Chapter Text
The apartment is dark and damp and dingy, the LA sun shines bright but doesn't permeate the dirt on the window. Yoongi unpacks the last box, setting the cds down on the little desk and starting to organise them in his cd rack, he glances at the time and realises it's nearing midnight and he would have to be up for work at 7am. He hadn't dreamed his first job after college would be interning but he had always known that as an artist he would be expected to work for very little, hence the shitty apartment. He crawls into bed, his headphones blasting pretty melodies that lull him to sleep.
His alarm wakes him, a shrill noise erupting from his phone that startles him out of bed. He showers and combs his hair flat, dressing in a patterned tuck in shirt and black trousers, he packs his laptop, sketchbook and pencil case and jogs out of his apartment, he runs through the little alley and is glad it's void of life, Yoongi is 90% sure the convenience shop he lives above is actually a drug den. His bike leans against the rack, he unlocks it, hops on and cycles to work.
‘You're late.’ His boss says as he steps through the door, panting. Yoongi looks down and checks his watch, 8:01.
‘One minute late…’
‘Still late. Your desk is over here, set up your laptop, I need you to look over the flat plan for our next issue.’ She steps towards a small white desk in the corner of the room and hands him a USB, ‘you're work is good Yoongi, don't hang around here for too long, okay?’ She smiles, softening her stance and patting him on the back.
‘I'll try my best, quick question though, how much coffee will I be making per day roughly?’
‘None, not a coffee intern, prepare to work.’ She smirks, sliding round to the opposite side of the desk and taking her seat. ‘Though if I ask you to get me a double shot soy latte then you probably shouldn't say no.’
He scoffs and starts to unpack his bag, ‘Noted.’ He smiles and gets to work. The office buzzes with people, artsy types who know nothing of fashion but trying there best to look half decent, the magazine specialises in illustration, photography, art, music and culture, Yoongi had applied to work here because he had a degree in illustration and he hoped eventually he'd be able to submit his own work to be in the magazine, rather than touching up other artists photos and scanning in the sketches they'd sent over. Nearing 11, a tall stranger appears at Yoongis desk and places down a cup of coffee, grinning a boxy grin and barely holding back a giggle, minus the goofy grin, his face is perfect, flawless skin and pretty nose, his eyes are big and sweet and glow like a child's and he seems excited about something Yoongi doesn't know about, he also boasts a Gucci shirt, pastel blue with the obviously Gucci snakes embroidered onto the collar and a pair of smart black trousers. Yoongi jumps a little as he starts to speak.
‘Taehyung.’ He announces, putting out his hand for Yoongi to shake, ‘I'm a proper intern, the coffee making kind, and you are?’
‘Yoongi?’ He replies, unsure but reaching out his hand in response. ‘I guess I'm paid intern wages but do editors work?’
‘I'm a student so they don't trust me with anything more than getting coffee and filing paperwork.’ He shrugs, pushing the throwaway cup a little closer to Yoongi. ‘I figured you were a mocha kind of guy.’ His lips curl up into a smirk and Yoongi takes a sip.
He nods, ‘how'd you know?’
‘You seem kind of shy but also sweet, and tired enough to need coffee but not tired enough to enjoy a straight up espresso.’ Taehyung explains.
‘Thanks.’
‘Don't mention it, if you ever want anyone to show you around, I'm your guy.’ He punches Yoongi lightly on the shoulder and returns to his own desk across the room.
That evening after work, not wanting to go straight to his apartment, Yoongi ventures out into LA, having moved from a small town in the middle of nowhere, the city both excites and terrifies him. He finds himself indescribably drawn to the beach, it's nearing 7 and the sands are dotted with women in dresses and sun hats chatting wildly and sipping on ice cold beverages from the multitude of cool boxes, there partners playing some kind of ball game or pretending they care about the conversation. A little further down is what Yoongi can only describe as a cafe, surprisingly still open along the promenade, it's wooden exterior clashes with the modern glass windows as well as the handrails that border the deck. Yoongi decides to grab a bite to eat from there since he has no food at home.
‘Haven't seen you around here before, what can I get you?’ An extremely handsome man asks Yoongi the moment he takes his seat on the dark wood decking that leads to the sand, the man is tall, brown hair neatly styled, his lips are perfectly pouty, his smile a little crooked, his eyes seem to glow, and he emanates a happiness that would be hard to match.
‘Can I just get a coke and some fries please?’ Yoongi asks, lifting his laptop bag onto the little wooden table.
‘Certainly, I'm guessing you're new around here?’ He says as he taps on his phone screen, presumably sending Yoongi’s order to the chef.
