Chapter Text
D-DAY
⋆ ⊹ ✦ ⊹ ⋆
Yoongi is avoiding Daeshim. If he’s lucky, he won’t have to see that pinched, annoyed face before the concert begins.
Unfortunately, luck has never been on Yoongi’s side.
Rehearsals had gone as well as they could. When they had arrived the night before, Daeshim had immediately berated all of them in front of their entire staff. Threats had been made towards their careers should they decide to pull any other stunts like that.
The words flowed through one ear and out the other. Yoongi teetered on the edge of uncertainty, afraid to fully make the leap. Even if Taehyung no longer wanted to be a part of his world, he had still shown Yoongi how to find meaning in life. Yoongi had been drowning in unhappiness for so long. He had followed what was expected of him because he didn’t see another option.
Daeshim had been in his head for too long, providing the type of critiques that would keep Yoongi under his control. Hyvemind never saw Yoongi as anything other than a money-making machine.
Somewhere along the way, the art — what Yoongi desired most — got lost in the process. Yoongi hadn’t realized how far he had strayed from his original dreams. In this high-stakes, ever-changing industry, he had naively thought that if he followed the company’s guidance, he would eventually be given the opportunity to become the artist he always dreamt of becoming.
But it’s clear now. The sadness that festers inside of him every time his work is tossed aside, the anguish of knowing he is never good enough — that will never change if he continues with Hyvemind.
Because to them, he is not an artist but a tool that has been overused and abused for too long.
Yoongi’s heart aches at the thought of never seeing Taehyung again, but he is so grateful for the time that he had with him. Without Taehyung, Yoongi would have continued on this path of misery until it ultimately killed him.
But Yoongi knows better now. He teeters on the edge of uncertainty, but he knows he must take the first leap. It’s terrifying, not being able to see what happens on the other side. Though he doesn’t know what will happen when he finally makes the leap, it has to be better than the bullshit he has been dealing with since his debut.
The company doesn’t know that he will be breaking his contract yet. He plans on waiting until the most opportune moment when the concert is close to ending and no one is left on the stage but him.
That’s when he’ll make the announcement to the world.
Yoongi doesn’t know what his future will look like. He doesn’t know if any of his fans will stay or if he will be able to continue in the same capacity he has currently been performing. Will he still be able to go on tours? Music shows? Will he be blacklisted from the industry for breaking his contract?
Will people even want to hear the words that come from his heart?
Despite the questions that swirl in his mind, there’s also a sense of peace. Knowing that the shit he has been dealing with for so long is finally coming to an end has ignited a fire within Yoongi. He’s ready to take on any challenges that come his way.
Yoongi will give his absolute all at this concert — show them a side of him they’ve never seen before. And when it all ends and the lights have dimmed and the shouting has faded, Yoongi will close this chapter of his life and prepare himself for the next one. Deep down, Yoongi thinks that this new chapter might be his greatest one yet.
The concert is only a couple of hours away. The rehearsals are done and the stage is set. Yoongi has been able to hear the crowds of fans through the walls of his green room for hours now. They cheer and chant as they wait to be let into the venue. Their excitement bleeds through, and it leaves Yoongi feeling hopeful.
It’s almost time for his whole world to change. Despite his previous hesitations, he can feel the excitement of the next chapter build within him. Once he leaves that stage, everything will change for the better. He can feel it in his bones.
He just wishes that Taehyung would be by his side once the next chapter begins.
Yoongi stands up from the chair he had been relaxing in. He needs to take a walk or something — ease the nerves that persist despite his eagerness for what comes next.
Namjoon follows behind him as he makes his way down the winding halls, ever the steady presence. He hasn’t really told his friends about what has been on his mind. He’s not entirely sure why. Would they follow him on his new journey? He would understand if they didn’t.
It’s as he’s getting ready to turn a corner that he runs into him. Im Daeshim.
The man looks angry, though that could just be the permanent state of his face. Yoongi tries to sidestep him, not wanting to spend the little free time he has before the concert around him.
It appears Daeshim has other plans. His eyes light up deviously when he spots Yoongi, and when Yoongi tries to keep walking, he harshly grabs onto his arm, forcing him to stop.
Yoongi can feel Namjoon’s presence at his back, demanding Daeshim to let go.
Daeshim barely acknowledges Namjoon, too focused on the prey trapped in his clutches.
