Chapter Text
-♡-
“Yoongi-yah, look at this photo of my nephew, isn’t he handsome?”
Yoongi barely looks up from where he’s sealing a pouch of tea. “Yes, auntie.”
“He’s an engineer,” she says proudly, attempting to stick her phone just beneath Yoongi’s nose. “Works for a very good company.”
“Well my grandson is a doctor.” Another phone appears beside the first, showing a picture of a smiling man in a white doctor’s coat. “He’d be such a good match for you, Yoongi dearest.”
Forcing his best customer service smile, Yoongi raises his head and offers the pouch of tea across the counter. “I’m sure he would, auntie.” He tries to keep the weariness from his voice. “But I’m not looking for a partner right now.”
“But when you are,” the first woman insists as she accepts the tea, “you’ll meet my nephew, now won’t you?”
“We’ll see, auntie.” He comes around the counter and bows to the two women, subtly shepherding them toward the door. “Thank you so much for coming in. I hope to see you again soon.”
The aunties take the hint, or are more caught up in bickering with each other now, and thankfully leave the shop, the bell over the door tinkling merrily. Before they can barge back in with marriage proposals or more pictures, Yoongi flips the lock on the door. With them gone, Yoongi slumps back against the door and sighs.
Sometimes, Yoongi thinks that if he had a thousand won for every time someone tried to set him up with their grandson or nephew or distant male relation, he’d be rich. He could close down the shop and move to a remote island where no one knows his name or wants him to date their relatives. And, with that much money, he could build his cat a castle. She definitely deserves a castle.
“You okay, hyung?”
Yoongi looks up and blinks blearily at where Jungkook is halfheartedly sweeping by the counter. “I’m fine, just tired. It’s been a long day.”
A long day of fending off unwanted matchmaking.
“Ugh, same,” Jungkook sighs, leaning against the broom. “And I’m starving. What’s for dinner?”
Frowning, Yoongi pushes away from the door. “I am having leftover doenjang-jigae, and I’m going to sit on the couch in my underwear and eat it in front of the TV.”
“That sounds great!” Jungkook replies. “I’m totally in!”
And Yoongi knows it’s useless to argue with Jungkook, especially a hungry Jungkook, so he just sighs again and waves him toward the door behind the counter. “Come on then.”
-♡-
Predictably, once they’re upstairs in Yoongi’s small apartment above the shop, Jungkook makes himself at home. While Yoongi busies himself with making fresh rice and heating the doenjang-jigae on the stove, Jungkook sprawls out on the throw rug in the living room to play with Yoongi’s cat. It’s not like Yoongi can complain, Jungkook is always so good with Dotori, spoiling her almost as much as Yoongi does. When Yoongi peeks around to the living room, he sees them playing with one of Dotori’s toys, the little brown tabby cat showing off her impressive hunting skills as Jungkook coos at her.
Even if he wanted a night alone, having Jungkook around isn’t so bad. He’s pleasant enough company, even if Yoongi knows Jungkook will eat him out of house and home tonight. Maybe he should start paying Jungkook less, deducting some of his salary for food expenses.
When everything is reheated, Yoongi shuttles the pots of stew and rice to the table along with a tray of side dishes. Jungkook has sat down on one of the cushions by the coffee table and Dotori is draped across his lap. He’s rubbing her fuzzy belly as Dotori lays sprawled in bliss. Which is cute, or it would be cute if Jungkook wasn’t…
“Where is your shirt?”
Jungkook, sitting shirtless on Yoongi’s living room floor, looks up at him with wide, guileless eyes. “What do you mean? I thought you said we were going to eat in our underwear?”
“We absolutely are not doing that.”
“But… don’t bros do that?”
Maybe Yoongi was wrong about Jungkook being pleasant company. “No, Jeon Jungkook. Put your clothes on.”
But Jungkook frowns, and then he pouts. He sticks out his bottom lip and widens his eyes further, looking like a kicked puppy. “But hyung.”
God, Yoongi is weak. And too hungry to argue. “Fine.”
Yoongi moves to sit down on a cushion beside Jungkook, but Jungkook flaps a hand. “Your shirt, hyung.”
“I don’t want to spill stew on my chest,” Yoongi argues.
“You’d rather spill it on your shirt?” Jungkook counters.
Once more, Yoongi doesn’t have the strength to argue and, grumbling under his breath, tugs his sweater over his head and tosses it onto the couch. With a sigh, he folds himself onto the cushion beside Jungkook and begins filling their bowls. “Happy?”
“Very,” Jungkook replies, scritching beneath Dotori’s chin as he watches Yoongi fill his bowl. “Are you, though?”
Pausing with his serving spoon in the stew, Yoongi shoots Jungkook a sideways glance. “What do you mean?”
“Mm, no offense hyung, but you’re really grumpy today.”
“Am I?” Yoongi frowns, considering. Maybe he has been a little short. “Sorry, I’m just tired, I think.”
Jungkook carefully maneuvers Dotori off his lap and picks up his bowl and spoon. “Is it the aunties?”
