinnie hyung 06:58 Have fun on your date ; )

Jungkook feels his face heat up for what must be the hundredth time that day before he hastily replies.

jungkook 06:59 shut up its not like that hyung

seokjinnie hyung 06:59 Do you want it to be though?

seokjinnie hyung 07:00 Also if I were you I would watch my language, dearest dongsaeng.

Jungkook freezes. Was he obvious? Did Yoongi know too?

After two minutes of thinking to himself Jungkook decides that since Jin could already tell he may as well come clean and confess to him. Maybe he could get advice on the right course of action to take with her, Jin has known her longer after all.

Right when he’s decided to tell Jin, Yoongi appears in front of him.

“How do I look?”

She’s dressed in a cream strapless dress that reaches an inch above her knees. This time there’s no leggings coupled with the dress her legs look long and skinny from where they start below the skirt. The colour makes her look less white and more ethereal than usual, although maybe it’s just Jungkook who thinks she looks that way regularly. It also goes with her hair, pale and pastel and feminine and the way her hands smooth her skirt down gives away her nervousness as she gauges Jungkook’s reaction. She’s wearing heels too. They’re moderate two inched pumps and pink like her hair and it’s such a well put together outfit Jungkook suspects she may have been looking at the items beforehand. Maybe that’s why she picked Dior as the grand finale.

Her hands stop moving and Jungkook realises he’s been watching them before snapping his gaze up at her face.

“You look beautiful.”

She tucks a lock of her fringe back in place, “You know, that lost meaning after the first time you called me that,” but her smile and blush gives her away.

“If you say so noona.” Her smile widens at these words and Jungkook isn’t entirely sure why. He also isn’t entirely sure what compels him to say what he says next, “But you do look really nice, I promise, once our group starts to take off more, I’ll buy you this dress. It goes so nicely with your hair.”

“What if my hair isn’t pink when that happens?”

Jungkook shrugs and answers, “I’ll find something that goes with whatever colour your hair is then then.”

When she leaves to the fitting rooms one last time Jungkook watches her shamelessly until she’s out of sight. He sighs and types out a response to his cousin.

jungkook 07:12 i dont know, maybe

seokjinnie hyung 07:13 Maybe?

jungkook 07:14 fine i do okay, happy?

seokjinnie hyung 07:14 A little.

He’s about to text him for advice, choosing his words carefully because this would mean swallowing his pride, when Jin texts him again.

seokjinnie hyung 07:17 What are you going to do about it?

And as it turns out, it seems like Jin won’t be much help afterall.

Jungkook notices Yoongi starts to open up to him more.

They get drinks together at the bar they had first met at, Yoongi offering to buy while simultaneously teasing Jungkook with a, “I don’t think toddlers are allowed to drink.”

It’s not like they weren’t close before, Yoongi is afterall out to him and they’ve both been topless around each other (one time the heating broke and their studio became way too hot for Jungkook to function), but as they sit by the bar and sip on their drinks, their conversation turns more serious. Or at least as serious as they can manage to be around each other.

“So what are aspirations Jungkookie? Any wild dreams you’ve had ever since you were a kid?” The low lighting makes her hair look more orange and her eyes glint as she speaks.

“Well you know, obviously one of my aspirations is for the group to make it, seems way more fun to be able to make a career of music than engineering,” he taps his chin as if in deep thought, “But wild dreams from my childhood? ...I was a pretty boring kid I guess then, all I can remember is wanting to be a policeman or something where I could hold a gun and be a hero.” Yoongi nods at him and her fond gaze makes him shiver, “I guess now though my biggest aspiration would be to make enough money to be able to buy myself lamb skewers everyday.”

Yoongi laughs loudly and Jungkook joins in, “You like lamb skewers enough to eat them everyday and not get sick of them?”

“Oh yeah, I love them, they’re so good,” Jungkook replies.

Yoongi’s grin widens and she leans over to him slightly, “Maybe next time we go out we can get some, way healthier than McDonald’s I bet.” And Jungkook swears it’s the alcohol and promise of his favourite that makes him smile so genuinely and not the prospect of getting to spend time with Yoongi again.

“What about you noona? Do you have any dreams other than music?”

She downs the rest of her drink and orders two more, nevermind that Jungkook isn’t even halfway done with his own, before leaning elbows first on the counter in front of them.

“I’d like to go to California someday.”

Jungkook is surprised, it’s the first he’s heard of it and he’s intrigued as to why.

“When I was little my dad would often go on business trips for weeks at a time. One of them was to California for two weeks. I was six at the time and had cried every time I asked my mum where my dad was and she said away, we were too poor to afford international calls so I was completely without him the whole time,” she takes her new drink from the bartender. Jungkook scoots over slightly, but only so that he could hear her better.

“But when he came back he had so many stories of this wonderful and warm place called California, it seemed so different and magical compared to Daegu. He brought me back a snow globe from Disneyland, I still have it actually, and I guess impressionable six year old me just decided in that moment that I was going to California someday,” she chuckles lowly, “It’s stupid I know but it’s just something I’ve wanted for so long that if I give up on it now I guess I’ll just feel a bit empty.”

Jungkook takes his glass and taps hers with it to get her to stop looking at her hands and instead at him, “It’s not stupid noona, if anything I’m just amazed that you’ve been able to retain that wonder for so long. You always seem so pessimistic and down to earth, I had no idea that you’d have a dream like that.”