“I need to have a little chat,” Daeshim says, his voice nasally and unpleasant.
“Let go of him,” Namjoon says in a low tone. He places a hand protectively on Yoongi’s shoulder.
“We don’t pay you to interfere,” Daeshim snarls as he turns his attention to Namjoon. “Step away.”
“My job is to protect your artists, even if it’s from someone employed by Hyvemind.”
Daeshim releases his hold on Yoongi and shoves him to the side so that he can confront Namjoon. He steps closer, invading Namjoon’s space, but Namjoon doesn’t back down.
“Your job is to watch over our assets. And to obey those in charge.” Daeshim takes another step closer as he glares at Namjoon. “Now, stand down before I fire you for insubordination.”
Namjoon doesn’t budge. His jaw is clenched, eyes narrowed. If Yoongi doesn’t step in, he fears what might happen. Though he plans on leaving the company, he doesn’t know if Namjoon would choose to stay. He would hate to be the reason why Namjoon loses his job, his livelihood.
“Joon-ah,” Yoongi calls from the side. “It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine,” Namjoon says quietly through clenched teeth. “He was hurting you.”
Yoongi gently places his hand on Namjoon’s arm. “I’ve had worse.”
That breaks the intense staring contest Namjoon seems to be having with Daeshim. His expression breaks.
“You shouldn’t have to deal with that.”
“I’m fine,” Yoongi assures him. He turns to Daeshim and crosses his arms. “What do you want? The show starts in less than two hours.”
“I need to have a talk with you,” Daeshim haughtily says, as though he has won the argument. As though Yoongi didn’t let him.
Daeshim thinks he holds all the power, but who would he be if not for Yoongi? It has taken Yoongi so long to realize, but Daeshim is nothing but a pathetic little man who greedily feeds on the success of others. He may be a manager but he doesn’t seem to realize that people who manage through greed and fear ultimately end up losing. Because at the end of the day, there is no loyalty, no gratitude, towards people like that. Talent will leave as soon as they realize they are worth more than veiled threats and empty promises.
Daeshim is nothing to Yoongi. He can’t control him anymore.
So he allows Daeshim to lead him into a small room. He lets Daeshim close the door, locking Namjoon on the other side, unable to protect Yoongi. But it’s okay. Yoongi’s strong enough to face him alone. No matter what happens. Besides, after this concert is over, Yoongi will never have to deal with Daeshim again.
When Daeshim speaks, Yoongi listens and he sees the kind of person Daeshim really is.
Weak. Pathetic.
“You need to keep a tighter leash on your guard dog,” Daeshim snarls, unaware that the only beast around here is him. “Or he’ll be on the streets before he can even blink.”
“Watch your tone,” Yoongi hisses. “He was just doing the job that you hired him to do.”
Yoongi hears the slap before he feels it. He brings his hand up to his cheek as Daeshim breathes heavily in front of him. The skin is hot to the touch, and Yoongi’s sure it will leave a red mark. Namjoon bangs on the other side of the door.
“Hyung?” he calls. The doorknob wiggles. “Let me in.”
Yoongi stares wide-eyed at Daeshim. His face is twisted into a snarl, his eyes red with fury.
So pathetic. Yoongi can’t help but laugh.
The laughter grows and he clutches at his stomach. Daeshim always has resorted to violence to get his way. But Yoongi finally sees him for what he really is — a miserable man. As he continues to laugh, tears form in the corner of his eyes.
Daeshim falters at Yoongi’s unexpected reaction. He doesn’t seem to know what to do.
“Pull yourself together,” he finally growls. “We’ll talk more about your ridiculous behavior after the concert is over.” He pushes Yoongi away from the door and storms out.
The tears don’t stop flowing, the laughter dying down and becoming something much more raw, more devastating. Strong comforting arms engulf him and Yoongi sinks into the abyss as everything — all of his decisions, all of his emotions — comes crashing down. Namjoon rocks him gently through it all. Yoongi’s shining sentinel.
“I’m okay,” Yoongi says after he’s had a chance to calm down. “Everything will be okay.”
He pulls himself away from Namjoon, trying to keep his cheek out of Namjoon’s sight. But Namjoon has always been observant. He reaches towards it, his mouth settled into a grim line.