“It was a lot today,” Yoongi confirms with a nod. “I know they all mean well, but being constantly hounded to meet their eligible male relatives is exhausting. I don’t want to be rude to them, obviously, they’re customers and my elders, but…” he trails off with a sigh.
“Yeah, sounds rough,” Jungkook huffs. “Must be tough to be so desirable and in demand.”
With a frown, Yoongi shoves a dish of banchan in Jungkook’s direction. “I’m not desirable.”
“Hyung, don’t talk about yourself like that! You’re definitely desirable.”
“I feel uncomfortable having this conversation when we’re both shirtless,” Yoongi grumbles into his stew.
“Come on, hyung,” Jungkook whines, elbowing Yoongi in the ribs and nearly making him drop his bowl onto his lap. “You’ve got a lot of great qualities! You own your own business and home, have no debt, and you’re reasonably good looking!”
Yoongi glowers at him. “Wow, thanks for that. I’m glad I don’t look like a mole person.”
Giggling, Jungkook tilts into his side, bumping their bare shoulders together. “Oh come on, Yoongi hyung. You know you’re cute! You’re a little short but you’re handsome, and you’ve got a totally edible nose!”
Choosing to ignore the comment about his height, Yoongi mumbles a confused, “Edible nose?”
“Totally munchable,” Jungkook confirms. “Anyway, I don’t know why you’re making such a big deal out of it. You can say yes to a few dates! I wish my halmeoni was trying to set me up with one of her friends’ grandsons, I’m sick of online dating.”
“I don’t need a date,” Yoongi grumbles in reply. “I don’t want a boyfriend.”
Jungkook does not look convinced. “Some of them are cute though! And maybe you’d like one of them if you gave them a chance.”
“Not interested.”
“But hyung,” Jungkook wheedles. “Haven’t you been single for like… one hundred years?”
“Jungkook,” Yoongi huffs out an exasperated sigh, “how old do you even think I am?”
“One hundred and forty seven,” Jungkook replies, not missing a beat. “But you’ve been single for most of those years, aren’t you lonely?”
Ouch. That felt a little pointed, does Jungkook think he’s pathetic or something? “Rude. I’m happy how I am.”
Yoongi definitely isn’t lonely, he has a very rich and fulfilling life, thank you very much. He has the shop and his work, which keep him very busy. And he has Jungkook, for better or worse, and the rest of their friends in town. He has the aunties and grandmas who dote on him, and the uncles who always want him to go fishing with them. And! He has his precious angel, Dotori.
What more could he need? Certainly not a relationship to take up any more of his free time and try to tell him what to do. The only partner Yoongi needs is his cat!
Okay, that definitely feels a little pathetic when he really thinks about it, but he is happy.
“Whatever,” Jungkook says finally, shaking his head as he tucks into his bowl again. “I still don’t get it, if I was you and a bunch of hot guys were saying Yoongi marry me all the time, I’d be in heaven!”
As always, it’s pointless to argue with Jungkook. Especially when he doesn’t understand the reality.
-♡-
The night ends later than Yoongi anticipated, Jungkook insisting they do karaoke until Yoongi could barely stay upright. He doesn’t even have a karaoke machine, but Jungkook had whipped a karaoke mic out of his backpack like it was the most normal thing in the world. Like he just carries a karaoke mic with him everywhere? And for what? Karaoke emergencies?
He couldn’t bring himself to ask.
All that to say, when Yoongi’s alarm goes off, he audibly groans. He should change the shop’s hours. Really, nine in the morning isn’t that early, but some days getting up at eight feels impossible. Especially after midnight karaoke parties.
Slipping an arm out of the blankets, Yoongi fumbles for his phone on his nightstand, grumbling to himself as he silences his alarm. Sometimes being your own boss is hard. It should be easy, setting his own hours and the shop’s hours, deciding when they’re open or not. In theory, if Yoongi didn’t feel like getting out of bed, he could just keep the shop closed that day and lounge in bed. And yet… Being his own boss comes with a lot more responsibility.
Because the amount of hours Yoongi works and the shop is open directly correlates to how much money is in his bank account. He’s not going to run the business he inherited into the ground just because he’s sleepy. Besides, the aunties would probably riot. And Yoongi needs to be able to eat and keep the lights on, as well as, most importantly, buy enough Churu to keep Dotori content.
The thought of his cat has Yoongi waking up a little more, becoming very aware of the warm ball curled behind his knees. The warm little ball that’s rumbling loudly, the sound of her purring filling the room. It makes him feel even worse about getting up, knowing he’ll have to disturb her. Like some kind of monster.
But, with a sigh, Yoongi forces himself to roll over onto his back. He lifts his hands to rub at his eyes and then blinks blearily at the ceiling. Rays of morning sunlight are just beginning to peek in through the blinds and, faintly, he can hear birds singing outside. At least it will be a good day to get some work done in the garden.
