quit the fandom (enter the mine-dom)
hoseok/yoongi
pg-13 | ~4.3k
Having spent a good five years of his life hopping from one fandom to another, Hoseok would like to think that he is highly experienced at what he does. The thing is, Gloss is something of an exception.
note: written for bangtanexchange, originally here
If he's being completely honest, the poorly-lit clubs in Hongdae aren't exactly Hoseok's first choice of where to be on a Tuesday night. But now that he's actually here at CircleRoom, Hoseok admits that it isn't that bad. He gets everything he's here for, and a little added bonus.
The sole reason he's there, initially, is because BangBand's official website stated that Rap Mobster is participating in a rap battle tonight. And while he doesn't normally do night clubs, Hoseok is a firm believer of love and that it makes you do stupid things, knows no boundaries, etc, etc. This is how Hoseok ends up being one of the few people fiddling with their DSLR settings in front of the stage, waiting for Namjoon's performance to start while actual appreciators of underground rap battles stare at his humongous lens.
Namjoon delivers-of course, Hoseok only picks the best people as his bias-but loses after five rounds. Hoseok's plan was to take numerous pictures of Namjoon, go home, and call it a day. This is an excellent plan, which Hoseok abandons in the end because the rapper who beats Namjoon is small and cute and Hoseok is weak. From the way the crowd cheers for the guy on the stage, Hoseok supposes that this rapper has quite a fanbase in the underground scene. Hoseok decides to stay for another round of the cute rapper's clever lines and occasional curse words that sound so fucking hot it hurts.
"Hey, um," Hoseok calls a stranger next to him, "do you know this guy's name?"
The stranger cheers loudly at the stage before turning to Hoseok. "Everybody knows his name!" he shouts to make sure Hoseok can hear him through the loud music. "It's Gloss!"
As much as he hates night clubs, and despite his revised excellent plan, Hoseok ends up watching the whole battle, up to the end where Gloss is crowned the winner.
*
Having spent a good five years of his life hopping from one fandom to another, Hoseok would like to think that he is highly experienced at what he does. His cycle goes like this: he sees, he likes, he learns. With all his experiences, it takes him less than a week to research everything there is to know about everyone in the new group. He then proceeds to devoting his entire free time to attending the band's schedules. Hoseok has a system, and it works.
The thing is, Gloss is something of an exception.
First of all, yes, sadly, Hoseok is hooked. He is intrigued. He is consciously choosing to stan an underground rapper. Hoseok will probably regret this decision, with all the club-going he will have to commit to, but Hoseok guesses that he's going to try it out anyway. Second of all, however, the internet literally has nothing on a South Korean underground rapper named Gloss.
Sure, Hoseok finds a tweet or two about performances in various clubs, some blurry fancam that only goes up to 360p, and a couple fantaken shots that honestly does not capture anything, but there is nothing on Gloss's personal life. What is his real name? When is his birthday? What are his pet peeves? What is his favorite color? Does he like wearing socks? If only Gloss were an idol, all these questions would have been answered within three sessions of tumblr browsing.
Hoseok huffs as he leans back on his chair, finally giving up looking for non-existent things. He's too curious to stop now, though. He's just going to have to be creative.
*
It's close to the last thing he wants to do, but desperate time calls for desperate measures. The blue post-it on Namjoon's page says Namjoon-ah, what is Gloss's real name? and Namjoon looks up so fast at him with a raised eyebrow and a smirk on his face. Hoseok can hear all the Rapmob fansites clicking on their camera trying to capture his expression. Hoseok blushes more because of his question than the smirk.
"That's your type, huh?" mocks Namjoon as he writes down the answer and signs Hoseok's album. Hoseok hisses, but offers no further retaliation. "Good luck, then."
Hoseok is tempted to peek at Namjoon's answer, because honestly that has been the only thing he can think of for the last couple of days, but he decides against it and moves on to Jimin's spot.
"Hyung," Jimin calls as he flips through Hoseok's album to find his page, "why are you asking about Gloss?"
Hoseok splutters at the question, entirely forgetting that Jimin can read Namjoon's post-it. "Uh, that-"
"Hyuung," Jimin sulks. Again, Hoseok can hear multiple cameras going, trying to capture Jimin pouting cutely at Hoseok. "I thought I'm your favorite!"
Hoseok spends all the time he has with Jimin trying to convince him that he is, indeed, still Hoseok's favorite. He grins and wiggles on his spot, even ruffles Jimin's hair, making all the staff glare at him and order him to move on. Jimin finally forgives his momentary Gloss-mishap, and lets Hoseok get off the stage.
Hoseok impatiently flips through his album to Namjoon's page.
It's Min Yoongi. When you meet him tell him he's an ass.
*
It is entirely Namjoon's fault that the next time Hoseok sees Yoongi, all he can think about is that he's an ass-a nice ass, that is. As in, he has a nice ass. Cute ass. Hoseok makes no sense but with Yoongi's ass in this world, nothing has to make sense anyway.
