Chapter Text
When Yoongi arrives at the BBQ restaurant where he is meeting his friends, he can’t help but groan at the song that greets him.
It’s been a long day at his record store. A reggaeton singer just dropped a new album, and Yoongi has been playing it on repeat to advertise it. He ended up selling a bunch of his albums just that day, which is good, but Yoongi isn't a big fan of the genre. He loves his job and his store, but he can’t just sell music he likes, so from time to time, he has to promote Kpop and trot albums, too. Again, not a fan of those either, but Yoongi is a businessman. Good for the business, bad for his ears. He’ll survive.
Yet, Yoongi has never disliked reggaeton that much… until he met Park Jimin.
His friends greet him animatedly with pats on the back as Yoongi sits down with a tired smile. Their energy can be too much sometimes, but he is comfortable in their presence, and he always feels oddly recharged after spending time with them. He doesn’t bother to take off his coat as he tries to warm up and tells them how he’s been doing.
“It’s so weird that Taehyung hasn’t arrived yet,” Hoseok comments as the waitress brings them their drinks.
“Tae is bringing a friend of his tonight,” Jungkook says as he checks his phone for any texts from him. “That’s probably why he’s running a little late.”
Yoongi didn’t know someone new was joining them, but he doesn’t really care. He just keeps drinking his beer as they grill the first order of meat. He’s feeling a little cranky tonight, but he knows the others will be happy to entertain Tae’s friend, so he can relax.
They’re already eating by the time Taehyung arrives with a half-hearted apology and a grin. Behind him, a guy shorter than him peeks at them with a sweet smile. His brown bangs fall across his forehead, but they are parted to the side, giving him a cheeky look. The gigantic coat he's wearing makes him seem cuter than any man in his late twenties normally would. He introduces himself as Park Jimin with a bow and another smile, looking very comfortable and friendly in front of guys he's never met before. A social butterfly, clearly. Yoongi can't relate, and he turns back to his food once the newcomers take a seat.
Taehyung introduces them to Jimin one by one quickly, so Yoongi only has to bow his head in greeting before the guy's eyes are on Namjoon next to him, who actually bothers to open his mouth. Jimin seems like a nice guy. He chatters up a storm, which explains why he's friends with Taehyung, and Seokjin is thrilled with him, too. They all talk a little about themselves, and Taehyung points out that Yoongi runs a record store.
“Hyung has the best jazz records I've seen around,” Taehyung informs Jimin. “I go there all the time.”
“Too often,” Yoongi adds with an amused little smile to taunt his dongsaeng.
But Taehyung just laughs merrily, agreeing with him.
Dinner is going well, except for Yoongi's growing headache. As the night progresses and people eat and drink more, the volume of their voices starts to annoy Yoongi, but he can bear it.
That is until he hears that damn song again.
At first, he thinks he's imagining it after listening to it multiple times that day, but then he watches as Jimin gets his phone out of his pocket to answer it.
It's his ringtone.
“That fucking song.” Yoongi groans into his beer before he takes a big swig.
He doesn't realise the others have heard him until he leaves his glass on the table and he finds that their eyes are on him, including Jimin's. They look amused at his outburst, but Jimin looks surprised, at a loss as he ignores his phone, which is still ringing.
“Please, answer the damn thing already,” Yoongi grumbles as he refills his glass, not looking at the new addition to their group.
That snaps Jimin out of it, and he takes the call with furrowed brows. Yoongi sighs when he no longer has to listen to that noise. It doesn't take Jimin more than a couple of minutes before he's hanging up. Unfortunately, Yoongi can feel the other's eyes on him again.
Noticing Jimin's taken aback expression, Taehyung pats his friend's shoulder. “Don't mind him. Hyung here loves reggaeton. Don’t you?” he asks Yoongi with a cheeky grin.
Yoongi rolls his eyes. “Shut up.”
“What do you have against it?” Jimin asks lightly, letting out a soft chuckle.
Yoongi doesn’t notice the defensiveness in his posture, his tight expression. He just picks another piece of samgyeopsal with his chopsticks. “Apart from the toxic masculinity and obvious misogyny, it gives me a headache.”