Her mouth twitches before she speaks, “Originally the plan was to take my dad with me too, but well, it’s a little too late for that now.”

Jungkook places a hand on her knee, “I’m sorry.”

She covers his hand with her own, “Don’t be, I’m sorry for being such a downer.” He shakes his head to show it’s not a burden to him. He’s glad she’s able to talk to him so comfortably like this.

After maybe two too many fruity cocktails and with Jin’s question from earlier that evening in mind, Jungkook tells Yoongi he’d go heterosexual for her.

“I’ve been pretty sure that I’m gay ever since I was fifteen,” he slurs, “but for you Yoongi, I’d be as straight as teenage boy watching lesbian porn for the first time.” She laughs for a good four minutes as Jungkook pouts before she’s able to give a verbal response.

“You know, being attracted to someone who’s a girl doesn’t mean you have to revert to being straight, bi people exist Jungkook.”

He nods quickly and fixes a serious gaze at her, “Yeah of course I know, but that’s not the point noona. The point I’m trying to make is I’d go the full monosexual for you. One hundred percent hetero and definitely no homo.” He hiccups halfway through the second sentence. His tone is reminiscent to that of Taehyung the other night when he was trying convince Jimin to let him buy another house plant even though they already have eight; far too serious and solemn and Yoongi finds it hard not to laugh. It’s definitely not the way sober him had planned to confess but drunk him hopes she can feel his sincerity (sober him also hopes to god that she thinks he’s just drunk and being an idiot).

Jungkook’s not entirely sure why she asks him to repeat himself but he tries his best to remember his words while she holds up her phone.

He wakes up the next morning in his bed with a pounding headache and an aspirin on his bedside table.

There’s a message from Yoongi on his phone.

SUGA 09:36 remind me never to let you have a cosmo again

He smiles widely before wincing in pain. He figures last night was definitely worth whatever he was going to suffer through today.

[harlack]

i. this girl wrote dry raps in baggy sweaters

fanfic: california english: part 2

pairing: Yoongi/Jungkook (transgirl!Yoongi) rating: Mature chapter: 1 of 22 word count: 7,060 warnings: Transphobia, dysphoria, some (not too explicit) sexual content

story summary: He doesn’t realise it when he first meets Yoongi. Doesn’t realise it when they grow to become friends either. Doesn’t even realise it when he joins Yoongi’s rap group. No, Yoongi has to tell Jungkook.

Luckily Jungkook is able to realise he’s in love with Yoongi on his own.

chapter summary: It’s winter when Jungkook meets Yoongi.

links: [AO3]/[AFF]

or

i. this girl wrote dry raps in baggy sweaters

It’s winter when Jungkook meets Yoongi.

He’s 20 years old and has been living in Seoul with his cousin Jin ever since his first year of university. Unlike Busan where he’s originally from, it actually snows in Seoul during the winter. And while a snow covered city illuminated by the many fluorescent lights at night may be quite the sight, it only takes three days before Jungkook gets over walking home in drenched boots with a runny nose and frozen fingers. However the cold weather gives him a reason other than studying to stay inside all day, for which he is grateful for. Jin says it’s unhealthy how little he goes out, Jungkook begs to differ, he has to go out to get to university.

Jin has already graduated, for quite some time now, but Jungkook is still in his third year. As far as Jungkook is aware, Jin’s social life is flourishing. It’s a wonder that they’re related. Especially since Jin is the poster child for Korean beauty standards, whereas Jungkook with his hooked nose, small mouth and too big eyes can’t really say the same for himself. Jin also has a steady job as a secondary school history teacher and doesn’t ask Jungkook to pay rent because he insists he should be taking care of his dongsaeng. And while this is one way in which Jungkook is grateful his cousin feels this way, Jin banging on the locked door to his room insisting that Jungkook comes down to a bar with him is not one.

“I want to introduce you to my friends Jungkook, I think you’d really like them.”

There’s a very high chance Jungkook won’t like them. Not because they might be bad people, but Jungkook doesn’t enjoy socialising and being forced into situations like this means that he probably won’t even give them a chance. He changes his mind when Jin mentions that they rap and make music, and when he threatens to change the password for the internet and not tell him the new one for a whole week.

Jin doesn’t even drive them there since he’ll be drinking. Jungkook spends the entire bus ride playing Piano Tiles 2 on his phone and ignoring Jin. He’s not shivering or shaking his leg to gain some kind of warmth since he didn’t put on a thicker jacket like Jin had suggested, fuck you Jin for thinking otherwise. He pretends not to hear but is genuinely interested when Jin mentions that his friends will be performing, he grunts in response after Jin hits his shoulder for his attention.

The bar is near the clubbing district but is distinctly not a club. There are no neon lights or huge bouncers by the door, just a sign with the word ‘BAEBSAE’ hanging overhead and a skinny thirty something year old checking IDs. Jungkook notices another sign, one of those that folds out and rests on the ground, and in messy blue scrawl it informs him ‘Tonight! Rap Monster, Suga & J-Hope!!!’. If these are Jin’s friends he wonders how his cousin became acquainted with three rappers with English stage names, especially one who seemed to be so confident in his skill he put “Rap” in his name. Jungkook fumbles his way through getting his ID out and then Jin pulls him into the bar.