“He hurt you,” Namjoon says. It’s quiet and gentle and so, so caring.
“It’s okay,” Yoongi repeats. Because it is — well, maybe it isn’t, but at least this will be the last time he ever lets Daeshim touch him. After tonight’s concert, everything will change.
Namjoon opens his mouth to argue but Yoongi distracts him with a hug.
“It’s clearly not okay,” Namjoon says, his voice thick with emotion, “if you are the one initiating a hug.”
“Shut up.” Yoongi’s voice is muffled against Namjoon’s chest. “After tonight, things will be different.”
It’s Namjoon who pulls away this time. His eyebrows are raised in confusion.
“What do you mean?” he asks.
“Do you trust me?” Yoongi stares at his friend, this person who has stuck by his side through thick and thin.
“Of course,” Namjoon easily responds.
“Would you follow me into the unknown?”
Namjoon’s dimples deepen as realization seems to dawn on him. “You’re leaving.”
“Will you come with me?” Vulnerability is something Yoongi has struggled with in the past. But he’s learned it’s okay to be vulnerable around the people you love.
“Of course,” Namjoon responds like it’s the easiest answer in the world.
Yoongi grins even as the tears threaten to escape once more. The path may be uncertain, but Yoongi can’t help but feel like everything is going to be okay.
⋆ ⊹ ✦ ⊹ ⋆
Lights beam down upon him. The crowds cheer his name.
It’s a beautiful sight. Despite the hardships of working under Hyvemind, there’s still a sense of accomplishment when he stands on stage in front of others. Though he’s been performing songs that hold no meaning, he can feel the excitement build for what he plans on doing next. It feeds off the energy of the crowd, ignites a fire within him that had been extinguished for so long.
Nobody knows what’s going to happen next. With this being the last concert of his tour, people already have expectations for how it will wind down. They think they know the songs he will perform and they appear to be ready for it. He wonders how they will react to this surprise.
The next song is supposed to be starting soon. He can hear the countdown in his in-ears, but he pulls them out. It’s time to close this chapter of his life. Once and for all.
The music begins but Yoongi ignores it. He scans the crowd that surrounds the stage. There’s a mixture of confusion and happiness, enthusiasm and anticipation. At one point, he thinks he sees Taehyung standing there amongst the fans. And though it is probably wishful thinking, it gives him the courage to start this next chapter.
He smiles and places his hand over his heart as he thanks the crowd. When he glances to the side, he notices Daeshim, red-faced and angry at Yoongi ignoring his cues.
Luckily, the stage has always been Yoongi’s. No one else can step foot on it while he’s up here, and Daeshim knows that. So he fumes on the sidelines, and Yoongi smirks as the power shifts to him.
Yoongi returns his attention back to the crowd. The lightsticks illuminate the area, highlighting the hushed anticipation on his fans’ faces. The music fades as Yoongi continues to stand in the center of the stage, unmoving.
He smiles softly and takes a deep breath before bringing his mic up.
“I wanted to thank you for coming on this journey with me,” he starts. His voice shakes a bit, but it grows steadier when he catches sight of Hoseok along the wings of the stage. Hoseok has a goofy grin on his face and he throws two thumbs up in Yoongi’s direction to encourage him to continue. Based on his enthusiasm, Namjoon must have told him what Yoongi planned to do.
Yoongi grins. “We’ve walked this long, winding road together for quite some time, and I know this life I have lived wouldn’t have been possible without all of you by my side.” Yoongi pauses and takes a step towards the front of the main stage. “When I first debuted, I had these grand dreams of how I wanted my career to go. Performing in front of you for all of these years has been one of the main highlights.”
When Yoongi reaches the front of the stage, he sits down and lets his feet hang over the edge. He wants to be on their level, human to human, as he shares this side of him.
“Along the way, I’ve written lyrics and produced songs as a way to express my true self. These songs reveal sides of myself that have been buried over time. Even though I’ve wanted to show this side of me to you for so long, there have been obstacles that I have had to overcome in order to make it a reality. Is it okay if I share some of these songs with you tonight?”
The cheers erupt from the crowd, an infectious type of enthusiasm that causes Yoongi to chuckle.