After blowing on the meat, he eats it and lifts his head to find his friends throwing Jimin and him curious looks. It's then that Yoongi realises that Jimin is scowling at him, looking miffed.
“You own a record store and that's all you can say about an entire genre?” he inquires with a raised eyebrow.
Yoongi doesn't understand where his hostility is coming from, but not one to get worked up easily, when he replies, he does so calmly. “Do you need more reasons for me to not like it?”
Oddly, his serenity makes Jimin bristle. “Yes, I do. Because, quite frankly, you sound like an arrogant prick.”
Yoongi hears Hoseok choke on his drink while the others snigger at the comment, but Jimin’s eyes are pinned on his. He can't help but frown at the insult. After all, Yoongi is older than Jimin, and they have just met. That’s awfully rude of him.
“Excuse me?”
But Jimin doesn’t back down. “You heard me. Aren't you too old to act so high and mighty when it comes to music? I thought people eventually grew out of that phase. Guess I was wrong,” he finishes with a shrug of his shoulders as he reaches for his beer, finally looking away from him.
He can't deny it: that takes him by surprise. Yoongi blinks as he observes him. His friends have dropped a few comments about how harsh he can be when it comes to music. He's not, though. He's just picky, and he knows what he likes and what he doesn't.
“You don't know me,” Yoongi tells him with furrowed brows. “I'm not one of those stupid people who level an entire genre as not music just because they don't like it.”
Jimin huffs and shoots him a pissy look. “What do you want me to say to that? ‘Congrats on not being an embarrassing douchebag’? Do you want a prize for it?”
It's like Jimin is trying to provoke him right now. Why? Because his ringtone annoyed him? Is this guy 27 years old or 7? How very mature of him.
Yoongi won't fall for it, though. They're both adults—even if Jimin isn’t acting like one. He won't embarrass himself by stooping to his level.
Instead, he levels him with a stern look. “If you had a shitty day, don't take it out on me.”
Jimin stiffens in his seat, and he snaps his head towards him. He's opening his mouth, ready to retaliate, when his friends finally seem to realise that the situation is getting out of hand.
“Hey, hey, guys. Let's not fight, okay?” Taehyung hurries to say with a conciliatory smile, hands in front of himself in a placating manner.
“Yeah, we are all tired from work. Let's just enjoy the food and have a good time,” Hoseok chips in as the others nod in agreement.
Yoongi also nods slowly, willing to drop it. He doesn't want to fight a friend of his friend. Jimin agrees too, but not before shooting him one last careful look before he ignores Yoongi all night long.
Despite his previous display, the guy is a sweetheart. Jimin laughs and has a great time with the others as he makes a conscious effort to not look in Yoongi’s direction. His friends seem to like him too, and Yoongi can be cordial to not ruin everyone's night, but after what happened, he's completely turned off by Jimin.
They insist on going for drinks at a bar after dinner. Yoongi tries to decline the invitation, not just because of Jimin but because he is very tired. However, Jungkook and Namjoon keep looking at him like kicked puppies because they know he can't resist that look, and he ends up going. He guesses drinking something stronger than beer will do him and his crankiness well.
It’s still not too late, so they find a table in the badly illuminated bar. The music is loud, and it’s quite hot in there, but it will only get even hotter as the night progresses and more people arrive. Yoongi is taking a seat between Seokjin and Namjoon when he catches Jimin finally taking off his coat. He's wearing a short-sleeve shirt under it that lets him see the different small tattoos littering his arms. There are also a few on his fingers that he hadn’t noticed before because they had been busy arguing. The guy is also wearing the tightest black jeans Yoongi has ever seen.
Yes, Jimin looks good, but those pants have to be so uncomfortable. Yoongi could never wear something like that.
They get drinks and talk for a bit. When the bar slowly fills up with more people, it doesn’t take long for most of them to go to the dancefloor. As always, only Yoongi, Seokjin and Namjoon remain there, talking and drinking, not up for dancing.
“Looks like Jimin can match their energy just fine,” Namjoon says after a while, watching the others drop it low on the dancefloor.