There’s a soft, questioning chirp, and then Yoongi feels the little ball that’s now beside him shift. He watches, smiling faintly, as Dotori uncoils herself and stands. She blinks at him for a moment and then stretches her little brown body.
“Ooh, big stretch,” Yoongi coos, unable to help himself.
Dotori meows and straightens up before stepping delicately onto Yoongi’s still blanket covered body. She crawls onto his chest and lies down, purring like an engine as she boops his nose with hers.
“Good morning, princess,” Yoongi murmurs, stroking a hand down her back. “Are you sleepy too? Jungkookie kept us up past bedtime, hm?”
The little cat just stares at him with hooded eyes, looking perfectly comfortable there on his chest. Once more, Yoongi feels like a monster knowing he’s about to disturb her. At least Dotori can hang out in the shop or the garden with him, but he’d rather lay here in bed with her today.
With a sigh, Yoongi pats her back and props himself up on an elbow. “We should get up now if we want breakfast before we open the shop.”
The word breakfast has Dotori perking up, eyes opening wide and ears twitching. She stands and chirps at him hopping off his chest and onto the floor.
Personally, Yoongi would choose his cat over breakfast, but maybe that’s not quite mutual…
He counts to three before sitting up and throwing off the blankets. “Ugh.” It feels much too cold outside the blankets, but at least the floor is warm when Yoongi swings his legs over the side of the bed. He wiggles his toes and stands, shoving a hand through his messy hair. Dotori meows at him again and Yoongi cracks another smile.
“Alright,” he chuckles. “Let’s go.”
Tail held high like a standard, Dotori leads the way and Yoongi follows her to the bedroom door and pulls it open. As he shuffles his way into the main room of the apartment, Yoongi is unsurprised to see Jungkook is still here, sprawled out on the couch and snoring loudly up at the ceiling.
Dotori hops up onto the couch, curling up on Jungkook’s belly, and Yoongi rolls his eyes. Maybe Jungkook is more exciting than breakfast, though Yoongi knows both of them will be hounding him as soon as he starts cooking. He turns on the coffee pot and opens the fridge, letting out another sigh as he starts the day.
-♡-
Sometimes Yoongi thinks that his customers need more hobbies. Especially the aunties who come in for teas and powders. He would think they have better things to do all day than lurk around his shop during open hours, but clearly he’s mistaken. No bridge games or book clubs or walks around the nearby river to be had, not when they could be enjoying their real favorite pastime.
Matchmaking.
“And here he is at eight, he was on the junior baseball team, see here, Yoongi?”
Yoongi nods along politely, staring down at a picture of a sullen looking boy in a baseball uniform. Mrs. Lee had come in with an entire photo album to show Yoongi pictures of her grandson.
“He’s in finance now,” Mrs. Lee says, flipping a few more pages to show an equally sullen looking teen. “Went to Seoul National and now he works for Hyundai.”
This is probably where Yoongi is supposed to ooh and aah and act impressed, but he’s running on little sleep and he can see Jungkook hiding his giggles out of the corner of his eye. So he just hums along, nodding again.
“He sounds very successful,” Yoongi says when Mrs. Lee looks at him for a response.
“Oh he is,” she responds happily. “Though… still single. He’s been so focused on his career that he hasn’t found someone to settle down with.”
Seeing an opportunity of his own, Yoongi clings onto that. “I understand the struggle,” he says with a knowing nod. “After my halmeoni left the shop to me, I’ve had to work hard. I’m still trying to focus on keeping it running. I don’t have any time to think about dating now.”
She doesn’t look quite convinced. “You run things so well though, Yoongi dear.”
“Thank you, auntie, but there are good days and bad days.” That’s not untrue, but Yoongi isn’t hurting for money or business, he does fine. But she doesn’t need to know that. Maybe she’ll be less pushy, and buy more red ginseng. “But maybe in a few years…” he trails off, leaving the thread there.
Mrs. Lee picks it up, nodding along as she closes the album. “Well, I suppose that makes sense… You’ll just have to promise to meet my Jisungie next time he visits, hm?”
“Of course, auntie,” Yoongi promises, though he makes a mental note to be mysteriously ill that day.
Once she leaves, Yoongi slumps against the counter, and glowers at Jungkook. “You could have saved me, you know?”
“Saved you?” Jungkook laughs. “I was enjoying the show. Besides, what was I supposed to say, that there was an herbal emergency?”
“I don’t know,” Yoongi huffs. “Beetles in the garden or something.”
Jungkook snorts and turns back to where he was straightening a shelf. “Uh huh, sure, hyung. Why don’t you just say yes to a couple of them? It wouldn’t hurt you to go on a date.”
“It might,” Yoongi snips back. “I’m an introvert, Jungkook.”
“An introvert who needs to get his back blown out.”
“Jeon Jungkook!” Yoongi flings a balled up piece of paper at him, hitting Jungkook in the back of the head. Jungkook squawks and turns to glower at him but Yoongi frowns right back. “Don’t talk to your boss like that.”