‘Urm yeah actually, just moved in a few days ago.’ The man smiles wide and nods.
‘I'm Seokjin and that gorgeous man behind the counter is my husband Namjoon, if you ever want a friendly face, you know where we are!’ Yoongi glances toward the counter where, just as Seokjin had said, a gorgeous man stands, rubbing his temples and worrying over whatever was on the screen of his laptop, he has a simplicity about him, in the way he dresses and the way his hair is cut straight, his eyes seem old and knowledgeable and once he notices Seokjin staring, they light up with the glee of someone who had just received the best news possible, Yoongi takes an instant liking to him and thinks that if he had married Seokjin, then Seokjin must have less obvious depths and that is reason enough to come by again, even if the fries aren't good.
‘Thank you.’ Yoongi replies, smiling shyly. He pulls out his sketchbook and a pencil, beginning to trace the lines of the sunset over the sea onto his page as Seokjin walks away, he glances towards the sky and towards his paper in quick succession, leaving blank areas for colour since he knows he can't recreate the beautiful bluish pinkish hues with just pencil. He barely notices Seokjin place a little basket filled with fries and a drink on the table and squeaks a quick thank you over his shoulder as the man walks away. Pulling out his Polaroid camera, old and a little cracked around the edges since he had been given it by his father, he snaps a picture of the setting sun and shakes it as he takes a sip of his drink, paper clipping it to the sketch and closing the book, knowing he'd finish it later.
Yoongi quickly decides the beach is his favourite place to be, he returns every evening after work, sometimes spending the hour sketching whilst Seokjin chats to him and waits tables and sometimes rolling up his trousers, pulling off his socks and shoes and strolling near to the ocean. His favourite thing is sketching the people, he could do so without being seen and there is no end of interesting people along the west coast, that’s for sure. Rollerskating pensioners in pink tutus who would drop by Seokjin’s for a cocktail and his legendary sweet potato fries, beautiful women with afros who wear their swimsuits like armour and parade their confidence, rightly earned. Sometimes though, Yoongi is drawn to the quiet ones who sit like him, on the edge of the action, smiling at the warmth of people they don’t know, sometimes he'd photograph them as they took the leap towards the ocean and later he'd spend time drawing the moments these people let themselves go.
Having no work and nothing better to do, two weeks into his life in LA, Yoongi accepts the invite to a bar near the cafe from Namjoon, who he had spoken to less than Seokjin but who he had a certain respect for, through stories Jin had told him, he practically knew Namjoon’s entire timeline, the man is smart and has a degree in at least three things, the highest IQ of anyone Yoongi had ever met and had given up his life in New York, working as a writer, to move to LA and open a food joint with Seokjin, they had married only a year ago after only dating for six months and Seokjin had sworn that no one could be more perfect for each other than himself and Namjoon, which Yoongi thinks is sweet and which had convinced him to accept the invitation in the end.
The bar is quiet despite being along the promenade, it seems fairly classy and a man welcomes Yoongi warmly as he enters. He finds Namjoon and Seokjin chatting to the barman, being the liveliest party in the whole joint, Yoongi feels a little awkward approaching them. Seokjin spots him and with a wave invites Yoongi to join them.
‘Yoongi, this is Hoseok or Hobi or the guy who gives us free drinks, whatever you wanna call him!’ Seokjin grins, clearly already a little tipsy.
‘Hello guy who gives us free drinks, I'm Yoongi.’ He replies shyly, offering a small wave to the striking man who looks almost intimidating under the bar lights, he has prominent cheekbones, expressive eyes and lips and Yoongi thinks he has a face that can light up a room and a smile that can stop tears in an instant.
‘I give them free drinks because they give me free food, what can you offer me?’ Hoseok smirks, leaning on the bar, his silver cufflinks making a clinking noise as they collide with Namjoons glass.
‘I can draw you?’ Yoongi counters, noticing the way Namjoon and Seokjin watch the trade, eyes darting from Yoongi’s face to Hoseoks.
‘Show me what you got then.’ He finalises, straightening up and crossing his arms over his chest, Yoongi pulls his rucksack off his shoulders and drops it onto a bar stool, shoving his hands in impatiently and pulling out a pencil and his sketchbook. Yoongi opens up to a blank page and begins, studying Hoseok for a moment before starting to outline his features, concentrate as he does, Yoongi still hears Seokjin boast about how he'd seen Yoongi draw before and he still hears Namjoons small sighs of contemplation and noises of understanding as Yoongi fills in a feature that moments before had seemed like a shapeless blob. Hoseok waits for as long as he can before he has to dart to the opposite side of the bar to serve a patron, not that Yoongi minds, it allows him to appreciate the curve of his jawline and cheekbones and with the new angle he can shade the perfect little point onto the end of his nose before he announces that he's finished and Hoseok returns.