The name he got from Namjoon helped Hoseok in progressing with his research, but not by a lot. Hoseok found that Yoongi is from Daegu and that he used to play basketball. He discovered that Yoongi is a year older than him. Hoseok also figured out that 'Gloss' is pretty much up there with 'Rap Mobster' in the rank of least creative stage names, because 'Gloss' is basically 'Yoongi' translated to English by Google Translate.
Still, Yoongi has a cute ass, so all is forgiven.
Apart from being aesthetically pleasing, Yoongi is also perfect when it comes to rapping. Hoseok does not understand how someone can come up with such clever lines in that short amount of time. Hoseok also cannot comprehend how someone rapping can sound like such beautiful melody in his ears, with the lilts and hints of Yoongi's Daegu accent coming out in all the right places. Yoongi is perfection on legs and Hoseok has fallen so deep that he even missed a couple of BangBand's fansigns to make time for Yoongi's performances.
It takes a lot of getting used to; being a fan of an underground rapper when he's so used to being an idol enthusiast. Hoseok learns that no one ever bring name placards to underground shows. Ever. A huge placard decorated with tiny delicate hearts with Yoongi's name in the middle will only earn you amused stares from fellow audiences and a somewhat disgusted look from the artist. No one also bothers to bring cameras with huge lenses, because first of all, you're always close enough to the stage and second of all, who cares enough to see your pictures anyway?
One thing Hoseok also still fails to do is cheering appropriately. He keeps forgetting that people here don't squeal oppa's name at the top of their lungs; they just chant the rappers name in a low tone repeatedly. He's usually saved by the extremely loud beat track that covers his high-pitched scream, but this time his "Yoongi oppa marry me!" can be heard loud and clear right after Yoongi spit the last bit of his diss. Everyone on stage snickers, except for ten-times-underground-rap-off-winner Gloss, who buries his face in his hands. Hoseok meekly apologizes to the people around him.
Hoseok wishes he could apologize to Yoongi as well when the host at stage announces that Gloss loses this round.
*
Hoseok remembers it as his third month of following Yoongi's every schedule, an especially tiring Tuesday night which he spends in a club called Cypherdom. Hoseok doesn't normally drink, he's pretty weak in handling his alcohol, but for this night he makes an exception. He sits by the bar, watching as three men cleans up the stage after the show. Today Gloss reclaimed his spot as the resident winner, but when Hoseok raised his Gloss Jjang! placard after the battle, he caught Yoongi's eyes looking annoyed and a little mad at him. Hoseok wonders if his attention bothers Yoongi that much.
Hoseok is well aware that no other rappers have a fan quite like him. The idols he used to like treat their fans like treasures and offer fan services here and there, but Hoseok feels that with Yoongi, he's more of a nuisance than something precious. Hoseok bumps his forehead on the surface in front of him.
"I'll have the usual," comes a voice next to him. Hoseok nearly breaks his neck when he turns too fast to the source of the voice. Min Yoongi is ordering something from the bartender. He is sitting next to Hoseok. Hoseok gapes at the sight of Yoongi's sweaty neck and cute fluffy hair and overall perfection, and he nearly chokes on air when Yoongi turns to face him. "You okay?" he asks. Hoseok cannot believe his eyes. Or his ears. Or his life, for that matter. Min Yoongi is talking to him.
Hoseok dumbly points at himself. "Are you talking to me?"
"Yeah I'm talking to you," Yoongi replies with a frown. This feels magical. If this is how it's like to be drunk, Hoseok swears to drink seven bottles of soju per day. Yoongi takes a sip of his drink before returning to Hoseok. "So. You okay?"
Hoseok wonders where his brain has gone in this extremely crucial timing. He blinks several times as his mind sings is this the real life, is this just fantasy. "I'm, uh. Okay? I guess? Why are you talking to me again?"
"I was gonna ask you something," Yoongi replies, like they're old friends or something, which they aren't. Yoongi sounds so hot speaking with his Daegu accent. Hoseok is very confused as well as very overwhelmed, frozen in his place as Yoongi takes his time before continuing his sentence. "But you look like you're having a bad day, so maybe later."
"Ask me anything," Hoseok whispers in an embarrassingly endeared tone. But he's talking to Min Yoongi. Nothing else matters.
Yoongi seems to consider his options before he turns his body towards Hoseok. Hoseok forces himself to not lurch forward and hug his current favorite rapper. "You see, I'm very thankful that you like me," Yoongi starts. He scratches his head as he's saying this, which is somehow both so cute and so hot. "But, like, it's embarrassing to have a fanboy waving my name with cute little hearts when I'm trying to be a badass on stage."
The lights are dimmed, but Hoseok is quite sure that Yoongi is blushing. Hoseok feels like the strongest person in the world for making badass-curse-spitting-rapper Gloss blush. He forgets everything about his bad day. "So what do you want me to do?"
"I don't know, stop?"
Hoseok chuckles. "No way."
Yoongi grumbles under his breath. It's super cute. Hoseok fanboys internally. "Stop," Yoongi repeats, more pleadingly this time.
"Stop what, exactly?" Hoseok teases. He loves figuring out that Yoongi, like most idols he knows, is very different on stage and off stage. A lot less active, and very shy. Which is endearing, because as someone who is basically shameless, Hoseok loves teasing shy people the most.