Sticking out his tongue, Jungkook picks up the piece of paper and flounces over to him. “I’m just stating facts, boss.” Jungkook deposits the paper ball on the counter and scoops up a snoozing Dotori from beside the register “We’re taking our lunch break now, don’t break any more hearts while we’re gone.”
Yoongi rolls his eyes and slumps against the counter again as Jungkook disappears into the back of the shop. He can hear the creak of the steps up to his apartment and just knows Jungkook is about to eat all his leftovers. Again.
At least he’ll have a few minutes of peace and quiet. A good time to take inventory of some of the yakjang, he’s sure he’s getting a little low on chrysanthemum and mugwort. He has some drying in the back that should be about ready, so taking stock of how much he needs to separate out would be a good use of his time.
It’s easy to lose himself in work like that, with soft music playing over the radio, the shop is quiet otherwise. Just the creak of the floor beneath his shoes, the soft slide of the drawers as he opens them to check the contents, making mental notes of what to harvest this week. There’s something soothing about the shop like this, on a sunny afternoon, familiar scents swirling around him.
The shop has always been special to him, since before he could even see over the counter and he needed a stool to open the drawers in the yakjang. Days like this take him back to those moments, those memories of the shop with his grandmother. Learning the different herbs and roots and flowers. Learning how to grind and mix them and how they were used. Knowledge he treasures now, so many years later.
Yoongi is just closing one of the drawers, thinking he might need to get a pad and pen, when the bell above the door chimes. He spins around, putting on his best smile as he calls out a greeting. “Good afternoon, welcome.”
There’s a mixed moment of relief and dread as he sees who the customer is. Relief, because he likes Mrs. Kim, she’s kind and always brings Yoongi baked goods and little treats. But, Mrs. Kim has a grandson she’s very determined Yoongi should meet. Thankfully, like most of the aunties who come in, Mrs. Kim’s grandson isn’t local. It makes sense, most of the people Yoongi’s age left years ago for life in the city. Yoongi tried it too, for a time, but his roots are here and he doesn’t want to give that up.
“Yoongi-yah,” Mrs. Kim greets, smiling warmly as she makes her way to the counter, “so nice to see you today.”
“You too, auntie,” Yoongi responds. “I have your tea ready for you, how have your hands been?”
Mrs. Kim is still smiling as she lifts her hands, curling her fingers to demonstrate her mobility. “Much better thanks to you. Barely any stiffness these days, which is good because I’ve been doing a lot of work around the house.”
As he packages up the tea, Yoongi makes a politely curious noise. “Oh? Are you renovating?”
“Just fixing up the spare room. You remember my grandson that I’ve told you about? The one living in Seoul?”
Oh no. Here we go.
“I do,” Yoongi confirms.
Unfortunately…
He’s heard all about Mrs. Kim’s wonderful grandson. Handsome and successful and perfect in every way. He’s seen the pictures and heard the stories. Seojoon or Jinseok or something like that. Admittedly, Yoongi can acknowledge that Mrs. Kim’s grandson is handsome. But that doesn’t mean anything when Yoongi is here and not interested in dating.
“Well, my Seokjin -”
Ah, Seokjin, right. Yoongi was close.
“He’s moving here!”
Yoongi pauses midmotion, half-sealed pouch of tea in hand. He blinks in surprise, taking in Mrs. Kim’s beaming face. “Sorry?”
“He’s moving here!” Mrs. Kim repeats. “Seokjin said he’s tired of city life and there was a job opening here. He’s going to be staying with me until he gets a place of his own. Isn’t that lovely?”
“So lovely.” Yoongi tries to make his smile look less like a grimace. If her grandson is going to actually be here, then -
There’s no time for Yoongi to even finish the thought before Mrs. Kim beats him to it. “Maybe you can show him around when he gets here? He won’t know anyone, it would be nice if he had a friend!”
She says friend, but Yoongi knows by the sparkle in her eye that she doesn’t mean friend.
“Ah, yes, well…”
“I think you’ll really like him,” Mrs. Kim goes on, undeterred. “He’s really handsome.” She winks. “Just wait until you see for yourself.”
-♡-
When Jungkook finally returns from his lunch break, looking smug and full of Yoongi’s leftovers, Yoongi makes his escape. Citing the low supply of some of the roots and herbs, Yoongi makes his way through the back door and out into the garden. He sighs as soon as he’s outside, letting his shoulders droop and body relax as the sunshine washes over him.
The garden has always been his favorite place, the scent of the warm, turned earth and the richness of the herbs and flowers growing in the neat beds. He remembers when he was little, kneeling beside his grandmother as they carefully planted seeds, tucking them into the soil and covering them up. Yoongi scrunching his nose with concentration as he watered each little pile of earth, already brimming with anticipation for the green shoots that would soon burst forth.
With his parents busy working in a nearby larger city, Yoongi spent most of his time with his grandmother. He considered her house and the room he had there more home than the one he shared with his mostly absent parents. Her house and the shop, the garden behind it, were always where he felt like he belonged.