‘Whoa okay that's pretty good!’ Namjoon enthuses, taking the leather bound pad from Yoongi’s hands and holding it up to the light to examine it further. ‘I mean I used to study art, you've got great technique and an interesting personal style, like you really manage to capture the moment, the emotion.’
Seokjin interrupts, ‘dude you even made his pimple look pretty.’
‘Aw man, you couldn't have given me flawless skin?’ Hoseok pouts, taking the drawing and scanning his eyes slowly across the page.
‘What's the fun in perfect people?’ Yoongi says.
‘I suppose that's true.’ Hoseok replies, handing the drawing back to Yoongi. ‘What'll you have then?’
‘Whatever these guys are drinking I suppose, and your permission to post it to my art account?’ Yoongi asks hopefully, taking out his phone.
‘Vodka and coke, only if you tag me.’ Yoongi nods and Hoseok turns up the lights above his head so he can photograph the drawing. They exchange handles and Yoongi explains that he’ll post it when he gets home, which he doesn't since Seokjin gets him so drunk he runs down the beach shirtless and ends up crashing at Hoseok’s because he can't remember his address. Yoongi isn't even sure what day it is when he wipes the sleep from his eyes and shuffles out from underneath an unfamiliar blanket, he feels around in search of his phone and comes across a warmth, which he immediately finds out is Hoseok’s bare back.
‘Morning.’ He groans, shoving Yoongi’s hand away as he turns.
‘Oh no.’ Yoongi murmurs, rolling onto his back, he checks he's wearing underwear and is glad to note he’s actually fully dressed. ‘Okay less distressed oh no.’
‘Yeah we didn't sleep together don't worry.’ He chuckles and then hisses, grabbing at his head. ‘We have a lunch date.’
‘We?’ Yoongi says, already standing and looking for his shoes.
‘Well I'm seeing a friend and you need friends so I'm inviting you.’ He yawns, rolling onto the floor.
‘That's sweet dude but I feel like shit, kinda just wanna head home and die in my awful apartment.’
‘But a good breakfast will help.’ He challenges, finally sitting up and crossing his legs, eyes still closed.
‘I don't really wanna meet someone new dressed in last night's wrinkled shirt.’ Yoongi argues, quickly running out of reasons to avoid breakfast.
‘Then I'll borrow you something.’ Yoongi sighs in defeat.
‘Fine, and I need to shower because I'm pretty sure there’s sand in my ass.’ Hoseok lets out a shrill laugh and points towards a door leading off the bedroom, Yoongi nods politely and sulkily makes his way into the bathroom. Hoseok has folded a shirt onto the neatly made bed by the time Yoongi has finished showering, he gladly pulls on the slightly baggy plain black shirt and steals some deodorant. He throws the towel around his neck and makes his way into what he finds out is the living room and kitchen.
‘Need something for the headache I assume you have?’ Hoseok offers, swallowing a pill himself. Yoongi nods frantically and takes the headache relief, Hoseok pulls on his shoes and then they leave, taking a taxi downtown and stopping outside of a organic vegan coffee shop. The girl behind the counter waves at Hoseok and points towards a set of French doors, from what Yoongi can tell as he takes in her strong jaw and perfect nose, she's Hoseoks sister, he nods politely and follows his friend into the garden where only two people sit, Hoseok makes his way towards the table near the back where a familiar face sits beneath the hanging flowers, stirring coffee.
‘Oh wow you're finally here an hour late.’ Taehyung says sarcastically, kicking at Hoseoks chair so it pushes away from the table and he can take a seat.
‘Blame Yoongi.’
‘Yes, also hi.’ Tae’s face softens as he meets eyes with Yoongi who takes the other seat.
‘Didn't expect to see you here.’
‘You two know each other?’ Hoseok smiles, grabbing a menu and handing it to Yoongi who nods and lets Taehyung explain whilst he chooses something for breakfast.
‘Yeah we work together, both interns.’
‘Oh that's so cool! Yoongi drew me last night in exchange for a few free drinks, Tae does photography, he likes taking photos of Jin and Jimin a lot.’
‘Jimin?’ Yoongi asks having never heard that name from Jin or Namjoon before.