The rapper clears his throat as if trying to look more authoritative. "The placard, the camera, the squealing," he replies, getting slower and more embarrassed at each point. "I'm glad you enjoy my performances, but please do so without any of that.. ruckus."
"I like doing it, though," Hoseok muses, loving the way Yoongi looks shocked at this response. "It made you notice me, at least."
"I've noticed you!" Yoongi whines. "Everyone's making fun of me. Please stop, I'll give you anything."
Funny how the tables have turned. Hoseok enjoys this a lot. "Anything?"
"Anything."
He probably should think it over, but, "Go on a date with me."
*
"Of all places," Yoongi grunts, hiding half his face under a huge black scarf he's wearing. "Of all things you could have asked for."
Hoseok smiles triumphantly, greeting some familiar faces that passes him with a huge smile on his face. "You said anything."
"I meant autographs! Photos! A shout-out on stage!" Yoongi hisses. "Or, fine, maybe a date, but what the fuck is this?"
Hoseok is oh so very blessed. He's on a date with Yoongi and gets to hear Yoongi curse up close. Life is so good to him. "We're up!" Hoseok cheers, handing Yoongi one of his BangBand album and pulling him by the sleeve to the stage, where Seokjin is waiting with an intrigued look.
"Hoseok," Seokjin greets. Hoseok beams at him. "Your boyfriend looks familiar," Seokjin teases, failing to hold back his laugh.
Hoseok is about to answer, but Yoongi cuts him. "Shut up, hyung."
"Wait, you know each other?" Hoseok asks, amused. "How?"
"He knows all of us," Seokjin answers. Laughing at his own thought. "Who would have thought I'd meet you at my fansign."
Yoongi takes his place in front of Seokjin as Hoseok moves on to Taehyung. "Not me," he hears Yoongi reply Seokjin. Hoseok lingers for a moment, watching the two of them banter and catch up on life. He's glad that Yoongi seems to start enjoying the so-called date.
Taehyung pokes his shoulder. "Hoseok hyung," he whispers. Hoseok turns to him with a questioning look. "How did you do it?"
"How did I do what?"
"How did you make Yoongi hyung go out of his man-cave and come here, of all places," Taehyung gestures to his surroundings. "An idol fansign."
Hoseok grins. "I'm extremely persuasive," he tells Taehyung.
"Move," Yoongi comes, pushing him. Hoseok scoots to Namjoon's post and lets Yoongi kneel in front of Taehyung. "Hi, Taehyung-ie."
Hoseok's eyes simultaneously widen and close as he witness Yoongi smiling at Taehyung, who smiles back excitedly, and the world is suddenly brighter than sunshine. Taehyung's smile is one of the wonders of the world in itself, but Hoseok also has never seen Yoongi smiling so sincerely-he's seen him smirk, and it was so hot, but this. This. Hoseok can basically spend his entire life watching Yoongi smiling like this.
"Fascinating," Namjoon comments. Hoseok finally turns around and looks at him. His hair is silver under a black beanie. Hoseok almost forgets that Namjoon can look so much like a potential boyfriend, it hurts. "First you ditched us for five freaking fansigns to go to his shows, now you even bring him to us," he adds.
"Hello to you too, Namjoon," Hoseok grins, only feeling a little guilty.
Namjoon signs Hoseok's album. "Jimin is really mad," he casually tells Hoseok. "But I guess he's going to forgive you when he sees Yoongi."
"What's the story behind that?" Hoseok asks, tilting his head towards Yoongi and Taehyung, who look like they're having so much fun chatting Hoseok is almost jealous.
Namjoon shrugs. "Taehyung has always been his favorite," he answers. "But I guess we all miss him. Thanks for bringing him here."
*
"Hey, I went to your fucking fansign," Yoongi complains a couple of days later, late night after his show. "Why are you still here with your camera and calling me oppa?"
"Well, hello, Yoongi, yes, I'm doing well, nice to see you, too, Yoongi," Hoseok replies.
"Where's your manner, call me hyung," Yoongi protests. He takes the empty seat beside Hoseok and huffs. "Why are you still here with your huge lenses?" he asks in a less hostile tone.
"Because, hyung," Hoseok answers, "that date only cancels the placard. This camera will be another date."
"This is blackmail."
"It's proven to be effective."
To be honest, Hoseok is just screwing around. But life is too good to him. "Fine," Yoongi says. "But I get to choose where to go."
*
Hoseok brings his camera as instructed, and frowns when he realizes that they're meeting at a waffle shop. He didn't think Yoongi is the type to be interested in food photography. This is the first thing he tells Yoongi, who is already sitting on a table, waiting for him in a gray hoodie and skinny jeans.
"Well, I'm not," Yoongi says after they place their orders. He takes the Nikon from Hoseok's hands. "I just want to see the kinds of pictures you took of me."
Hoseok snorts. "I also did not know you are this vain," he comments.