It’s obvious they’re there early. The house lights are up and an employee of the bar sweeps dust off the elevated platform where Jungkook presumes tonight’s performance will take place. The walls are neutral brown colour and the yellow lighting makes him feel warmer than before. In front of the stage there aren’t any chairs or seats but closer to the entrances and by the bars there are high stools, one of which is occupied by an older man drinking rosé wine by himself even though it’s only six in the evening. There’s a faint smell of bourbon and something woody in the air and Jungkook is just glad it doesn’t smell like smoke and grenadine like the last bar he went to had. He can hear the bass of the song a nearby club is playing pounding through the walls and is glad that Jin brought him to a place like this instead.

Aside from the old man, there’s hardly anyone there at the moment. Jin sends a wave to one of the bartenders who stops midway through drying a martini glass to smile back. Jungkook wonders if the place will be packed by the time people get off from work and the performance was about to start. Were these guys a big deal? He asks Jin.

“Hm, well I guess you could say they have a pretty strong following. People your age seem to like them, something about their lyrics being more relatable than the underground rappers who just write about all the money they claim to have.”

It’s evening when Jungkook meets Yoongi.

He hears a low voice call for Jin and his cousin perks up and drags Jungkook by the arm over to a group of people. Some of them break off to go over to them and he’s pretty sure it’s bad he’s relieved he only has to talk to a handful of people.

The first boy he’s introduced to is Namjoon and he’s all long legs in skinny jeans, dimpled smiles and silver styled hair. He’s from Ilsan and has been living in Seoul ever since his parents kicked him out for ditching his good grades in favour of pursuing a rap career. He tells Jungkook that Jin never stops talking about him and that he’s glad to finally meet him. Jungkook tries not to see the gross fond look Namjoon sends Jin after that, or the dopey smile he gets in return.

Hoseok is toothy grins, loud greetings and too much touching. He’s the opposite of Jungkook and it makes him that much more interesting. Jungkook has always been intrigued by outgoing people, especially ones like Hoseok who were able to make even him feel comfortable around them. He’s from Gwangju and he came to Seoul because he wanted to dance and along the way he met some kids at school interested in the same hip hop music as him and he started to rap as well. The way he puts an arm around Jungkook as a greeting is almost familiar and the younger boy finally allows himself to smile.

He notices another figure behind them, someone shorter dressed in a black sweater four sizes too big with blonde bleached hair sticking out from under a beanie. The figure is introduced as Yoongi in a low gravelly voice that Jungkook doesn’t hear for the rest of the conversation. Yoongi doesn’t seem to be much for talking to newly acquainted people, just like Jungkook. And since Jungkook is content just listening to Jin and his friends talk, he catches himself watching Yoongi and the way sweater covers arms, hands and thighs, wondering if it’s comfortable to move around in something so baggy. Yoongi catches him watching too and arches an eyebrow at him before a small knowing smirk plays on chapped lips. Jungkook looks away, blushing and trying not to think about pale skin, thin pink lips and droopy eyes.

It’s not long before the trio have to leave to get ready for their set. By now the bar is filled with kids Jungkook’s age and the odd, slightly older couples. Some of the couples seem like they’re here for the show too, others seem confused as to why there are hardly any seats and leave after being side eyed by some university students when they ask them to quiet down. Jin pulls him into the crowd and Jungkook finds he doesn’t really mind being pressed up to a few strangers as long as their attention is on the stage and not him.

The lights dim and Jin’s friends walk out onstage. The music that fills the bar is loud and heavy and so so good. Jungkook finds himself as excited as the rest of the crowd, they cheer as Namjoon starts off with lyrics about loneliness and trying to find his purpose in life. His words are sharp and piercing, his voice a whole octave lower than when Jungkook spoke to him a while ago. His gray hoodie obscuring his face until he pulls it off, shouting at the crowd to “Do you!” and they scream it right back at him. He paces around the stage, stopping in front of Hoseok and the two exchange lines back and forth, foreheads pressed close together while Yoongi hypes up the crowd with intense gazes and quick hand gestures. When the next track starts playing Hoseok walks to the front of the stage, right in front of the crowd and bends down slightly while bringing his mic up to his mouth. Yoongi throws an arm around him and watches his profile while Hoseok spits his verse with his eyes closed.

It’s Yoongi’s turn and Jungkook can’t keep his eyes off the blonde. Lyrics about self doubt and how working hard doesn’t always pay off that go strangely well with the bass heavy R&B track playing spill from Yoongi’s mouth. Jungkook is mesmerised by the amount of artistry the trio must put into every song and admires them for it, but he can’t help but admire Yoongi’s figure as the hoodie that was hiding it is shed as well. Blonde hair sticks to Yoongi’s forehead and Jungkook watches as the light glistens off of Yoongi’s pale and sweat-slick skin. He gulps as he watches the way Yoongi’s tongue slips out during fast raps to lick at pink lips and he’s going to choke on his own tongue if he doesn’t stop staring. There’s no way that it’s him Yoongi’s looking at when sharp brown eyes are diverted to the area he’s standing in but he still looks away to try and gather his senses. He misses Yoongi’s second smirk of the night that’s directed at him and by the time he looks back the rapper is facing Namjoon and the duo rap witty lyrics about the injustice of the education system.