“Okay, okay.” He jumps up to his feet and tries to placate the crowd. “These next couple of songs are dedicated to the person who showed me what it meant to live as my authentic self. I’ve been hiding behind walls, withering away until there was nothing left that made me me. But those walls have been broken down and I refuse to go back. So, here I am. No more personas, no more forced concepts. Just me. Stripped. Baring my soul for all of you to see. I hope you will listen to these words and find comfort and strength in them.”
Music begins to filter through the speakers — music that Yoongi had been working on for so long but had only shared with his closest friends. For the longest time, he had trouble finding a way to express himself. His journal was full of scribbles, torn pages, and blacked out sections.
But then Yoongi met Taehyung. Taehyung, who had truly seen Yoongi. With that, Yoongi was not only able to break through the shackles that the company had placed on him, but he was able to escape his own restraints as well. With that new sense of freedom, the inspiration grew and the lyrics began to flow through him as though they had been touched by magic.
Yoongi closes his eyes and feels the beat of the music resonate with him. His worries begin to melt away as the words flow through his mouth.
D-Day’s coming, it’s a fucking good day
I feel as though it’s for this day that I’ve wandered in the maze all this time
The past days where I perhaps was naive and clumsy are over now
Once again, raise a glass to us who will be born again
With each new song he shares, it feels like a weight is being lifted off his shoulder. All that pain, all that pressure that had been building up inside of him disappears, and for a moment, Yoongi feels like he’s achieved what he had always dreamed about doing — sharing his own songs with the world.
He knows that Hyvemind is going to give him hell once he’s off the stage, but that doesn’t bother him anymore. There will be some tough days as he works to get out of his contract and start something new, but he knows he can handle it. This feeling of performing his own music on stage is worth all of the hassle that may come his way.
He just wishes Taehyung would be by his side through it all. He’s not sure he would have ever had the courage to take this step had it not been for him.
It’s only been a day, but he misses him already.
Yoongi winds down his last song, pouring every bit of emotion he can into his performance. It may take him a while to step on the stage again. But he knows he will be back.
Music is what he is meant to do in life.
For the sake of your dream, it’s okay to rest
For today, don’t even dream
When you silently give me a faint smile
Only then, my heart is at ease
Dream
Where once Yoongi had been hollowed out, he is now filled with the love and warmth that is spread throughout the arena. He smiles, wide and genuine, as he takes it all in. He’s finally managed to do what he wanted to do from the moment he decided to become a trainee — perform his own songs in front of a crowd. He hopes they felt the sincerity in his performance. Maybe there’s a person in the crowd who was touched by the lyrics; maybe even someone who had been struggling and felt comfort in the words.
Yoongi’s not sure if anyone will even stick around once he leaves Hyvemind. But no matter what, it’s going to work out in the end. Change is always a scary thing — but it can also be exhilarating.
When the cheers die down, Yoongi speaks one last time. A goodbye, of course, but it’s also a promise of something better in the future.
“Changes are coming,” Yoongi promises. “I hope you will stay by my side as I explore what it means to be me. No longer as Agust D, but as Min Yoongi. Composer. Songwriter. Producer. Human. Thank you again for coming on this journey with me. One door may be closing, but I promise the next one that opens will be even better. It may take some time, but I hope I will see you all down the road. Thank you.”
With that, Yoongi bows to the crowd. First to the right. He bends ninety degrees and holds. Then to the left. Finally he reaches the center once more. He gets down on his knees and does one final, formal bow, with his forehead placed against his hands on the ground. The sounds fade as Yoongi takes in this final moment. He hopes they can feel his gratitude and sincerity.
⋆ ⊹ ✦ ⊹ ⋆
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Daeshim snarls as soon as Yoongi walks off the stage. Namjoon steps between them, allowing Yoongi to walk past without having to acknowledge the asshole.
As he makes his way towards the green room, Yoongi reaches up, pulling the wires from the in-ears out of his shirt and hands them over to the sound engineer. People swiftly walk past Yoongi, some side-eying him, while others are more subtle with their staring. It’s a bit unnerving, having all this attention on him off-stage. He tries to ignore the whispers that seem to follow him and focuses solely on getting into his private green room where he can finally be away from everyone.
The walk seems to take forever, and on more than one occasion, he can hear Daeshim’s awful voice shouting at him from a distance. But luckily, Namjoon manages to protect him from most of the noise and looks by simply glaring at anyone who talks too loud or stares a bit too long.