Yoongi hums, too immersed in looking at himself. The vanity rivals that of Seokjin's, Hoseok thinks fondly. Hoseok smiles at the way Yoongi turns the camera around to see his own face better. "You take great pictures," he compliments.
"It's not me, hyung, it's you," Hoseok replies solemnly.
Yoongi blushes a little. Okay, so maybe the vanity does not rival Seokjin's, because Seokjin would simply reply of course. Yoongi keeps his head down, scrolling to the pictures in Hoseok's camera until the waitress comes bringing their waffles and coffees. He smiles and tells the girl thank you, and Hoseok totally understand the way she practically runs away, covering half her face with her tray.
Hoseok finds out that Yoongi is really talkative. Hoseok is used to being the one leading conversations, or at least making annoying noises to fill the silence, but Yoongi does not allow one moment of silence. He tells Hoseok about his hometown and that he really likes photography, too, but doesn't really have the time to go photo hunting anymore. He thanks Hoseok for the fan letters he sent Yoongi, and tells him to just say it in person, it's not like I'm some unreachable idol. Yoongi asks Hoseok about the dance performance he choreographed for his finals. Hoseok finds it touching that Yoongi remembers the little, unimportant details he puts in his letters to Yoongi.
"It's not that hard," Yoongi says, pausing to put a spoon of ice cream inside his mouth. All Hoseok wants is to marry him. How can one person look so adorable and so hot at the same time? "You're basically the only person who write me letters."
Hoseok doesn't really answer. He just watches the way Yoongi munch on his waffle and laments on the fact that their meal are almost finished and therefore their date is almost over. This has been a nice dinner. Hoseok only has one more chance to ask for a date.
*
By some strange luck, Hoseok manages to get Yoongi's phone number after the date. Thanks for dinner, he texts Yoongi after pondering for ten minutes about what to say. It feels weird to upgrade from a fan to a friend-Hoseok has never gotten to this point with his other idols.
Hoseok's phone chimes. He can't believe Yoongi gave him his actual phone number and actually replies. No problem, Yoongi's text message says. And a couple minutes later, why are we having this conversation we're not actually dating.
Or are we? ;) Hoseok replies.
Hoseok doesn't dare move after sending the message, afraid of being demoted back to annoying fan. Then his Kakao Talk notification rings.
I only add your kkt for this, the message from one GlossMC says. The next message is a brown dog with a huge NO above his head.
Hoseok doesn't know how he ends up chatting until this late at night, but at 2 AM Yoongi tells him, btw you can keep the camera. Hoseok waits. Just drop the squealing.
*
In theory, Hoseok has three chances to blackmail Yoongi into a date: one for the placards, one for the camera, and one for the squealing. But now that Yoongi's told him he gets to keep the camera, Hoseok has already given up on the third date. Thankfully, he's already leveled up to being friends, and practically has dinner with Yoongi everyday anyway.
Case in point: "I'm hungry," Yoongi tells Hoseok when he comes from backstage. "Buy me dinner."
Hoseok sticks out his tongue. He then remembers a certain picture he took of Yoongi earlier, where the lights on stage creates an especially pretty background to Yoongi's passionate rapping. He scrolls through the pictures in his camera and leans in to show it to Yoongi. "Be proud of me," he says smugly.
Yoongi whistles in appreciation. "I look good."
Hoseok pouts at him. "That's it?"
"That is it," Yoongi nods. He grins, which still makes Hoseok shake internally, but a little less now that he sees it quite often. Hoseok tries hard to keep pouting. Yoongi relents, "And yes, Jung Hoseok, my lord my savior, thank you for taking the picture. Such high skills you got."
Hoseok smiles approvingly. "You are most welcome, peasant."
Hoseok loves the fact that he can make Yoongi laugh now. He loves the fact that he doesn't have to write letters for Yoongi, doesn't have to ask him questions through tiny post-its, because he gets to talk all he wants with Yoongi for however long he pleases. Hoseok has spent a good chunk of his life being a fan of someone without having any close friends, and now that the person he admires allows him to also be his friend, it feels like a lot of blessing.
"Hey, when do you want that third date?" Yoongi suddenly asks as they walk to a ramen place near the bar.
Hoseok nearly trips on his own feet. "You're still up for that?"
"Well," is all Yoongi says. He hides his face behind his scarf, which Hoseok has learned is an indication that he's either about to sneeze or he's blushing. Yoongi doesn't sneeze.
Hoseok feels his lips twitch into a smile. "Weekend?"
*
hobihobi
8:10 ur plan or mine?
GlossMC
8:11 go away im not awake yet
hobihobi
8:11 awww but you answer my kkt
8:11 never been so flattered in my lyf
GlossMC
8:12 stfu
hobihobi
8:12 im in front of ur door tho
hobihobi
8:19 let me in it's cold
8:20 hyuuuuuuuung
GlossMC
8:21 wtf
8:21 sasaeng
Yoongi opens his door a couple of minutes later, still clad in a white t-shirt and shorts with a huge blue blanket hanging from his shoulder. The weird thing about befriending Yoongi, Hoseok finds, is that nothing really changes. Hoseok still thinks Yoongi is hot as fuck and this is quite a problem, now that Yoongi is nearly always in touching distance.