It’s all over too soon Jungkook realises when he watches the three exit the stage. He’s forgotten about Jin, too immersed in the trio’s performance to notice his cousin standing right next to him throughout the performance. So he’s a little shocked when Jin suddenly enters his line of vision.

“So how’d you like it?”

He can’t lie to Jin, and he feels bad for being so moody earlier.

“They were great, really good hyung.”

It’s a week later when Jungkook meets Yoongi again.

Jin has invited the trio over for dinner, citing the recent success of their newest mixtape a perfect reason for them to come over and celebrate. Jungkook chops the end of a carrot and nearly takes his finger off too before Jin bans him from the kitchen to go set the table. Jungkook’s excited to see them again. Truth be told he’s always had an interest in rap, Jin knows this too because he’s walked in on Jungkook rapping to Zico or Jay Park numerous times and maybe that’s why he introduced him to his friends. Jungkook’s never found proof but he’s very sure Jin has filmed him rapping without his consent at least twice.

He’s halfway through lighting Jin’s lavender candles when the doorbell rings.

On the other side of the door he’s greeted by a tired looking Namjoon, a grinning Hoseok and a sweater clad Yoongi. Hoseok’s holding what looks like a big paper box in a plastic bag, presumably dessert is inside. Namjoon pulls him into a half hug, Hoseok pinches his cheek and Yoongi pats his shoulder before they enter and leave their shoes in an unorganised pile by the front door.

They eat dinner and talk. It feels nice for the all the chairs at the table to be full for once.

Jungkook gets to hear about how the mixtape has been downloaded 25,000 times from bandcamp and how their twitter following has amassed to 10,000 followers. Hoseok is well beyond excited and tells them about their next gig.

“It’s gonna be our biggest one yet! We’ve already had three hundred people confirm they can come and the venue starts selling tickets on Monday.”

Jungkook’s attention is diverted when a snort escapes Yoongi’s lips, “Don’t get too worked up Hobi, you always jinx us.”

“Yeah you’re our unlucky charm for a reason.” Namjoon chuckles and Hoseok crosses his arms to pout at Jin and Jungkook. Jin laughs and Jungkook is startled at his attempt to gain sympathy.

“You guys suck, especially you Yoongi, you’re so pessimistic. It’s okay to be happy sometimes! We’ve accomplished stuff! I’m allowed to be proud and you fucking should be too.” He grumbles before stabbing his fork into what little food he has left on his plate. Jin glares at him for nearly scratching his nice plates and Hoseok’s expression turns apologetic.

“So how much are tickets?” Jungkook finds himself asking. Namjoon scoffs and answers, “As if we’re gonna make you pay.” Jungkook feels something warm inside of him as he realises they might already consider him a friend.

“That’s very sweet of you Namjoon, but I’d be more than happy to pay-”

“I didn’t say anything about you hyung, just Jungkookie.”

“Hey!”

They decide to eat dessert on the couch so they can watch tv. Jin swears if he finds mango cake stains on any of his satin cushions someone’s going to lose an eye and he doesn’t really care who. Namjoon runs to the kitchen to get the kitchen roll just in case.

After hearing about Jungkook’s collection of western film cult classics, they listen to him explain what each movie is about and argue on what to see. They settle on Fight Club and Jin grumbles about how his ungrateful dongsaeng should take into account what he wants to see above the three near strangers sitting on his couch.

“Hyung you live here and I’ve had this collection for longer than I’ve stayed with you. If you really wanted to see Pulp Fiction so bad you could’ve just pulled it out yourself and watched it almost any other night than tonight,” he cracks open the dvd case and sends his cousin a smile, “Besides, doesn’t being a good host entail doing what your guests want?”

He hears a low chuckle before Yoongi speaks, “He’s way better at that passive aggressive bullshit you always pull than you are. Guess it runs in the family, huh? Although it’s actually funny when he does it so I guess charm isn’t hereditary.” Jungkook wills his heart not to flutter and tries to only feel smug at Yoongi’s words and not like his stomach was doing circuit training. He’s still not sure what it is about Yoongi that gets to him, but he pits on the blonde’s tendency to be quite quiet and therefore him being intrigued to get to know Yoongi. But that still doesn’t explain why his heart jumps into his throat when Yoongi so much as looks at him.

As he’s bending down to pop the disc into the dvd player Jin tells him not to start yet because he needs to show Namjoon and Yoongi something in his room. He watches them leave before settling on the couch and Hoseok turns to him.

“So Jin hyung told me you like to dance. Why didn’t you say anything when I told you I’m a dancer?” His grin is huge and teasing and Jungkook scratches at the back of his head.

“It’s more of a hobby? I don’t really have time for it now with university and all.”

“I see where you’re coming from, well not really, uni was never really my thing,” Hoseok says through a mouthful of cake. Jungkook envies a little bit how sure of himself Hoseok seems but represses the feeling.

“So what do you do dance?”

He feels the couch shift and the next thing he knows Hoseok’s standing up, looking ready to dance and he answers, “Popping, hip hop, some b-boying, that kind of stuff.” Jungkook watches his isolated movements and is thoroughly impressed. Hoseok’s just as good a dancer as he is a rapper, maybe even better. He applauds when Hoseok finishes and the older boy jumps onto the seat next to him to throw an arm around him, pulling Jungkook closer.