Long days spent gardening and pulling weeds, or in the back storeroom, helping to prepare and dry the herbs. Listening intently as his grandmother imparted all the plants’ secrets, the remedies they could be used for and how to make them. Absorbing everything she said in her soft, patient voice. And then, as he got older, helping her run the shop and prepare more of the teas and tinctures she sold to her customers.
It was hard when Yoongi left for Seoul. He almost didn’t go, but his grandmother wouldn’t hear of him turning down his scholarship to university. And, really, Yoongi didn’t hate the city. He enjoyed parts of it, enjoyed the botany program he was studying, made friends. In his last year, he was even considering his advisor’s push to graduate school or one of the job offers that had been made to him.
But the memories of home and the breaks he spent back with his grandmother made it hard. The decision wasn’t easy, but Yoongi thought grad school could be interesting. To learn more, grow more, see where he could take his knowledge. The inner turmoil was hard, but he wanted to expand his knowledge.
Then his grandmother died.
A crushing blow, like a punch to the gut, a truck slamming into his chest. He was back in the small town in the mountains almost before he realized it. Back in town and standing in the middle of his grandmother’s shop, barely holding himself together.
Yoongi was more than halfway through his graduate research program, but it didn’t matter, not when she left him everything. Her house, the shop and garden, an inheritance. Yoongi could have sold it all and gone back to the city, but it hardly even occurred to him. He had always planned to come back some day, use his new knowledge to help his grandmother’s business. It just came sooner than he expected.
Yoongi finished his degree and moved back home. He sold the house, not needing the space or the memories it held. Too close, too treasured. The shop though, he could never sell that. He moved into the space above the shop, fixed up the second floor into a small apartment and took over. It was hard at first, lonely too. But he had Hoseok and Jimin and Taehyung around, and he had Jungkook. And his cat.
In the last few years, things have settled and fallen into place. Yoongi is content here and things are going well. This is home, here with his fingers in the dirt and the sound of Jungkook’s laughter trailing from inside the shop. Seoul isn’t on his radar anymore, isn’t something he wants. Yoongi has put down his roots right here and he’s not about to dig them up.
And he doesn’t need anything complicating that. Like random guys who want to take him on a date or get into his pants. Or the meddling of his customers and friends. All Yoongi needs is what he has around him. He’s not lonely, he is happy.
So, really, the last thing Yoongi needs is some stuck-up Seoulite who’s only coming here to slum it in a small town until he gets bored and heads back to the city. Yoongi’s definitely not interested in being a fling for some hot guy who’s going to drop him for the next train back to Seoul.
Yoongi’s seen the results of that, rubbed Jungkook’s back and wiped his tears through heartbreak and disappointment. That’s not something Yoongi needs for himself, not when he’s happy with how things are. No matter what the neighborhood aunties try.
-♡-
When Yoongi heads back inside, he quickly spots the source of Jungkook’s loud laughter. It’s no longer just Jungkook in the shop. Now, unfortunately, Jimin and Taehyung are there as well.
“Get out,” Yoongi says by way of greeting, frowning at the trio.
Three heads turn in his direction at once and Yoongi is fixed with three very impressive pouts. He doesn’t let the force of them shake him, he will be strong.
“Only paying customers are allowed in this shop.”
“But Yoongi hyung, we buy things here all the time!” Taehyung complains from where he seems to be trying to wrestle Jungkook into a headlock.
Beside them, Jimin nods along in agreement. He’s cradling Dotori like a baby, nuzzling between her ears. “And we have to see our god daughter!”
They definitely never buy anything from the shop, but Yoongi ignores that fact and just huffs and leans against the counter. He loves them, really he does, not that he’d ever tell them, but they are menaces. “Hoseok is Dotori’s godfather, you know that.”
“Whatever,” Jimin snips. “Who peed in your coffee this morning?”
Yoongi makes a disgusted face. “Ew, Park Jimin.”
“Hyung’s just grumpy because he hasn’t gotten dicked down in four hundred years.”
Wow, he really just keeps getting older every time Jungkook says something…
“The aunties again?” Taehyung asks. When Yoongi nods, Taehyung lets go of Jungkook and shrugs. “I get that it’s annoying hyung, but why don’t you just date one of them? Or pretend you have a boyfriend?”
“I’ve tried,” Yoongi grumbles.
In fact, he’s tried both. He has gone on a couple of dates, a small handful when he was worn down enough. Though it’s been at least a year now. And he did try to pretend he had a boyfriend once, or, sort of. In reality, he had tried to get Hoseok to pretend to date him and Hoseok turned him down. Which, ouch, but Hoseok had a decent enough reason. Yoongi’s seen him try to lie before, it would have been a disaster.
But that’s left him out of options.
“Well…” Jimin begins, leveling Yoongi with a smirk. “You could always take us up on our offer.”
“No.” Yoongi’s response is instantaneous. “Absolutely not.”
Taehyung leans over the counter and gives him puppy eyes. “But hyung, wouldn’t that solve all your problems?”