"Get in it's cold," Yoongi grumbles. Hoseok hurries inside and invites himself to Yoongi's sofa. Yoongi closes the door and watches Hoseok's shamelessness with a groan. "How do you know where I live?"
"I'm a big fan."
"This world is a scary place because of people like you."
Hoseok lifts himself up from the sofa and starts pushing Yoongi to a general direction he thinks is of the bathroom. "Shower. Date," he instructs.
"I did not sign up for this," whines Yoongi. "Who goes on a date at 9 fucking AM?"
Hoseok tsks. "We are."
*
They don't really have to go at 9 AM, Hoseok just likes annoying Yoongi.
"I officially hate you," is what Yoongi says when Hoseok admits to this.
"That's okay, hyung, I've got enough love for both of us," replies Hoseok calmly. Yoongi pretends to barf. Hoseok tells himself he's delusional when he thinks that he sees Yoongi smiling.
*
Yoongi doesn't really owe him anything anymore, but when Hoseok tells him he's going to BangBand's fansign on the next day, Yoongi voluntarily offers to come with.
"I miss Jungkook," Yoongi reasons when he actually turns up at site, making Hoseok stare in awe. "Jungkook my little shit."
"Hyung you never told me how you know them," Hoseok remembers when they wait for their turn.
Yoongi laughs. "I almost debuted with them," he answers. Hoseok's eyes widen in surprise. Never in a million years has he ever imagined Yoongi being an idol. "But idol life didn't work out for me."
There are less than ten people in front of them. "I can imagine."
"Besides," Yoongi says. Five people. "If I were an idol I probably wouldn't have met you."
Hoseok doesn't get to question more because it's already their turn. Yoongi insists on going first, and Hoseok watches as he whispers something to Seokjin, his ears burning red when Seokjin practically cackles at him. "Just do it, hyung!" he hears Yoongi protests.
"What was that about?" Hoseok asks Seokjin when his turn comes. Next to him, Yoongi is doing pretty much the same thing to Jungkook, who snickers at the older guy.
Seokjin starts laughing again. "Oh, trust me, you'll know."
The scene replays up to Namjoon's post at the other end. Namjoon pats him on the back. "Good job, Hoseok," he says. "Good fucking job."
"What is happening?" Hoseok wails. Namjoon laughs in reply and one of the staff signals Hoseok to get off the stage.
"What was that about?" Hoseok repeats his question as he approaches Yoongi.
For some reason, Yoongi's face is still a faint shade of pink. "Read your post-its," he tells Hoseok.
Hoseok frowns, demanding more explanation. Yoongi offers none, so Hoseok opens his album and reads the first post-it, the one for Seokjin. What is your favorite vegetable? is his question. Ho is the answer. Hoseok is confused.
Jungkook's is next. I hope one day we get to dance together!, Hoseok's handwriting says. Jungkook scrawls Seok underneath it. Taehyung's When will you cover Sam Smith? is replied with Da. Jimin and Namjoon also replied with indecipherable Te and Me.
"What is happening?" Hoseok asks dumbly.
Yoongi looks frustrated. "Read your post-its!" he repeats.
What the hell is he supposed to read? Hoseok scans through his post-its once again, trying to understand the syllables written by the band. Ho. Seok. Da. Te. Me.
Oh.
Oh.
Hoseok laughs, because he does not know how else to react. "You're really lame," he finally says. He can feel his face burning from the unexpected request.
"Date the lame guy," Yoongi replies, smiling sheepishly at Hoseok. He looks perfect.
Hoseok smiles back. "Gladly."
pg-13 | ~4.3k
Having spent a good five years of his life hopping from one fandom to another, Hoseok would like to think that he is highly experienced at what he does. The thing is, Gloss is something of an exception.
note: written for bangtanexchange, originally here
If he's being completely honest, the poorly-lit clubs in Hongdae aren't exactly Hoseok's first choice of where to be on a Tuesday night. But now that he's actually here at CircleRoom, Hoseok admits that it isn't that bad. He gets everything he's here for, and a little added bonus.
The sole reason he's there, initially, is because BangBand's official website stated that Rap Mobster is participating in a rap battle tonight. And while he doesn't normally do night clubs, Hoseok is a firm believer of love and that it makes you do stupid things, knows no boundaries, etc, etc. This is how Hoseok ends up being one of the few people fiddling with their DSLR settings in front of the stage, waiting for Namjoon's performance to start while actual appreciators of underground rap battles stare at his humongous lens.
Namjoon delivers-of course, Hoseok only picks the best people as his bias-but loses after five rounds. Hoseok's plan was to take numerous pictures of Namjoon, go home, and call it a day. This is an excellent plan, which Hoseok abandons in the end because the rapper who beats Namjoon is small and cute and Hoseok is weak. From the way the crowd cheers for the guy on the stage, Hoseok supposes that this rapper has quite a fanbase in the underground scene. Hoseok decides to stay for another round of the cute rapper's clever lines and occasional curse words that sound so fucking hot it hurts.
"Hey, um," Hoseok calls a stranger next to him, "do you know this guy's name?"