‘A friend of ours, we’ll introduce you sometime!’ Hoseok enthuses, he calls over a waitress and orders coffee for himself and a vegan flatbread, Yoongi, having no idea about any of that kind of food, orders the same thing.
‘Oh and we’ll introduce you to Jungkook, if you're into anatomy then he has the perfect body.’ Taehyung practically drools, playing with his tie.
‘Yeah sounds good! So I didn't know you were into photography?’ Yoongi asks Taehyung, relaxing in his seat.
Taehyung nods, ‘majoring in it! Working at the magazine means I can sort of get my foot in the door for editorial shoots.’
‘I minored in photography but I'd like to illustrate for books or magazines, I don't know.’ Yoongi shrugs.
‘That's so cool! You're really cool, can I see something you've drawn?’ Taehyung grins, placing a hand on Yoongi’s forearm.
‘Yeah… shit, Hoseok, where's my backpack?’ Yoongi realises, he doesn't recall seeing it at Hoseoks.
‘Maybe at the bar? Or… actually we went to Namjoon and Seokjin’s cafe, got drinks there, I think you still had it before you ran naked onto the beach.’ He giggles, ‘just go over after you've accompanied Tae and I to a movie.’
‘Hoseok, I really do need to get home at some point.’ Yoongi whines, unable to stop smiling.
‘It's only a few extra hours and besides, no way Joon will be out of bed before 2 today.’ Yoongi nods. ‘Are Kook and Jimin coming along?’
Taehyung shakes his head no, ‘they're working, it's hot today so…’ Hoseok winces.
‘Sucks but at least Yoongi and I don't have to watch you trip over yourself because Jungkook is nearby.’
‘Shut up I don't do that.’ Taehyung protests, blushing.
‘Tae, babe, you ate a face full of sand last time we hung out at the beach because Jungkook smiled in your general direction.’ Hoseoks lips curl into a smile as Taehyung tries to explain it was because the sun was in his eyes, ‘okay and what about the time you choked on your coffee because he rolled up his sleeves?’ Yoongi let's out a sudden laugh, ‘or the time you-.’
‘We get it Hoseok, I'm a fool where Jungkook is concerned.’ Taehyung glares, sipping his coffee whilst he gives Hoseok evil eyes over the brim of the cup.
‘I don't know why you don't just ask him out.’ Hoseok rolls his eyes, but the conversation is stalled as a waiter brings them there food, and Yoongi is glad it doesn't look awful though he isn't sure he likes the vegan milk. ‘Anyway, he clearly likes you so stop being such a little bitch and ask him.’
‘He doesn't like me, why would you think that he likes me?’ Taehyung asks inquisitively, he leans across the table and narrows his eyes.
‘Are you blind? He never stops smiling when you’re around, he never hangs out with us unless he knows you're gonna be there, hell he even left early last time you cancelled.’ Taehyung nods thoughtfully.
‘Too much commitment, can't deal.’ He decides, sitting back, he folds his arms over his chest and closes his eyes, letting the sun wash over his face.
They finish breakfast and amongst good company, Yoongi decides to watch a movie with the pair, a silly action film that Taehyung doesn't care for and that Hoseok doesn't stop talking about, Tae insists he has studying to catch up on and Hoseok has to head home to get ready for work so Yoongi takes a slow walk to the beach. Seokjin waves at him from the deck, it seems they've just started setting up the chairs for dinner so Yoongi jogs over and offers a helping hand.
‘You look exhausted Yoongs, what time did you get home last night?’ Seokjin smiles as Yoongi lays out the cutlery.
‘I didn't, crashed at Hoseoks.’ He shrugs, he remembers he's still wearing Hoseoks shirt and makes a mental note to wash it and give it back to him.
‘Ooh, and how was that?’ The other man smirks, stopping what he's doing and pointing a mischievous face at Yoongi.
‘We didn't fuck, if that's what you're asking.’ Yoongi scoffs.
‘Shame really, you two seemed to get along really well.’
‘I don't remember much of what happened last night but I appreciate that he didn't leave me in a ditch. Speaking of which, Hoseok said you might have my bag?’ Yoongi says hopefully.
‘Black leather backpack?’ Yoongi nods. ‘Joon took it into the office.’
‘Thanks.’ He grins, placing the last set of cutlery before making his way around the back of the counter, he walks down a short corridor, a door on either side, one marked office and one marked kitchen. He knocks lightly on the office door and waits for Namjoon to call him in.
‘Oh, hey man.’ Namjoon grins as Yoongi enters. ‘Guess you're looking for your backpack?’ Yoongi nods and Namjoon stands up from the ebony desk, and reaches into a drawer. ‘I looked inside and saw the sketchbook, figured it was yours.’