Finally, the room is in sight. Yoongi practically runs towards it, Namjoon hot on his tail. They get inside and Namjoon immediately slams it shut. A resounding click fills the air once he locks it.
And not a moment too soon.
Hands heavily bang against the door.
“Min Yoongi, you little shit, you better let me in before I —”
Daeshim goes quiet as heavy footsteps approach the locked door.
“Min Yoongi,” an older voice calmly says from past the door’s barrier.
Fuck, he didn’t expect the CEO of Hyvemind to come so quickly. Seo Dongmin is a formidable force in the Korean music industry. A rags to riches kind of story, many people saw how he built Hyvemind from the ground up and tried to emulate his strategy. Most have failed in one way or another. Some claim Dongmin made a deal with the devil, while others believe he just got lucky with spotting young talent that helped him build his empire.
If anyone could get him blacklisted from the industry, it would be Dongmin.
“We need to have a little talk,” Dongmin continues.
Yoongi looks at Namjoon in alarm. He didn’t expect this conversation to happen so quickly. He’s not ready for it. Not yet. Shit, he needs to find a lawyer. He needs to review his contract — find any kind of clause that can get him out of it. Why was he so impulsive? Why didn’t he —
Namjoon gently clasps onto Yoongi’s arms, forcing his spiraling thoughts to freeze. His mouth is settled into a grim line as he holds Yoongi’s gaze.
“It’s going to be okay,” he says. “We’ll figure it out, yeah?”
Yoongi mutely nods. He hides his trembling hands in his pockets and takes a deep breath.
Namjoon waits until Yoongi is ready, and then slowly opens the door, allowing Dongmin to come in.
The room isn’t too small, but it feels crowded when Dongmin makes his way inside. The wall opposite the door is made of mirrors. Round light bulbs surround the border and illuminate the area even more. It amplifies Dongmin’s presence, and makes Yoongi feel like he’s surrounded by him.
There are built in desks where piles of make-up, hair supplies, and other random objects lay scattered. On the left of the door is a clothing rack that holds various outfits Yoongi wore throughout the evening. To the right is a couch that looks more comfortable than it is. Its worn red fabric has clearly seen better days.
Dongmin gestures for him to take a seat on it, while he settles into the chair that Yoongi usually rests in when he’s getting his makeup done. The chair is higher than the couch, causing Dongmin to loom over Yoongi.
Daeshim stands behind Dongmin, his arms folded as he glares at Yoongi with contempt. Yoongi can feel the satisfaction radiating off of him, though, when Dongmin starts to berate Yoongi for his ‘stunt’ on stage.
“We have done so much for you,” Dongmin is saying when Yoongi turns his attention back to him. “Where would you even be without me?”
Yoongi snorts but manages to stop himself before he rolls his eyes.
Dongmin brows furrow. “What’s so funny?”
“What have you done for me?” Yoongi asks. “I work hard on music you refuse to release.”
“Your fans don’t want that shitty —”
“When I want to collaborate with someone, you find a different artist who doesn’t even match my style.”
“We know what’s best —”
“When I need a break away from everything, you schedule more rehearsals, more lessons, more practices.”
“You need to improve —”
Yoongi can feel his temper rising with each excuse thrown his way. This is how their conversations always go. He is always belittled. His thoughts are always tossed aside. His ideas buried before they ever have a chance to bloom.
“You never listen,” Yoongi finally says, his voice rising. “I am not just a tool for you to use to your liking. I’m an artist. I have needs and thoughts and ideas. I’m not just a mouthpiece or whatever the hell you want. I create, and I want to share my creations, my artistry, to the world.”
Dongmin laughs quietly and shakes his head. “Oh Yoongi. You think people would pay for that little —” he waves his hands in the air — “noise piece? You call that art?” His voice is so condescending. It grates inside Yoongi’s ears; leaves a bitter taste in his mouth.
Namjoon shuffles near the door, but Yoongi can’t take his eyes off the person he once looked up to. When he was young, Dongmin was like a god to him. He made promises to take him far, to let him grow in his music. Yoongi believed his lies. He believed Dongmin had his best interests in mind.
He was so wrong.
Yoongi stands up and glares down at Dongmin, who still remains so calm and poised in that fucking chair.
“We can talk more about this at the office,” Yoongi says calmly. “But I am done with this company. I refuse to be a part of it any longer. Good luck reaching your sales quotas once I leave. We all know who the biggest draw is here.”