Seokjin snorts as he watches them, too. “What can you expect from a friend of Taehyungie?” Yoongi watches them dance as they rub their bodies against each other while they laugh before he goes back to his drink, totally uninterested in the show their friends are putting on. “He also has quite the temper, doesn’t he?”
“I mean, hyung was a little rude, too,” Namjoon comments, glancing at Yoongi, who rolls his eyes at that. “You sounded quite hostile when you told him to pick up his phone.”
“Yeah, well. I couldn’t help it after hearing that damn song for the nth time today.”
Seokjin smirks. “So you were taking it out on him, not the other way around like you said.”
“It wasn’t that bad,” Yoongi says, truly thinking they were overreacting. After all, Jimin had outright insulted him. He hadn’t.
“Not to us who already know you,” Namjoon agrees. “But Jimin doesn’t. It wasn’t the best first impression,” he tells him with pursed lips.
Seokjin nods at his words.
Yoongi shoots them an unimpressed look. “Now you’re going to attack me, too?”
“Please, Yoongs,” Seokjin rolls his eyes. “We aren’t defending Jimin, okay? You both reacted poorly. But we know you, and you’re probably butthurt from what happened at dinner.” Yoongi opens his mouth to protest, but his hyung doesn’t let him. “All I’m saying is to keep an open mind; to give him a chance. Jimin seems like a sweet guy, and he may keep joining us in the future.”
“Yeah, apart from what happened, he’s nice,” Namjoon adds. “Let’s try to get along.”
He heaves out a sigh and grabs his drink to finish it. He knows they’re in part right. “Fine,” Yoongi says, defeated.
“He’s coming this way, so give it a try now,” Seokjin hurries to say, looking to their right.
Yoongi stops himself from following Seokjin's eyes as his hyung watches Jimin approach them. Instead, he glares at his friends. “You guys are so—”
“Hey, Jimin. Thirsty?” Seokjin asks, ignoring him.
“Yeah,” the guy chirps with a grin. Jimin is panting from dancing, and he looks a little sweaty. He grabs his drink and downs the rest as if it was water. Yoongi can’t help but be impressed. “I’m going to order something else,” he says, licking his lips. “Do you guys want anything?”
When he asks that, his eyes only focus on Seokjin and Namjoon, still ignoring Yoongi. He is okay with that, to be honest. But his friends are another matter altogether.
“We’re good, but thank you,” Namjoon replies with a smile before he looks at Yoongi. “What about you, hyung? You just finished your drink.”
If only he had waited a few more minutes… “It’s fine,” Yoongi waves off nonchalantly, “I can get one myself.” He can feel Jimin’s eyes on him, but this time, it is Yoongi who doesn’t turn his way.
“But Jimin is already going,” Seokjin points out with a sweet smile. Way too sweet. “At least go together. Come on.”
Yoongi sees it. The subtle threat in his hyung’s eyes and behind his words. If he doesn’t go now, he will have to listen to Kim Seokjin scolding him all night, and he'd rather not have to go through that. Much to Jimin’s surprise, Yoongi gets up and stands in front of him.
“Let’s go then,” Yoongi says, tilting his head in the bar’s direction.
Jimin blinks, not having expected him to agree, but he recovers quickly. With a huff, he turns around and leads the way.
“I’m not paying for your drink,” Jimin tells him as he smiles at the bartender to call his attention when they reach the counter.
It’s Yoongi’s turn to huff. “I wasn’t expecting you to do that.”
They both place their orders, Jimin giggling cutely at the bartender, who winks at him. Yoongi watches as Jimin flirts in such a natural way that tells him just how used the younger is to charm people this way. Maybe because he’s also a bartender himself. It doesn’t come as a surprise when the guy that serves them invites Jimin to a free shot. Jimin throws it back, not without shooting the guy another smirk before the bartender leaves them to prepare their drinks.
They wait for their order at the counter. Their sides are pressed together because many people are placing their orders or just drinking there. Yoongi can tell just how tense they both are, even if neither one of them is looking at the other.
Trying to be the biggest person, Yoongi sighs and adopts a friendly tone when he asks him, “Are you having fun?”