“Ah, to have a dongsaeng who appreciates my dancing again, what a wonderful feeling.” Jungkook wiggles in his hold to get more comfortable, “How can anyone not respect that? You’re amazing!”

Hoseok smiles wide, “I know right? Namjoon just tries to outdo me every time I dance, and by outdo I mean thrash uncontrollably off beat, it’s what he does best. And my other two dongsaengs, Jiminnie and Taehyungie, those brats, I love ‘em but they’ve long since gotten too comfortable with me,” he shifts his head to look at Jungkook, “Come to think of it you seem like that type too, you’ll probably love them and they’ll corrupt you.” He sighs dramatically, letting his head fall back and arm drop from its place around Jungkook’s shoulders, “Guess I’ll have to make the most of the little respect I’m going to get from you now, huh?”

“Guess so.”

Hoseok shoves at his shoulder and Jungkook laughs. The other three come back and once they’ve all settled, they start the movie. Jungkook spends the night quoting his favourite movies and watching Yoongi watch his favourite movies.

It’s morning when Jungkook says goodbye to Yoongi.

Somewhere between Clueless and A Clockwork Orange they must have all fallen asleep. Namjoon is already awake when Jungkook wakes up and asks sheepishly from the kitchen where they keep their spoons. When the rest of them wake up they gather around the kitchen island to eat Jungkook’s sugary cereal. Jin frowns at the unhealthy breakfast choice and Yoongi tells him to suck it up or starve. Yoongi leans elbow first on Jungkook’s shoulder while they talk. Jungkook mentions he’s studying to be an engineer and tells Yoongi how good he thought their songs were.

“Thanks kid, means a lot.” Is the the reply he gets. The tone of the words seem quite uninterested but for some reason coming from Yoongi, Jungkook finds them sincere.

“Yoongi produces most our tracks,” Jungkook learns from Hoseok, “Me and Namjoon help sometimes but really it’s mostly Yoongi. ‘S very passionate about it.”

“Well if I had that kind of talent I would be too.”

Jungkook is quite sure Yoongi didn’t hear him as all he can see is the back of the elder. But really Yoongi is blushing and trying not to smile, there’s no way Namjoon’s getting more stuff to tease about.

Jungkook has classes so he leaves. But not before he gets his dose of platonic physical affection from the guests and words of encouragement from Jin for the day. Jungkook really wouldn’t mind hanging out with them again, even if they do sometimes treat him like he’s twelve.

It’s the weekend when Jungkook gets to see Yoongi produce.

He’s gotten a text from Namjoon telling him to come to their studio. He’s not sure why but he’s excited. It takes him twenty minutes to find the place, it’s in the shadier part of Seoul and he almost didn’t enter the building because the man standing outside of it looked like he was ready to stab him. He goes up the stairs two steps at a time and enters through the door with a small sign saying “Min Yoongi & Kim Namjoon” on it without knocking.

The studio is small, barely enough space to fit five people. The ceiling is as low as the lighting and it smells like ramen. There’s heating though and Jungkook is grateful of that as he shrugs his beanie and jacket off, placing them on the couch behind Yoongi’s chair. It’s just a sweater wearing Yoongi there at the moment, surrounded by sheet music and pieces of paper with lyrics messily scrawled on them. Jungkook watches as Yoongi occasionally clicks on or drags an audio track on the computer and almost speaks up as he realizes the other may not even be aware he’s there when Namjoon and Hoseok burst through the door.

“Fuck it’s so cold, close the damn door Hoseok!” Namjoon rubs his hands together and the plastic bag in them rustles.

After closing the door Hoseok plops himself in the chair next to Yoongi and takes an earbud out of the elder’s ear. Yoongi sends him a glare that makes Jungkook want to die even from his position in the corner of the room and he commends Hoseok for just being able to carrying on with what he’s doing.

“I go out and face the harsh winter winds to buy you street food and this is the thanks I get?” He says while holding up a bag of food in one hand and using the other to point at it for emphasis, “Maybe I won’t even give it to you.”

Yoongi reaches and takes the bag out of Hoseok’s hands before he can continue, “Thanks.”

Jungkook laughs out loud and Yoongi’s head whips around to look at him so fast Jungkook’s surprised he doesn’t hear the sounds of bones breaking.

Hoseok’s the first to say anything, “Welcome to our studio Jungkookie, this is where the magic happens.” Yoongi snorts and pushes away from Hoseok, “When’d you get here?”

“Uh, a few minutes ago.”

“Oh.”

They’re saved by Namjoon who says he wants to hear what Yoongi’s been working on. Yoongi’s mouth contorts into a shape that expresses extreme dissatisfaction but presses the play button anyway. The music that plays through the surprisingly hi-fi speakers is slow and heavy. Hoseok bops his head to the beat and Jungkook notices Yoongi’s eyes staring at him and gauging for his reaction. He closes his eyes momentarily before smiling a smile that has his teeth showing. Yoongi seems to understand and sends a curt smile back before hiding it in the collar of a brown turtleneck. When the track ends Namjoon immediately grabs a piece of paper and attacks it with a ballpoint pen.

“So how much for the food Hoseok?”

“Yoongi I was kidding, you don’t need to pay me back or anything, just know that you should be eternally grateful to me from now on.”

Yoongi scoffs and turns back to the computer.

“Fucking dried out pen, don’t you dare die on me now.”