The stranger cheers loudly at the stage before turning to Hoseok. "Everybody knows his name!" he shouts to make sure Hoseok can hear him through the loud music. "It's Gloss!"
As much as he hates night clubs, and despite his revised excellent plan, Hoseok ends up watching the whole battle, up to the end where Gloss is crowned the winner.
*
Having spent a good five years of his life hopping from one fandom to another, Hoseok would like to think that he is highly experienced at what he does. His cycle goes like this: he sees, he likes, he learns. With all his experiences, it takes him less than a week to research everything there is to know about everyone in the new group. He then proceeds to devoting his entire free time to attending the band's schedules. Hoseok has a system, and it works.
The thing is, Gloss is something of an exception.
First of all, yes, sadly, Hoseok is hooked. He is intrigued. He is consciously choosing to stan an underground rapper. Hoseok will probably regret this decision, with all the club-going he will have to commit to, but Hoseok guesses that he's going to try it out anyway. Second of all, however, the internet literally has nothing on a South Korean underground rapper named Gloss.
Sure, Hoseok finds a tweet or two about performances in various clubs, some blurry fancam that only goes up to 360p, and a couple fantaken shots that honestly does not capture anything, but there is nothing on Gloss's personal life. What is his real name? When is his birthday? What are his pet peeves? What is his favorite color? Does he like wearing socks? If only Gloss were an idol, all these questions would have been answered within three sessions of tumblr browsing.
Hoseok huffs as he leans back on his chair, finally giving up looking for non-existent things. He's too curious to stop now, though. He's just going to have to be creative.
*
It's close to the last thing he wants to do, but desperate time calls for desperate measures. The blue post-it on Namjoon's page says Namjoon-ah, what is Gloss's real name? and Namjoon looks up so fast at him with a raised eyebrow and a smirk on his face. Hoseok can hear all the Rapmob fansites clicking on their camera trying to capture his expression. Hoseok blushes more because of his question than the smirk.
"That's your type, huh?" mocks Namjoon as he writes down the answer and signs Hoseok's album. Hoseok hisses, but offers no further retaliation. "Good luck, then."
Hoseok is tempted to peek at Namjoon's answer, because honestly that has been the only thing he can think of for the last couple of days, but he decides against it and moves on to Jimin's spot.
"Hyung," Jimin calls as he flips through Hoseok's album to find his page, "why are you asking about Gloss?"
Hoseok splutters at the question, entirely forgetting that Jimin can read Namjoon's post-it. "Uh, that-"
"Hyuung," Jimin sulks. Again, Hoseok can hear multiple cameras going, trying to capture Jimin pouting cutely at Hoseok. "I thought I'm your favorite!"
Hoseok spends all the time he has with Jimin trying to convince him that he is, indeed, still Hoseok's favorite. He grins and wiggles on his spot, even ruffles Jimin's hair, making all the staff glare at him and order him to move on. Jimin finally forgives his momentary Gloss-mishap, and lets Hoseok get off the stage.
Hoseok impatiently flips through his album to Namjoon's page.
It's Min Yoongi. When you meet him tell him he's an ass.
*
It is entirely Namjoon's fault that the next time Hoseok sees Yoongi, all he can think about is that he's an ass-a nice ass, that is. As in, he has a nice ass. Cute ass. Hoseok makes no sense but with Yoongi's ass in this world, nothing has to make sense anyway.
The name he got from Namjoon helped Hoseok in progressing with his research, but not by a lot. Hoseok found that Yoongi is from Daegu and that he used to play basketball. He discovered that Yoongi is a year older than him. Hoseok also figured out that 'Gloss' is pretty much up there with 'Rap Mobster' in the rank of least creative stage names, because 'Gloss' is basically 'Yoongi' translated to English by Google Translate.
Still, Yoongi has a cute ass, so all is forgiven.
Apart from being aesthetically pleasing, Yoongi is also perfect when it comes to rapping. Hoseok does not understand how someone can come up with such clever lines in that short amount of time. Hoseok also cannot comprehend how someone rapping can sound like such beautiful melody in his ears, with the lilts and hints of Yoongi's Daegu accent coming out in all the right places. Yoongi is perfection on legs and Hoseok has fallen so deep that he even missed a couple of BangBand's fansigns to make time for Yoongi's performances.
It takes a lot of getting used to; being a fan of an underground rapper when he's so used to being an idol enthusiast. Hoseok learns that no one ever bring name placards to underground shows. Ever. A huge placard decorated with tiny delicate hearts with Yoongi's name in the middle will only earn you amused stares from fellow audiences and a somewhat disgusted look from the artist. No one also bothers to bring cameras with huge lenses, because first of all, you're always close enough to the stage and second of all, who cares enough to see your pictures anyway?
One thing Hoseok also still fails to do is cheering appropriately. He keeps forgetting that people here don't squeal oppa's name at the top of their lungs; they just chant the rappers name in a low tone repeatedly. He's usually saved by the extremely loud beat track that covers his high-pitched scream, but this time his "Yoongi oppa marry me!" can be heard loud and clear right after Yoongi spit the last bit of his diss. Everyone on stage snickers, except for ten-times-underground-rap-off-winner Gloss, who buries his face in his hands. Hoseok meekly apologizes to the people around him.