At being spoken to, Jimin finally looks at him, although with distrust. “Lots,” he replies lightly, assessing him again. “I’m guessing you hate it here.”
Is he trying to provoke him again? Yoongi shouldn’t ask, but he’s been drinking, and he wants to know what Jimin means by that. “What makes you think so?”
“The music. You seem like a rock and roll or indie kind of guy. Your ears must be bleeding with all this noise,” he replies with a sarcastic smile that irks Yoongi.
He’s not drunk enough to let it show, though. “I’m a punk rock kind of guy, actually. Because I appreciate lyrics that don’t have to do with smashing people all the time.”
“Snob,” Jimin mutters into his fist, faking a cough.
Yoongi scowls and turns to face him straight on. “What’s your fucking problem with me?”
Jimin meets his eyes with a very serious look, not backing down. “I hate people like you,” he states bluntly.
Okay. Nice and to the point.
“People like me?” Yoongi quirks an eyebrow.
Jimin turns back to the counter, and Yoongi strains to hear the younger explain in a murmur. “People who make me feel bad about what I like and my choices.”
There’s something in his tone that has Yoongi faltering.
Hurt. He sounds hurt. Bitter, too.
But I am the sensitive one, right? he thinks sarcastically.
Still, he can’t help but feel bad about it. Yoongi has trouble coming up with something to say after that, so he ends up not saying anything because their drinks are ready.
They get their drinks and walk away in opposite directions without exchanging another word. They don’t speak or even look at each other for the rest of the night, but Jimin’s words and dejection keep replaying in his mind. Yoongi doesn’t tell his friends anything about their conversation, but they know it didn’t go well again because he can’t fool them. He doesn’t try to, either. It’s not a sin to not get along with someone.
It’s only hours later that Yoongi sees him again. Jimin passes by their table and grabs his coat quickly. He waves Seokjin and Namjoon goodbye while holding a guy’s hand, and then they leave the bar together.
“Oh, wow. Guess Jimin found someone to have fun with tonight,” Seokjin giggles into his drink.
Yoongi, who is still looking at the door they have exited through, turns to his hyung at the comment and sees Namjoon nodding his head with an amused grin. Taehyung comes back then, and he sits next to him as he tries to catch his breath. Namjoon offers him his drink, and the guy smiles sweetly at him in thanks.
“Jimin already left,” Seokjin tells him with a knowing smile.
Taehyung snorts. “Yeah. He doesn’t waste any time,” he says before drinking.
“He does that often?” Yoongi asks, swirling his own drink.
“Too often,” he explains, passing Namjoon the glass back. “He likes sleeping around. That’s how he unwinds.” Taehyung shrugs.
Yoongi can’t stop the subtle grimace that twists his face at that. It has nothing to do with Jimin or how badly they get along. The idea of sleeping with people he knows nothing about has always put him off so much he can’t believe some people actually enjoy it—or even do it to relax, like Taehyung mentioned.
He just can’t understand how people can do that. How they can get pleasure out of it. But he doesn’t judge Jimin for it. Or anyone, really.
To each their own, Yoongi thinks before he drinks the last of his fourth drink and hopes he doesn’t encounter Jimin again.
***
But of course, life never goes our way, and it’s only a few days later when they meet each other again.
Yoongi wishes a customer a nice day after passing her the LP she has purchased in a bag when the door to his store opens, the bell ringing as Taehyung enters. He waves at him with a smile, and Yoongi is raising his hand to greet him back, but he stops when he sees Jimin right behind him. The guy clearly hadn’t known they were coming to his store when their eyes meet and Jimin immediately halts. Both Yoongi and Jimin glare at Taehyung, who acts as if he can’t sense their murderous intent directed right at him.
“Did you receive that new jazz record I told you about?” Taehyung asks as he looks around his favourite section.
“Not yet,” Yoongi grumbles, crossing his arms and not moving from behind the counter. “I told you it'd be here in another two weeks. It comes from overseas, after all.”