After an hour of watching the trio, but mostly Yoongi, explain their writing process and helping Yoongi choose which distortion effects sounded best for the verse Namjoon had just recorded, Hoseok announces he’s thirsty. Jungkook offers to go to the convenience store he passed by on the way to buy drinks but is immediately shot down by Hoseok and Yoongi.

“You’re our guest and the youngest,” Yoongi states while pulling on gloves. Jungkook notices a hole in the right one’s palm.

“We’re supposed to take care of you,” Hoseok elaborates as the two exit the studio with quick waves to Namjoon who grunts in response, not wanting to take away his attention from the paper in front of him.

When he seems to be satisfied with what he’s writing he looks up at Jungkook.

“So I did actually ask you here for a reason,” Jungkook tilts his head as a question, “Jin hyung tells me you can sing, like really well.” Jungkook wonders if his cousin goes around telling all his friends his life story.

“We’re kinda missing a vocal part to one of our songs and I was wondering if you could have a go at it. Usually we get Hoseok or one of our other friends to do it but when Jin told me you can sing I wanted to hear you.” Jungkook doesn’t really need to consider if he wants to help Namjoon but feels quite anxious, he hopes Jin hasn’t hyped his voice up too much.

After he nods Namjoon rummages through a pile of papers on the sound board before pulling one out and handing it to Jungkook.

“Whenever you’re ready.”

He’s glad his choir and clarinet playing past taught him how to sight read as he sings the lines confidently. He does want to make a good impression after all. He switches to his falsetto for the higher notes with little difficulty and adds expression to the ending of the second line with a more breathy tone. He’s not able to get his vibrato out but then again it has been four years since he last properly sang.

When he puts down the paper to look at Namjoon the older boy smiles at him.

“Do it just like that for Yoongi in the recording both and the song’s perfect!” Jungkook chuckles at the compliment. Namjoon gets a text from Hoseok asking what they want and shoots one back asking for a coke for him and a bottle of water for Jungkook then puts his phone down.

“Jin also showed me a video of you rapping in your bedroom. Maybe one day you could rap on one of our tracks too,” Namjoon says, grin teasing and tone semi-serious.

Jungkook is going to kill Jin. “Oh my god.”

It’s when they’re alone that Jungkook raps for Yoongi for the first time.

As time passes he gets better at writing and rapping and has worked on a handful of songs with the trio. His workout playlist is filled with the techno music Hoseok produces and his study one with the vintage hip hop instrumentals Namjoon writes. Jin complains about him spending more time with them than he had originally intended for Jungkook to when he had introduced them a grand total of four times over the two months.

He ignores the texts he gets from his parents because he know all they’re asking about is his grades. They wouldn’t want to hear about the rap group or the music they make and since that’s all he ever seems to think about these days, talking to them seems like a waste of time for both of them.

It’s after Jungkook’s first performance as a part of their group that Yoongi asks him to be a permanent addition to it.

Jungkook is still reeling off the adrenaline from the gig and nods eagerly at the three rappers before pulling them into a sweaty group hug. He gets a spluttered sound of disgust from Yoongi, a hair ruffle from Namjoon, and a laugh from Hoseok in return.

Jin pushes them to go to the nearby park after they exit the venue. Hoseok hangs from the too low monkey bars as Jin lectures him and Namjoon on how to make sure they’re paying their electricity bills on time from his position at the bottom of the kiddie slide. Yoongi sighs quite loudly and sends Jungkook and apologetic look, the two of them sat opposite each other on the seesaw, Yoongi’s side raised slightly higher than Jungkook’s.

“I’m sorry that we’re old and boring and talk about paying bills and complain about taxes all the time.” Jungkook can’t really take Yoongi’s word seriously as he watches the blonde slowly bop up and down, “Maybe I should call Jimin and Taehyung, they’re young, it’ll probably be more interesting than hanging out with us four all the time.”

Jungkook shakes his head and tells Yoongi they’re plenty interesting, the best company he’s had in while in fact.

“Jiminnie and Taehyungie are only a year younger than me! I’m not old!” Jungkook hears Hoseok yell as he hangs upside down from the monkey bars.

“That’s the entire lifespan of a chameleon,” Yoongi deadpans.

Yoongi ends up calling them anyway. Jungkook learns they’re university drop outs (Jimin insists he’ll go back someday, Taehyung is honest with himself and knows he’s not going to) and two years older than him. Jin complains how they’re going to look even more like hooligans when the other two show up.

Jimin and Taehyung seem to be the kind of friends who know each other’s coffee orders off by heart. Tall green fringed Taehyung and short orange haired Jimin arrive at the park by bus carrying enough cheap too sweet candy to feed an entire class of preschoolers. Jimin has a hand on Taehyung’s hip and Taehyung drags the other boy to meet them.

“So this is Jungkook?” Taehyung exclaims when he’s closer. When Jungkook nods and goes to bow politely Taehyung stops him with an embrace he definitely wasn’t expecting, “I’m not the youngest anymore and I love you,” is his explanation.

Jimin giggles and his voice is much higher than Taehyung’s low baritone. When Taehyung lets go of Jungkook Jimin gives him a smile that shows off his crooked front tooth. His cheeks bunch up and his eyes disappear and Jungkook almost wouldn’t believe this boy is older than him if it weren’t for the kind and considering aura he gave off.