Hoseok wishes he could apologize to Yoongi as well when the host at stage announces that Gloss loses this round.
*
Hoseok remembers it as his third month of following Yoongi's every schedule, an especially tiring Tuesday night which he spends in a club called Cypherdom. Hoseok doesn't normally drink, he's pretty weak in handling his alcohol, but for this night he makes an exception. He sits by the bar, watching as three men cleans up the stage after the show. Today Gloss reclaimed his spot as the resident winner, but when Hoseok raised his Gloss Jjang! placard after the battle, he caught Yoongi's eyes looking annoyed and a little mad at him. Hoseok wonders if his attention bothers Yoongi that much.
Hoseok is well aware that no other rappers have a fan quite like him. The idols he used to like treat their fans like treasures and offer fan services here and there, but Hoseok feels that with Yoongi, he's more of a nuisance than something precious. Hoseok bumps his forehead on the surface in front of him.
"I'll have the usual," comes a voice next to him. Hoseok nearly breaks his neck when he turns too fast to the source of the voice. Min Yoongi is ordering something from the bartender. He is sitting next to Hoseok. Hoseok gapes at the sight of Yoongi's sweaty neck and cute fluffy hair and overall perfection, and he nearly chokes on air when Yoongi turns to face him. "You okay?" he asks. Hoseok cannot believe his eyes. Or his ears. Or his life, for that matter. Min Yoongi is talking to him.
Hoseok dumbly points at himself. "Are you talking to me?"
"Yeah I'm talking to you," Yoongi replies with a frown. This feels magical. If this is how it's like to be drunk, Hoseok swears to drink seven bottles of soju per day. Yoongi takes a sip of his drink before returning to Hoseok. "So. You okay?"
Hoseok wonders where his brain has gone in this extremely crucial timing. He blinks several times as his mind sings is this the real life, is this just fantasy. "I'm, uh. Okay? I guess? Why are you talking to me again?"
"I was gonna ask you something," Yoongi replies, like they're old friends or something, which they aren't. Yoongi sounds so hot speaking with his Daegu accent. Hoseok is very confused as well as very overwhelmed, frozen in his place as Yoongi takes his time before continuing his sentence. "But you look like you're having a bad day, so maybe later."
"Ask me anything," Hoseok whispers in an embarrassingly endeared tone. But he's talking to Min Yoongi. Nothing else matters.
Yoongi seems to consider his options before he turns his body towards Hoseok. Hoseok forces himself to not lurch forward and hug his current favorite rapper. "You see, I'm very thankful that you like me," Yoongi starts. He scratches his head as he's saying this, which is somehow both so cute and so hot. "But, like, it's embarrassing to have a fanboy waving my name with cute little hearts when I'm trying to be a badass on stage."
The lights are dimmed, but Hoseok is quite sure that Yoongi is blushing. Hoseok feels like the strongest person in the world for making badass-curse-spitting-rapper Gloss blush. He forgets everything about his bad day. "So what do you want me to do?"
"I don't know, stop?"
Hoseok chuckles. "No way."
Yoongi grumbles under his breath. It's super cute. Hoseok fanboys internally. "Stop," Yoongi repeats, more pleadingly this time.
"Stop what, exactly?" Hoseok teases. He loves figuring out that Yoongi, like most idols he knows, is very different on stage and off stage. A lot less active, and very shy. Which is endearing, because as someone who is basically shameless, Hoseok loves teasing shy people the most.
The rapper clears his throat as if trying to look more authoritative. "The placard, the camera, the squealing," he replies, getting slower and more embarrassed at each point. "I'm glad you enjoy my performances, but please do so without any of that.. ruckus."
"I like doing it, though," Hoseok muses, loving the way Yoongi looks shocked at this response. "It made you notice me, at least."
"I've noticed you!" Yoongi whines. "Everyone's making fun of me. Please stop, I'll give you anything."
Funny how the tables have turned. Hoseok enjoys this a lot. "Anything?"
"Anything."
He probably should think it over, but, "Go on a date with me."
*
"Of all places," Yoongi grunts, hiding half his face under a huge black scarf he's wearing. "Of all things you could have asked for."
Hoseok smiles triumphantly, greeting some familiar faces that passes him with a huge smile on his face. "You said anything."
"I meant autographs! Photos! A shout-out on stage!" Yoongi hisses. "Or, fine, maybe a date, but what the fuck is this?"
Hoseok is oh so very blessed. He's on a date with Yoongi and gets to hear Yoongi curse up close. Life is so good to him. "We're up!" Hoseok cheers, handing Yoongi one of his BangBand album and pulling him by the sleeve to the stage, where Seokjin is waiting with an intrigued look.
"Hoseok," Seokjin greets. Hoseok beams at him. "Your boyfriend looks familiar," Seokjin teases, failing to hold back his laugh.
Hoseok is about to answer, but Yoongi cuts him. "Shut up, hyung."