“You signed a contract,” Dongmin reminds him. Yoongi wants to wipe that self-satisfied smile off his face. “So you will be doing exactly what I say until it ends.”
“Fuck the contract,” Yoongi snarls. “I’m done here.”
He turns to walk towards the door, when a woman in a tailored suit struts in. Even with the heels, she’s tiny. Her long blonde hair is pulled back into a sleek ponytail. Glasses sit at the bridge of her nose and she glances around the room before settling her attention on Dongmin.
Her eyes narrow as she struts up to him. “Seo Dongmin, I presume.”
“And you are?”
“Min Yoongi’s lawyer.” She bows her head slightly. “The name’s Kim Bora.”
Lawyer? Yoongi glances over at Namjoon, who just winks at him.
“Yoongi doesn’t need a lawyer,” Dongmin argues.
“Were you not just talking about his contract?” She tilts her head, seemingly puzzled though Yoongi can see the fire burning in her eyes. She’s feisty. He immediately likes her.
“That is none of your concern —”
“As his lawyer, I’m afraid I disagree with that assessment. And I find it very unprofessional for someone of your stature to bombard my client like this.”
“What he did on stage was unprofessional,” Daeshim butts in.
Bora doesn’t even bother to acknowledge him, her focus remaining on Dongmin.
“Matters of the contract should be discussed in a formal setting, not a dressing room. My client can speak with you next week at the office. I’ll have my assistance contact yours so that we can schedule a time that would work best.”
“This is ridiculous,” Dongmin spits. He stands up, towering over Bora but she doesn’t back down.
“So is trying to intimidate my client in the middle of a dressing room.”
Dongmin bends down so that he’s closer to Bora. “You better be prepared for what’s coming your way, little girl.”
Bora breaks out into laughter. “If you’re trying to scare me away, it’s not going to work.” She places a hand on his shoulder. “Now, I would suggest you leave this room before you do something you regret.”
Dongmin’s face turns red. He brushes her hand away and then storms out of the room. His once cool, collected demeanor is broken down into one of fury. Daeshim trails after him and slams the door shut.
Bora tuts. “All men are the same.” She glances around at Yoongi and Namjoon, and smirks. “Well, except for you guys, of course. I suppose Taehyung’s okay, too.”
Taehyung? Yoongi perks up and notices Namjoon trying to hold back a grin.
“Just where did he go?” Bora asks herself. “That kid, I swear, always wandering off, am I right?”
She raises an eyebrow at Yoongi, as though waiting for him to respond. But he’s luckily saved by someone knocking at the door.
Bora struts over and throws it open. “Speak of the devil!”
Taehyung sheepishly stands just past the threshold, his eyes immediately landing on Yoongi’s. They soften as he smiles over at him, and Yoongi, well, Yoongi throws all pretenses aside and rushes over to him.
He wraps his arms tightly around Taehyung, pulls him in close. Everything fades away in that moment when he is surrounded in Taehyung’s embrace. Yoongi rests his head against Taehyung’s chest, listening to it beat in rhythm with his own. He inhales deeply; Taehyung smells like home. His warmth wraps around him, bringing forward the last piece that was missing in Yoongi’s life.
Taehyung is here.
Taehyung chose him.
The future is looking so incredibly bright, now that Taehyung is by his side.
“Well,” Bora’s voice cuts through their little reunion, “I’ll leave you two lovebirds in peace.”
Yoongi glances over at her, but refuses to let go of Taehyung.
“It was nice meeting you, Yoongi-ssi,” she continues as she grabs onto Namjoon to pull him out of the room. “I’ll reach out next week so that we can go over your contract, okay?”
With that, the two of them disappear out the door. It closes behind them, leaving Yoongi alone with Taehyung.
Taehyung pulls away from Yoongi slightly, though he slides his hands down so that they rest in Yoongi’s.
“Hyung, I’m so proud of you.” He squeezes Yoongi’s hand as he beams at him. “The courage it took to defy your company and perform your own songs! It was incredible. Everyone around me was so awed by you.”
“You’re here,” Yoongi says, still a little shocked. Despite hoping, he thought he would never see Taehyung again.