Taehyung hums before he walks to him with his boxy grin in place. “Don’t be all pouty with me. I'm bringing you a new customer,” he tells him. Jimin is still standing by the door with his arms folded too, his brow furrowed. Taehyung looks back at his sulky friend and points at him with his thumb. “Jimin wants to get Bad Bunny’s new album.”
At that, Yoongi also glances in Jimin’s direction, and the guy stiffens. “Shocking news,” Yoongi deadpans.
Jimin stands straight then, looking miffed. “I won’t buy it here. I don’t want to give him my money.”
He talks as if Yoongi isn’t right there, and he can’t help but scoff at his attitude. “Petty.”
“Elitist,” Jimin retorts instantly, refusing to get closer.
Well, it looks like Jimin will definitely address him if it’s to insult him.
“Is he always this childish?” Yoongi asks Taehyung even though he knows he’s not exactly being mature right now.
Taehyung rolls his eyes, but he looks amused by their bickering. “Let’s play nice, shall we?” he says to the two of them. “I know you started on the wrong foot, but I’m your friend, and I know you can both get along well.” Yoongi and Jimin huff at that. Taehyung smirks knowingly. “See? Anyway, this is the only store where you’ll find that deluxe edition you want so much, Jiminie,” Taehyung says, looking back at him with a shrug of his shoulders.
Jimin’s face falls. “Fuck,” he enunciates. Jimin unfolds his arms as he nibbles on his lower lip, debating over what to do. Yoongi would think it's cute how Jimin changes his weight from one foot to the other as he ponders on his options if it wasn't for how insufferable this guy is. Finally, Jimin makes up his mind, and he does so with a defeated sigh before he approaches them. “Okay, fine. Just this time.”
It's not worth it, but this guy seems to bring out the worst in him, and Yoongi can't help but make a remark. “You must really want that album to give in so easily,” he says when Jimin stands at the other side of the counter.
He scowls at him. “Don’t make me change my mind. I’m stubborn as hell.”
Taehyung sniggers and wraps an arm around Jimin's shoulder to appease him. “He loves Bad Bunny too much to not get his hands on this one,” Tae informs Yoongi.
Jimin leans against Taehyung and nods with a solemn expression on his face. “He’s the best.”
Yoongi leans on the counter, folding his arms as he regards him with a mocking look. “Don’t tell me you’ve got his photo saved as your lock screen, too.”
Jimin bristles, and for a brief moment, Yoongi falters as he remembers what happened the other night—the hints of hurt in his voice. Maybe he should stop being a dickhead and drop it already. But Yoongi swears he can see the beginnings of a blush spreading across his cheeks, and it’s just shocking.
“So what if I do?” Jimin spats defensively.
The words are out before Yoongi can stop himself, too stunned by this news. “Shit, for real? I was just messing with you.”
“If he had photo cards, he would also carry one on the back of his phone,” Taehyung pitches in, making Yoongi huff a laugh.
“Have you seen him?” Jimin defends himself, showing them his phone’s lock screen to gush over the singer like a fanboy. “Can you blame me?”
“Nope. I can’t deny he’s very attractive,” Taehyung concedes.
He is handsome and has a pretty smile. Yoongi can’t lie about that.
“I'd love to suck his dick once,” Jimin sighs dreamily, making Taehyung almost bust a lung laughing. Yoongi grimaces at the comment, though, and Jimin catches his disgusted expression. “What’s your problem?” He frowns as he puts his phone back in his pocket. “Are you a prick and a prude? Pick your poison.”
Yoongi’s lips quirk up into a humourless smile. Sometimes he wishes it was that simple. “I’m not a prude, no,” he replies calmly.
“It’s normal to see a beautiful person and feel sexually attracted to them.”
Yeah, Yoongi knows it is, even if he can't relate. But of course, he learnt the other day that Jimin loves hookups, so he understands his point of view. Still, Yoongi hates that word. Normal. Because nobody will ever stop reminding him that he isn't normal.
It used to hurt a lot. It used to make him feel like there was something wrong with him. Like he was a weirdo. But not himself. It was always other people with their unwanted opinions who made him feel like that.