‘You're a lifesaver, I thought I'd lost a year's worth of work.’ Yoongi chuckles nervously, feeling as though he'd disturbed Namjoon. ‘A-are you okay?’
Namjoon sighs and takes his seat again, ‘if I tell you this, you can't tell Jin, man I just wanna get this off my chest.’ Yoongi gulps, afraid Namjoon is about to say something like he had cheated on Seokjin.
‘Sure, my lips are sealed.’ He smiles reassuringly, wanting to be a good friend, though he hadn't spent much time with Namjoon, Yoongi sensed that they had a very similar way of thinking and feeling.
‘The finances just aren't adding up, we’re spending too much and earning too little but I don't have the heart to tell Jin because he’ll blame himself and I don't want that.’ Namjoon closes his eyes and rubs his temples. ‘He loves this place, this was our dream but we need to cut back.’
‘It's not really my place to say but I think Jin would appreciate you being honest with him, then you can talk about what to do together, instead of burdening yourself with a decision that could have more repercussions than just losing your business.’ Yoongi offers his advice and feels Namjoon staring at him as he stares at the ground.
‘I know you're right, I just don't know how to break it to him, I love him so much, I don't wanna see him hurting.’ Namjoon explains.
‘Seokjin will understand, I know it.’ Namjoon nods.
‘You wanna stay for dinner and help me talk to him?’ Implores Namjoon, smiling cheesily up at Yoongi.
‘I think this is something you have to do alone dude.’
‘Stop being right, ha?’ He chuckles, ‘thanks Yoongi, don’t be a stranger if we do go under, yeah?’
‘Nah man, I’ll be at your house all the time instead.’ Namjoon waves a quick goodbye to Yoongi, who escapes into the dining room, Seokjin is busy with a customer so he finger guns at the man and then climbs the steps onto the beach which is emptier than usual, the sky overcast and painted with streaks of pink and purple that just manage to break through the clouds.
Yoongi walks a little down the beach, further than he normally would since there’s no one about. He stops near the lifeguard station, a man sits on the edge of the platform, his dark hair damp and parted in the middle, varying shades of brown and blonde and even some pink mixing together, sticking to his forehead a little, he sings a pretty song that Yoongi doesn’t recognise and smiles at the hiding sun. Yoongi takes out his camera and quickly snaps a picture, the man doesn’t notice but he stops singing and takes a deep breath, his lips are full and pink as anything and for a moment, Yoongi can’t stop staring, he knows the man can’t see him, the wooden shack housing the lifeguard station would block his view so Yoongi stares all he can, pulling out his sketchbook and drawing his soft features, the curve of his jaw and nose, getting as much detail as shadow. Eventually the man lets out a sigh and jumps up, heading down the steps onto the beach, he takes a second to flick his hair out of his face and then charges towards the ocean. Yoongi watches as he strides in and then swims and within minutes he's disappeared from view so Yoongi stands and heads home, knowing that if he allowed himself another glimpse, he’d never leave.
He posts the photo of Hoseok as he sits at his desk that evening, debating whether the drawing of the stranger does him justice, he holds a pen and with the photograph he had taken pinned to his wall like hundreds of others, he writes a caption for the drawing, one he feels is fitting to describe this stranger and the emotions he seemed to elicit, not that Yoongi had ever been a poet but he felt that when he wanted, he could string some words together and they'd sound okay.
'I can't imagine how you would look in the cold, you're so full of warmth and sunlight that it shines from your veins, and I sit, watching when you think no one is and you sing like the birds have no right to exist where you do. But if they did, they too would grow attached to your familiar face with it's crooked front tooth and chapped lips, they would wish to kiss the tip of your nose and whisper sweet things into your ears and they would say; “darling boy- open your eyes, the clouds are burning just for you.”.’
Yoongi has to practically force himself to post the picture of the drawing, he had taken it amongst his bed sheets, knowing the grey would help the simple lines stand out, he’s mostly unsure as to whether he likes how honest the words beneath it are, his drawings usually came with impersonal captions that simply said where it was drawn, what day, but he didn't feel right leaving it at just that for the stranger, he couldn't bear the idea that he hadn't done enough to get across how oddly special those moments had seemed. Tired and a little nervous, he locks his phone, puts it on charge and goes to sleep. He awakes the next morning to a surprising amount of likes and comments on his drawing, a message from Hoseok asking him to lunch. He gets ready for work and decides, against his better judgement, that he will find some time the very next day to stroll along the beach.