And yet here he is, standing in front of him. His hair is tousled and a bit wild, though it’s clear he tried to tame some of his curls. He wears tight black jeans, and a flowy flowery shirt that cinches at his waist. His eyes gleam with happiness. They sparkle under the lights in the room. When he grins sheepishly at Yoongi, it makes the other bright lights appear dim.
His lips are wet due to his habit of licking his lips when he’s nervous. Yoongi desires to taste them. He leans forward, removes one of his hands out of Taehyung’s hold so that he can hold onto the back of Taehyung’s head and pull him in. His hair is so soft underneath his fingers, but nothing compares to the silkiness of his lips.
They mold together, as though they were made for each other. Taehyung eagerly opens his mouth, inviting Yoongi in. Fuck, Yoongi missed the taste of Taehyung. In such a short period of time, he became so addicted that he doesn’t know how he would survive without it.
Taehyung eagerly grabs onto Yoongi’s sides, his body leaning into him more and more, as though he can’t stand the thought of being apart. He pushes Yoongi towards the mirrors in his eagerness and effortlessly lifts him up onto the desk. The supplies that had been sitting on its surface scatter onto the floor, but they hardly notice.
Yoongi wraps his legs around Taehyung’s waist, his hands pulling at Taehyung’s shirt until it’s pulled free from his pants. They explore Taehyung’s soft, warm skin, mapping out the muscles that contract with his movements, the way his body moves in tandem with Yoongi’s.
Time seems to stand still. The two of them are so entangled with one another that nothing else seems to matter.
“I’m sorry,” Taehyung whispers against his skin. “I’m sorry I hid from you.”
“It’s okay,” Yoongi assures him as he pulls him in for a more gentle kiss this time. “You’re here now.”
Taehyung pulls away, regret deep in his eyes. “I was scared. When you left that morning, I worried that you wouldn’t want me anymore. Who am I when compared to you? So I ran. I know I should have talked to you, but what if you rejected me? What if it meant nothing to you?”
“Oh, Tae,” Yoongi sighs. “You mean everything to me.”
Taehyung’s eyes shine with tears. “I didn’t mean to be gone for so long, I swear. I meant to come say goodbye.”
“I know,” Yoongi says as he strokes Taehyung’s arms. “It’s okay.”
“I would understand if you hated me for abandoning you.”
“I could never hate you.” Yoongi gently pecks Taehyung’s lips. “Besides, you’re here now.”
“Yeah,” Taehyung smiles. “I wanted to support you. Seokjin left me the tickets, said I should come when I got my head out of my ass.” Taehyung chuckles. “You know he and Jimin get along way too well. I think they’ve rubbed off on each other.”
Yoongi laughs. “I’m so glad you’re here. I don’t think I could have done what I did without your encouragement this past week. You showed me how to embrace my work, to become the artist I was always meant to become.
Taehyung stares into his eyes, his voice firm. “That artist was already there, it was just struggling because of the way your company treated you. But you always had it in you. And I’m so proud of how brave you were on that stage. No matter what happens next, there are people who will remain by your side every step of the way.”
Yoongi’s breath hitches. “Will you…” he trails off. Clears his throat and tries again. “Will you stay by my side?”
“I will be your number one supporter, hyung, even if I can’t always stand next to you.”
“Am I making a mistake? Breaking away from my company?”
“What does your heart say, hyung?” Taehyung gently kisses Yoongi.
“I need to do this,” Yoongi whispers. The answer is clear.
At Hyvemind, he will never be allowed to perform his own music, he will continue to be mistreated by the managers, and he will never be allowed to be in a relationship with Taehyung. They may have kickstarted his career, but it has been stagnant for quite some time. Yoongi is ready to grow.
“The company is not going to let me go easily. They may treat me like shit but they know I bring in the most money.”
“That’s what Bora is for,” Taehyung grins. “And trust me, she’s ruthless.”
Yoongi wraps his arms around Taehyung’s shoulders, his fingers idly playing with Taehyung’s hair.
“And who exactly is Bora?” Yoongi raises a brow. He tries not to let the jealousy rise. “She seemed to know you quite well.”
Taehyung’s eyes crinkle when he laughs. “Hyung, are you jealous?”
Yoongi blushes a fierce red. Taehyung leans in, kissing his flushed cheeks.