“We actually heard some of the tracks you’ve worked on and I have to say I was impressed. Sorry we couldn’t make it to your first performance but not all of us can make a living off of underground rapping. I’m sure it was great though.” Jungkook thanks him and Taehyung offers him first pick of anything in the bags of candy they brought.

“The gummies are my favourite but something tells me you’re more of a milk candy kinda guy.”

Jungkook takes a grape gummy and a melon milk drop and the older boy bounds off to the rest of them leaving him with Jimin. There’s a shriek from Hoseok and whine from Taehyung as the former scoops out half the contents of one of the bags. Jungkook hears Jimin stifle a giggle and they turn to each other.

“So I heard you’re a bit of a workout freak,” Jungkook hums in response, “Great because I am too and I’m sick of being made fun of for it. I bet I can do more pull ups than you.”

The race towards the monkey bars and Jimin makes a huge fuss when he loses to Jungkook. He sits on one of the benches and Taehyung places himself behind him to massage his shoulders.

“So are they dating?” Jungkook asks Namjoon.

“No, one of the reasons they’re so close is because they’re both asexual and they bonded over that. Taehyung is aromantic too,” He turns to Jungkook, “Jimin’s kinda in love with him, but he’s lithro so it all works out.” Jungkook doesn’t really know what that means but when he looks over to the two laughing friends he’s just glad they’re happy. He also doesn’t really know when he got so sentimental, especially over two guys he just met half an hour ago.

After Hoseok and Taehyung manage to push both Yoongi and Namjoon down the slide and Jimin beats Jungkook in a thumb wrestling match (under the supervision of Jin because they really didn’t need to be making any late night hospital runs), Taehyung’s stomach lets out a loud growl and he falls to the ground dramatically. He lets out a wail and demands they go for hamburgers which is how they find themselves at the nearest 24 hour McDonald’s with the nightshift workers glaring at them for being so loud at 2 in the morning.

Jungkook gets to find out Taehyung is at his happiest when he’s inhaling a hamburger.

“Are you not going to get anything Kookie? I know you like to put your body through the torture you call exercise but please tell me you’re not one of those dieters like Jimin too.” Jungkook laughs and shakes his head no. Yoongi uses his new nickname to call him over to the counter. Inwardly he thanks Taehyung for coming up with it, he would never admit it out loud but it’s cute, especially coming from Yoongi.

When he gets to the counter Yoongi turns to him looking sleepy and pouty, “I want a McFlurry but I know I can’t finish one by myself, share with me?” Jungkook nods and they settle on Smarties and head back to the table.

Hoseok tries to dip a french fry in their dessert but Yoongi is quick to snatch the cup out of his reach, “Fuck off this is for me and Jungkook only, buy your own goddamn ice cream.” Jungkook watches in amusement as the spoon in Yoongi’s mouth dangles with every word. He eats the treat small spoonfuls at a time and Yoongi lets him finish it.

When Jin drives them home that night Jungkook has a brainfreeze and two new contacts in his phone.

It’s midday when Jungkook wonders about Yoongi.

He’s in the studio with Namjoon, the two of them working on a melody for him to sing. He realises that while he’s friends with Yoongi and they respect and are comfortable with each other, out of all his new friends Yoongi is the one he’s spent the least amount of time with. Which is strange considering how much he liked Yoongi, maybe he was scared he was going to embarrass himself. But he wants to know Yoongi better; wants to be a bigger part of Yoongi’s life and for Yoongi to be a bigger part of his too.

He voices his concern to Namjoon, hoping the older boy can give him some advice on how to get closer to Yoongi.

“Just ask Yoongi to spend more time with you and it’ll work itself out. Yoongi’s pretty… open if you are too,” there’s something in his tone and choice of words that makes him think there’s something Namjoon’s keeping from him.

“Is there something about Yoongi you’re not telling me?”

“It’s not really my place to tell.”

And Jungkook can accept that answer. If it’s something important Yoongi is bound to tell him soon.

It’s lunchtime when Jungkook gets a text from Yoongi.

He actually receives it during his second lecture of the day but doesn’t check his phone until it buzzes in his pocket during lunch when Hoseok texts him.

hobi hyung 01:04 in case u still dont kno what yoongi texted u about https://twitter.com/azzerup/status/687178757195923652

He’s confused and immediately opens his text from Yoongi.

SUGA 11:48 come to the studio when u can, theres something u need to see

He’s still confused and clicks on the link Hoseok texted him. The video in the tweet is captioned ‘ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ b free telling those idiots how it is’ and shows a rapper Jungkook vaguely recognises complaining to a crowd about how a group of pretty boy rookie rappers were gathering larger crowds than him just because of their looks.

“They should be ashamed of themselves, they know the only thing getting their talentless asses through the industry is their make up covered faces, why else would they perform in a group? None of them can hold a crowd for a full song on their own,”the man on his screen taunts, “I knew Namjoon and Yoongi before, or whatever stupid stage names they’re going by now, Rap Beast and Sugar was it? Whatever, they really must have no fucking shame to be teaming up with a dancer and a kid.”Jungkook’s grip on his phone tightens and he shoves it in his pocket before getting up and rushing to the nearest bus stop.

When he gets to the studio everyone’s there already except for Jin who’s probably still at work. Jimin and Taehyung work evening shifts and are at the studio more often than not during the days recently.