Yoongi was okay with it. Accepting that part of himself had been easy because it felt right. It's always been others who made him feel small, like an outsider. Luckily, Yoongi is no longer easily affected by that. Yet these comments coming from Jimin are making him want to put up a fight.
Taehyung knows him well. It's why he tries to redirect the conversation. Because he knows Yoongi doesn’t want to explain himself. “Have you ever listened to his music, hyung?”
“I’ve had to play his new album here, so yeah. My ears haven’t healed yet from listening to that noise.”
“Says the guy wearing a Rise Against shirt,” Jimin mutters under his breath, but he clearly wants Yoongi to hear him.
“Just admit you've got a problem with good music.”
“The music I like is good. Just admit you've got a problem with fun music,” Jimin stresses, leaning closer to him from across the counter. The younger's expression turns more serious as he observes him silently for a moment. Yoongi doesn't avert his eyes, but he wonders what's up with him now. “Have you ever looked up Bad Bunny’s lyrics?”
“Have you?” Yoongi counters with a quirked eyebrow. “Because it sounds like you're only interested in his dick.”
But Jimin looks solemn. “I'm being serious.”
And Yoongi still can't understand this man. “Why are you getting so worked up over me not liking him?”
“Because I'm a big fan, and you're talking without knowing anything about him!” Jimin explodes, frustrated, as he slams his hands on the counter.
Yoongi blinks, taking in how fast Jimin's cheeks are turning pink. He is embarrassed about his outburst, and he looks away.
“Forget it. I don't know why I bother with people like you,” he murmurs as he takes a step back.
“What do you mean by that this time?” Yoongi asks before he can leave.
Jimin raises his head and pins him under a serious look. “People with a superiority complex,” he spells it out for him. “Call me when the Grammy’s give you an award for your taste in music and for being an asshole.” He turns to Taehyung with an apologetic little smile. “I'll get the album somewhere else. See you tomorrow, Tae.”
And with that, he leaves the store.
Yoongi is shocked and left speechless. When he finally manages to tear his eyes away from the door, he finds Taehyung regarding him with an unimpressed look.
“Come on. He's overreacting!” Yoongi defends himself, his arms pointing towards the door.
Taehyung sighs tiredly. “We all have things we're sensitive about.”
“He's 27,” Yoongi deadpans.
“And you're 29 and his hyung,” Tae reminds him. “Does ageing make you completely numb to people's remarks about things you care about? I know that the 'normal' comment stung you,” he points out knowingly.
Yoongi purses his lips. “It’s not the same. You can’t compare someone criticising your favourite singer with people humiliating you for being incapable of fucking them on sight.”
“It’s not just that. He used to get bullied in high school for what he liked.” Taehyung shoots him a pointed look. “Doesn’t that sound familiar?”
It definitely tugs at his heartstrings, a hollow feeling settling in his stomach. Yoongi averts his eyes. “It’s been a long time since we finished high school,” he murmurs.
“Yeah, but the scars run deep and the hurt stayed. Such wounds are hard to heal. You should know that better than anyone else.” Yoongi sighs because he hates just how right he is. His dongsaeng takes pity on him and stops making him remember times he has fortunately left behind. Instead, he goes back to the point at hand. “Plus, you get bitchy too when someone calls your favourite music noise, so I don’t understand why you're acting this way.”
Yoongi doesn’t know, either. Jimin just seems to know just what to say to get under his skin, and he always feels the need to retaliate. Like an itch you need to scratch. It’s immature, but Jimin makes him want to fight back. To bicker like little kids. It’s quite embarrassing if he’s honest, but he can’t help it.
“Jimin is a great guy, just like you. Try to get along with him for me? Please?” Taehyung asks him with puppy eyes. Yoongi scrunches his nose because that’s not fair. Tae sighs and places his hand on top of his on the counter, making Yoongi look at him reluctantly. “We are meeting this Friday at the same bar as last time. Come with us, hyung. Give him another chance?”
He can’t say no to him when he asks so sweetly. Yoongi is a weak man for his dongsaengs. “Okay…”
Taehyung smiles gratefully and squeezes his arm. “Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
Yoongi nods and sighs, resigned. Maybe it won’t go this bad next time if he plays nice…