“Bora’s my cousin,” Taehyung whispers between kisses. “And she’s ready to fight for you.” Taehyung leans back and Yoongi already misses his touch. “I was talking with Namjoon and the others the other night. They’ve been worried about you. Said they wanted to find a way to get you away from the company. They said that some people in the company abuse their power over you.” Taehyung's eyes flash with anger. “But they didn’t know how to get you to leave.”
Yoongi didn’t realize his friends were worried about him — at least, not to that extent. Even when Yoongi was an asshole, even when he pushed them away, they still had his best interests at heart. There were times he felt so alone on this journey, too blind to realize that they were there all along. His heart clenches when he realizes just how loved he is.
“Yesterday morning, when I left,” Taehyung continues, “I just wanted to clear my head. Even if this was just a summer fling, I still cared about you so much. I didn’t want to lose you. But your friends’ words kept ringing in my mind. And I realized I knew someone who could help. Bora lives in the next town over. I already had Buttercup with me, so we rushed over to her house for advice. I really meant to get back before you left, but time slipped away.”
Taehyung fidgets as he speaks, his eyes downcast, clearly nervous.
“She saw how much I l— cared for you, and immediately offered her help.” Taehyung’s eyes dart towards Yoongi. “I hope I didn’t overstep. I just wanted to help.”
“I was so worried I’d never see you again,” Yoongi quietly says. “And my heart broke at that thought. Taehyung-ah, I just… I know it might be too soon to feel this way, but I long to be by your side when we are apart. When I see your face, it ignites something inside of me. Makes me feel happier than I have ever been. I have struggled with my emotions and have kept my heart close to my chest. I’ve built these walls around myself, afraid to let anyone in. And then you come along and immediately break through them.” Yoongi laughs. “You’ve helped me in so many ways. Taehyung-ah, I like you so much, it’s starting to feel a lot like love. And I know it’s too soon to feel this way, but fuck, you make me feel so much.”
“You love me?” Taehyung whispers quietly, his eyes shining with emotion.
“I really think I do,” Yoongi confirms.
“Hyung, I think I might love you, too.” This time, it’s Taehyung who seals their lips together.
Yoongi hopes he can spend the rest of his life captured by Taehyung’s lips.
Eventually, Taehyung pulls away, his forehead crinkled with worry. “But how will we make it work? I have the inn and you have your music.”
Yoongi hums as he contemplates his answer.
“I can write music anywhere,” he starts. “I don’t have to live in the city for that.”
Taehyung’s eyes light up. “We could make a little studio for you!”
Yoongi’s excitement grows at the thought, though it quickly wanes. “There will be days when I have to travel, though. Maybe even months at a time.”
“Then there will always be a place for you to return when you’re done,” Taehyung says firmly. He nods his head as if to emphasize his point.
“You wouldn’t hate me for leaving?” Yoongi asks, vulnerable.
“Would you return?”
“Of course! I would always come back home to you. Where my heart resides.”
“Then we’ll make it work,” Taehyung easily states.
“You could travel with me, too, you know. We could see the world together. When was the last time you left that town?”
“You mean aside from today?” Taehyung giggles. He purses his lips as he thinks. “It’s been a long time.”
“Then you could join me!”
“Perhaps I can sometimes. I do still have to take care of the inn.”
“We’ll make it work,” Yoongi states. Because he would do anything to have Taehyung remain in his life. “Though, it will be difficult to be apart for so long.”
“We can still talk,” Taehyung assures him. “Even when you’re far away.”
“But there’s no cell signal out there,” Yoongi argues with a pout.
“Hyung,” Taehyung laughs. “There’s this thing called a landline. You can reach me anytime. All you have to do is call and I’ll answer.”
Yoongi blushes once more. “R-right.”
“Oh my silly hyung,” Taehyung giggles. “Whatever shall we do with you?”
When they kiss, it’s slow and steady, and all of their fears and worries melt away. As long as they’re together, Yoongi knows they can conquer anything. There are still a lot of things that they need to figure out, logistics that need to be settled, but as Yoongi remains in Taehyung’s sweet embrace, he can’t help but feel calm. His heart sings alongside Taehyung’s, and it sounds a lot like love.
Through all the stress and chaos, a light illuminates the path ahead of them. And Yoongi knows deep within his heart that their future’s going to be more than okay. It will be brilliant.
⋆ ⊹ ✦ ⊹ ⋆