Hoseok and Namjoon are on the couch sending each other pleading looks, one of them has to try to calm Yoongi down because Jimin and Taehyung’s antics can only keep the eldest rapper entertained for so long. Speaking of Yoongi, Jungkook can see straight away that the look on the other’s face is livid. He gulps and sits himself down next to Yoongi. To try and calm himself down he leans his head on Yoongi’s shoulder, it’s warm and reassuring but he knows Yoongi needs calming down too.

“So what do you want us to do boss?”

Yoongi seems to consider his question for a while before sending him a wicked grin.

“We write the fucking sickest diss track ever.”

It’s at his house Jungkook gets to know Yoongi.

He’s invited the rapper over to write lyrics for their diss track together. Jin is gone for three days with his class for a camping trip and Jungkook has the apartment to himself. Yoongi sits on the floor by the coffee table instead of on the couch, insisting the lower altitude makes it easier to write. The sweater Yoongi wears is of course oversized and Jungkook finds it ironic that the soft looking individual currently sat cross legged on his floor is probably writing lyrics harsh enough to make his hyung cry.

He sets down two mugs of tea on the coffee table and leans over Yoongi’s shoulder to look at the lyrics written in the notebook. He snickers at ‘your crappy rap is a burden to others’ and ‘overspending on my pens which are more in number then your fans’. Yoongi looks back at him and smirks at him, knowing how much Jungkook is enjoying this.

He sits down and gets to work on his own lyrics for a while. He helps Yoongi with ‘If I’m the sun, you’re the moon’ by suggesting ‘when I go up, you go down’ which earns him a pinch and grin from Yoongi. He’s a little stumped on his own lyrics and after staring at his blank notebook for five minutes he looks over at Yoongi’s and laughs through his nose at the words written in it.

“Don’t you think ‘Like your parents, my heart hurts every time I see you’ is a bit harsh, hyung?” Jungkook doesn’t get a verbal response but feels Yoongi tense up beside him.

“Aha yeah maybe…”

Jungkook doesn’t know why the air feels so thick suddenly, but Yoongi’s body turned away from him and the deafening silence tell him he’s done something wrong. He tries to make eye contact with Yoongi but the blonde keeps only looking at the notebook on the coffee table.

“Yoongi?” The other finally looks up at him, “I don’t know what I did but, if you feel uncomfortable because of something I said, please tell me.” He tries not to sound desperate, but he really doesn’t want to risk ruining things with Yoongi, especially not when they were going so well.

Jungkook watches as Yoongi’s eyes study his face and he tries to make his expression as understanding and sincere as he can. Yoongi sucks in a breath and places a hand on his bicep.

“It’s not your fault really, you’re a great kid and I should’ve told you earlier,” Yoongi sighs and looks Jungkook in the eyes. The eye contact almost makes Jungkook squirm but he holds it together.

It’s quiet when Yoongi finally tells Jungkook.

“I’m not… your hyung.” Jungkook cocks his to the side in confusion. He doesn’t say anything though because it’s quite obvious that Yoongi is having some difficulty to say this to him, “I’m trans Jungkook, a girl. That’s why you never hear any of the rest of them call me hyung. They don’t call me noona either because well, the looks I’ve gotten from strangers because of it get to me more than you think it would.”

It takes a moment for it to sink in but then it all makes sense to Jungkook. If the rejection and judgement from strangers is enough to get to Yoongi, of course she’d feel anxious over coming out to someone she actually cared about. He’s glad she felt like she could tell him but angry at himself for not making it any easier for her to have done it earlier.

He doesn’t know it but during his momentary silence, Yoongi is preparing for the worst.

“Oh my god noona I’m so sorry, I really didn’t mean to misgender you. I’m so sorry, I- I don’t know what to say I’m so embarrassed. I’m really sorry.” He doesn’t expect Yoongi to laugh at him but she does. The sound is squeakier than it normally is and he looks over to see Yoongi smiling at him fondly.

“No no, don’t be, it’s not your fault. I’m sorry I reacted like that I should’ve just told you but I don’t know it just really got to me that time,” she places a hand on Jungkook’s knee and her smile widens, “Believe it or not I’m telling you before Jimin and Taehyung. Haven’t really gotten the right chance to come out to them yet either.”

“I’m really sorry.”

She slaps his shoulder before speaking, “I already told you not to be, so don’t be.” And with that they return to writing lyrics. Or Yoongi does at least, Jungkook just watches her from the corner of his eye and decides that the word he’d use to describe Yoongi is definitely ‘pretty’. He would tell her but maybe now’s not the right time.

Half an hour passes and Yoongi asks Jungkook to listen to her try out what she’s written. He’s shocked at her ability to find flow that goes so well with the words she had written all but five minutes ago so quickly. She uses one of her hands for emphasis like she would onstage and combined with the insults her gravelly voice is rapping she should be intimidating and harsh. But watching her in her sweater that’s too long for her arms Jungkook can’t help but be mesmerised by the living contradiction that is Min Yoongi.

“That was amazing noona.”

“Shut up.”

“No really it was so good. Now he’ll know not to mess with you again at least, the rest of us sure but definitely not you.”

His own lyrics are forgotten but seeing his noona blush as she stands up to hide it and order pizza is more than enough to make up for it. Dissing B-Free can wait for another time.