Yoongi’s pretty sure their idea would just cause him more problems. He’s known Jimin and Taehyung for years, and the two of them have been a couple for just as long. They’ve basically been together since they met one another. But since they met Yoongi, they’ve been trying to get them to join in.
In some ways, it’s flattering. Or, Yoongi thinks it should be. Jimin and Taehyung are both good looking and must find him attractive. And Yoongi loves them, as friends. But he’s not about to go and join their relationship. Partly because he thinks they’d eat him alive, and partly because it’s not really something he’s into.
Also, while he knows they’re serious about their offer, Yoongi doesn’t think it would actually be a serious thing. A fling of sorts, probably. Like they’ve definitely had with Hoseok. And probably Jungkook…
But Yoongi is far too old (at least four hundred, apparently) and tired for that. He doesn’t think he’d survive any of it.
“If you’d just agree to be our third, then you’d have two boyfriends!” Jimin chimes in. “What could be better?”
Yoongi can think of at least a few things. “Not interested,” he says and holds out his hands. “Now give me my cat and get out of my store.”
“You’re no fun,” Jimin pouts, but he hands over Dotori. “We’ll wear you down eventually.” Jimin turns to Jungkook and leans in to peck him on the cheek. “Come over Saturday?”
“Kay,” Jungkook agrees, waving as the two head for the door.
“We’ll be back soon, hyung!” Taehyung calls, and it feels a little like a threat.
As the door swings closed behind them, Yoongi groans and buries his face in Dotori’s fur. “Maybe I should just join a monastery.”
Jungkook laughs and pats him on the shoulder. “Nah, I think you’d have to shave your head, hyung. You’d look weird bald.”
Lifting his head, Yoongi levels Jungkook with a frown. “Go sweep the sidewalk.”
“Aw hyung,” Jungkook whines, but slumps away to grab the broom.
-♡-
It’s become something of a rarity for Yoongi to have a free evening to himself. He used to make large dinners so he could have the leftovers for lunch, but still struggled to eat everything before it was too old or got boring. It’s hard cooking for one person anyway. But that hasn’t been much of a problem for a while. Not when Yoongi finds himself having dinner guests most nights of the week.
Yoongi rarely actually plans these dinners or invites the guests, they just show up. Jungkook following him upstairs after work, Jimin and Taehyung appearing out of nowhere, or Hoseok popping by with a cheerful knock on the door. So his habit of cooking large meals has actually served him well, because there always seems to be someone else to feed. And while he may protest and grumble, nine times out of ten, Yoongi enjoys the company.
Like most nights, Jungkook invited himself upstairs for dinner. And then he also called Hoseok and invited him to Yoongi’s for dinner. So as Yoongi stands at his stove, stirring a pot of sundubu jjigae, he can hear the sounds of Jungkook and Hoseok’s bright laughter from the living room. If he’s smiling to himself a little, it’s really no one’s business.
And at least Hoseok offers to help cook, which Yoongi refuses, but he does let Hoseok help him carry in the food and dishes. The three of them gather on the cushions around Yoongi’s coffee table, bowls of stew steaming in front of them. Beneath the table, Dotori is curled up in the space between their folded knees.
“Thanks for the meal, hyung,” Hoseok says as he picks up his chopsticks. “This smells delicious.”
“Yoongi hyung always makes the best food,” Jungkook chimes in, mouth already full of stew and rice. He is, once again, shirtless as he eats. At least this time he didn’t bully Yoongi into taking his own shirt off. Yoongi is worried this is becoming a thing.
And it’s not a thank you, but Yoongi is still pleased by the compliment. “Eat as much as you want,” he says as the two of them dig in. “There’s plenty more.”
It’s pleasant with the three of them together, eating and laughing over a warm meal. Hoseok shares recent neighborhood gossip he’s picked up, gleaned from the aunties who come into his parent’s grocery store. Stories of ruined weddings and cheating husbands, all the sordid details that get whispered into Hoseok’s ears.
“And Mrs. Song apparently threw a cup of tea at her! Can you believe it?”
“Wow,” Jungkook breathes, eyes wide with disbelief. “I didn’t think she had it in her, she seems so sweet and mild mannered.”
Hoseok shakes his head with a smile. “Those are the ones you have to watch out for! She’s a lioness for real. No one’s messing with her daughter again! Sucks that the wedding’s off though.” Hoseok shrugs. “But, ugh, men.”
Raising his can of beer in salute, Yoongi adds a hearty, “Hear, hear.”
As Hoseok giggles, Jungkook sighs. “You always get the best stories, Hobi hyung, the aunties tell you everything. They just try to feed me.”
“As if you mind,” Yoongi snorts.
“Well, I am a growing boy,” Jungkook agrees and scoops more rice into his bowl.
Yoongi rolls his eyes at the twenty-seven year old growing boy, and turns to Hoseok. “It’s not fair, the aunties love you.”
“Not as much as they love you,” Hoseok laughs. “Jungkookie was saying you got three marriage offers today.”
“Ugh.” Yoongi scowls and pokes at his stew. “At least three. The aunties never bother you like this, why aren’t they trying to set you up with their grandsons and nephews?”
“Mm, I don’t know.” Hoseok hums thoughtfully. “I think we give off different vibes.”
“That makes sense,” Jungkook agrees. “Hobi hyung is like really bright and fun and great to gossip with and be around.”
And that’s… Hm.
“Are you saying I’m not fun?” Yoongi challenges. “What vibes do I give off?”
“Senior citizen,” Jungkook says immediately.
Yoongi lets out an affronted squawk in reply.
“What Jungkook means,” Hoseok cuts in before Yoongi can throttle Jungkook, “is that I give off kind of flighty, carefree vibes. Not someone you’d want your grandson to settle down with. And you give off really, you know, mature vibes.”
“Mature,” Yoongi repeats, not feeling mollified at all.
“Yeah, like… Sturdy and dependable?” Hoseok goes on. “Like you definitely know how taxes work and pay them and you run your own business and all that. You've got your shit together.”
Allegedly. Sometimes Yoongi doesn’t entirely feel like he has his shit together, but he manages well enough. Or he’s good at pretending. But also… Hoseok doesn’t file his taxes?
Anyway, he guesses it makes sense, why it seems like he’d be a good candidate. At least from the outside. “Alright, fine. But still, I just want to go one day without being propositioned.”
“Mm…” Hoseok picks up his beer and takes a sip. “We have a bet going, you know?”
Startling slightly, Yoongi straightens up, glancing between the two of them. “You what?”
“Oh yeah,” Hoseok continues. “We have a bet going on when you’ll break and who you’ll choose.”
“You fuckers. You better not.”
Covering his mouth as he laughs, Hoseok nods emphatically. “My money’s on Mrs. Choi and her buff nephew. He could probably bench press you, I know you like shit like that.”
“I absolutely do not.” He absolutely does.
“It’s going to be Mrs. Lee’s grandson,” Jungkook chimes in. “The one you went on a date with last year!”
“That wasn’t a date,” Yoongi snaps. “His grandmother asked if I could help him put up some bookshelves and then he bought me dinner as a thank you.”
Jungkook narrows his eyes. “Right, doesn’t sound like a date at all. Did you hook up?”
“No!”
“Kiss?” Hoseok asks.
“Of course not, what the hell?”
“Ya know,” Jungkook muses, “I always thought you two looked alike. Like you could be brothers, he’s just a little shorter, you know?”
“Oh definitely, I saw it too.”
“Right, so like… if they kissed, wouldn’t it be… weird?”
“Oh yeah, and imagine if they had sex! Like, would it almost be mas-”
“I am begging you to please stop talking,” Yoongi groans. “You’re both horrible, stop making bets about my love life or I won’t feed you anymore. And don’t think about my sex life!”
“What sex life?” Jungkook laughs.
Yoongi throws a napkin at him, which only makes him laugh harder, Hoseok joining in. Grumbling to himself, Yoongi reaches beneath the table to pull Dotori into his lap. At least she’s on his side.
-♡-
As much as waking up in the morning can grate on him, Yoongi finds that it's often his favorite time of day. There’s something about the quiet of it, the slow unfurling of sunlight as he moves around and gets ready for the day. So different from the years he spent in Seoul, where it was never quiet. Always the sounds of traffic and city life, ever present background noise that never stopped. When he came back to his hometown, Yoongi was almost startled to realize how quiet it was in comparison.
It took him a little while to get used to it again. The nights were so quiet, it was hard for him to sleep at first. But now, now he loves it. Loves the peacefulness, the sound of birds and even the drone of cicadas. And the sounds of the town waking up, calmer and slower than anything ever was in Seoul.
And it’s nice to spend these moments preparing for the day, to putter around his apartment as his cat winds between his legs. To make breakfast and coffee, leaning against the counter as he goes over the things he needs to get done for the day. Listing them out loud to Dotori, who listens with interest once she finishes her own breakfast.
If he can manage it, Yoongi likes to even get up a little early. It gives him a chance to head downstairs into the shop well before Jungkook or any customers arrive. He makes his way down the creaking stairs, Dotori following behind, and breathes in the familiar scent of herbs and earth, rich spices and teas. They invoke so many memories and bring him a sense of calm belonging.
It’s easy, in the morning quiet, to slowly prepare the shop for the day. To grind flowers and roots for tea and package them up and to hang a few freshly tied bundles of herbs to dry. Dotori watches him, lounging in a patch of sunlight as Yoongi hums to himself. Despite some of the headaches his job brings him, he wouldn’t trade it for anything. Especially not when he can have moments like this.
Though, like everything, these moments don’t last. Because the quiet is shattered by the sound of the front door being loudly opened, the bell above it jingling wildly. And then Jungkook’s singing, loud even without a karaoke microphone, fills the space. Yoongi sighs and wipes his hands on a cloth, smiling to himself as he makes his way to the front of the shop. The quiet moments are peaceful and nice, but maybe he likes these ones too.
-♡-
A peaceful morning doesn’t always make for a peaceful day. Though, it’s not too bad today. They’re busy enough that customer traffic moves swiftly. Some customers, however, linger. Like Mrs. Kim, who comes in with freshly baked cookies that Yoongi and Jungkook certainly aren’t going to refuse. Even if they feel like they come with strings…
“My Seokjin is arriving later today,” she says, smiling as Yoongi takes a bite of a cookie. “Maybe you could come over and meet him?”
Yoongi swallows hard, barely tasting the cookie. “Ah, auntie, I would, but I have plans tonight.” He ignores Jungkook’s snort and continues. “But another time?”
“Alright, I’ll hold you to that, Yoongi-yah.”
He doesn’t doubt it.
Thankfully, she doesn’t stay long. Yoongi is running low on red ginseng and had to order more just to keep up his stock, so the order she’s come to pick up isn’t ready yet. “I can call you when it’s ready? Probably just a day or two. Or Jungkook could deliver it?”
Usually, Yoongi has customers come in to shop and pick up orders of herbs and tea, but occasionally he’ll make deliveries and house calls. He doesn’t really mind it, it’s a nice way to accommodate regular customers and keeps him in all the aunties’ good graces. Though maybe too good, since they all want him for a grandson. But he’s not going to change the policy, and he can get Jungkook to make most of the deliveries.
“That would be great, just bring it around when it’s ready.” She beams at him. “Then you can meet Seokjin!”
-♡-
Jungkook makes most of the deliveries, which means Yoongi shouldn’t have to meet Mrs. Kim’s grandson. He can just send Jungkook. Which is absolutely the plan. Until Jungkook ruins it.
Really, Yoongi shouldn’t be surprised.
Honestly, part of him thinks maybe Jungkook is doing this on purpose.
“What do you mean you can’t do the delivery?”
Jungkook doesn’t even have the grace to look apologetic. “I’m busy.”
“It’s part of your job duties,” Yoongi huffs, crossing his arms over his chest. “It’s your responsibility to make the deliveries.”
“Yes,” Jungkook agrees, “during work hours.” He holds out his phone, screen on and facing Yoongi. “But the shop closes at five.”
The time on Jungkook’s phone reads 5:02. “I’m going to replace you.”
“No you won’t.” Jungkook smiles. “You love me.”
Sighing, Yoongi runs a hand through his hair. “Are you doing this on purpose?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Jungkook doesn’t look as innocent as he thinks he does.
“You’re not just doing this so I have to go meet Mrs. Kim’s grandson?”
“Unlike some people, I actually have a grandson I want to meet.”
Yoongi blinks. “What?”
Jungkook’s smile widens into a grin. “I have a date.”
“A date,” Yoongi repeats dumbly.
“Yes. Some of us don’t want to be celibate shut-ins,” Jungkook responds. “One of the aunties showed me a picture of her grandson and I am going on a date.”
Annoyed, Yoongi frowns at him. “You’re ridiculous.”
“He’s cute.” Jungkook steps past Yoongi toward the door but turns back before leaving, flashing Yoongi a wink. “Don’t wait up!”
The door closes loudly behind him and Yoongi scowls at nothing. “You don’t even live here,” he huffs.
Well, Yoongi will just have to make the delivery himself.
It’s not even a big deal, he can be quick about it. He’ll say he has plans too, if Mrs. Kim tries to get him to come in for tea or to meet her grandson. Yoongi will politely decline and then run away before she can wrangle him inside.
The walk to Mrs. Kim’s house isn’t far, and it’s a nice day. It feels nice to be out in the sun. See, Jungkook doesn’t know what he’s talking about, Yoongi isn’t a shut-in. The day becomes even nicer when Yoongi notes that Mrs. Kim’s car isn’t in the driveway. There’s an unfamiliar car parked out front, but it looks like maybe no one is home. That would be perfect, Yoongi can leave her order in the mailbox and head home to his cat without any interruptions.
He still does his due diligence though, stepping up to the front door and knocking. There’s nothing for a few moments, and Yoongi’s hopes soar, but then he hears a noise from inside. A thump, and then some muffled noises from inside, footsteps heading toward the door.
Damn.
Hopes dashed, Yoongi forces himself to stand up straighter and put on his best pleasant smile. There’s the click of the lock and then the door is pulled open, revealing -
Oh.
Not Mrs. Kim.
But someone else.
Yoongi gets practically slapped in the face by a handsome face with lush pink lips. And then he realizes the man is naked. Or, at least mostly naked. And wet. Against his will, his eyes follow the droplets of water running down his toned pecs and defined abs to the towel slung low on his tiny waist.
“Oh!” The man says, causing Yoongi’s eyes to snap back up to his face. Yoongi gulps as the man uses the hand not holding up his towel to push back his wet hair, exposing his forehead. “You must be Yoongi! My halmeoni mentioned you would be stopping by. I’m Seokjin, it’s nice to meet you!”
Yoongi promptly drops the package of tea he’s holding on the ground.