"Wait, you know each other?" Hoseok asks, amused. "How?"
"He knows all of us," Seokjin answers. Laughing at his own thought. "Who would have thought I'd meet you at my fansign."
Yoongi takes his place in front of Seokjin as Hoseok moves on to Taehyung. "Not me," he hears Yoongi reply Seokjin. Hoseok lingers for a moment, watching the two of them banter and catch up on life. He's glad that Yoongi seems to start enjoying the so-called date.
Taehyung pokes his shoulder. "Hoseok hyung," he whispers. Hoseok turns to him with a questioning look. "How did you do it?"
"How did I do what?"
"How did you make Yoongi hyung go out of his man-cave and come here, of all places," Taehyung gestures to his surroundings. "An idol fansign."
Hoseok grins. "I'm extremely persuasive," he tells Taehyung.
"Move," Yoongi comes, pushing him. Hoseok scoots to Namjoon's post and lets Yoongi kneel in front of Taehyung. "Hi, Taehyung-ie."
Hoseok's eyes simultaneously widen and close as he witness Yoongi smiling at Taehyung, who smiles back excitedly, and the world is suddenly brighter than sunshine. Taehyung's smile is one of the wonders of the world in itself, but Hoseok also has never seen Yoongi smiling so sincerely-he's seen him smirk, and it was so hot, but this. This. Hoseok can basically spend his entire life watching Yoongi smiling like this.
"Fascinating," Namjoon comments. Hoseok finally turns around and looks at him. His hair is silver under a black beanie. Hoseok almost forgets that Namjoon can look so much like a potential boyfriend, it hurts. "First you ditched us for five freaking fansigns to go to his shows, now you even bring him to us," he adds.
"Hello to you too, Namjoon," Hoseok grins, only feeling a little guilty.
Namjoon signs Hoseok's album. "Jimin is really mad," he casually tells Hoseok. "But I guess he's going to forgive you when he sees Yoongi."
"What's the story behind that?" Hoseok asks, tilting his head towards Yoongi and Taehyung, who look like they're having so much fun chatting Hoseok is almost jealous.
Namjoon shrugs. "Taehyung has always been his favorite," he answers. "But I guess we all miss him. Thanks for bringing him here."
*
"Hey, I went to your fucking fansign," Yoongi complains a couple of days later, late night after his show. "Why are you still here with your camera and calling me oppa?"
"Well, hello, Yoongi, yes, I'm doing well, nice to see you, too, Yoongi," Hoseok replies.
"Where's your manner, call me hyung," Yoongi protests. He takes the empty seat beside Hoseok and huffs. "Why are you still here with your huge lenses?" he asks in a less hostile tone.
"Because, hyung," Hoseok answers, "that date only cancels the placard. This camera will be another date."
"This is blackmail."
"It's proven to be effective."
To be honest, Hoseok is just screwing around. But life is too good to him. "Fine," Yoongi says. "But I get to choose where to go."
*
Hoseok brings his camera as instructed, and frowns when he realizes that they're meeting at a waffle shop. He didn't think Yoongi is the type to be interested in food photography. This is the first thing he tells Yoongi, who is already sitting on a table, waiting for him in a gray hoodie and skinny jeans.
"Well, I'm not," Yoongi says after they place their orders. He takes the Nikon from Hoseok's hands. "I just want to see the kinds of pictures you took of me."
Hoseok snorts. "I also did not know you are this vain," he comments.
Yoongi hums, too immersed in looking at himself. The vanity rivals that of Seokjin's, Hoseok thinks fondly. Hoseok smiles at the way Yoongi turns the camera around to see his own face better. "You take great pictures," he compliments.
"It's not me, hyung, it's you," Hoseok replies solemnly.
Yoongi blushes a little. Okay, so maybe the vanity does not rival Seokjin's, because Seokjin would simply reply of course. Yoongi keeps his head down, scrolling to the pictures in Hoseok's camera until the waitress comes bringing their waffles and coffees. He smiles and tells the girl thank you, and Hoseok totally understand the way she practically runs away, covering half her face with her tray.
Hoseok finds out that Yoongi is really talkative. Hoseok is used to being the one leading conversations, or at least making annoying noises to fill the silence, but Yoongi does not allow one moment of silence. He tells Hoseok about his hometown and that he really likes photography, too, but doesn't really have the time to go photo hunting anymore. He thanks Hoseok for the fan letters he sent Yoongi, and tells him to just say it in person, it's not like I'm some unreachable idol. Yoongi asks Hoseok about the dance performance he choreographed for his finals. Hoseok finds it touching that Yoongi remembers the little, unimportant details he puts in his letters to Yoongi.
"It's not that hard," Yoongi says, pausing to put a spoon of ice cream inside his mouth. All Hoseok wants is to marry him. How can one person look so adorable and so hot at the same time? "You're basically the only person who write me letters."
Hoseok doesn't really answer. He just watches the way Yoongi munch on his waffle and laments on the fact that their meal are almost finished and therefore their date is almost over. This has been a nice dinner. Hoseok only has one more chance to ask for a date.
*
By some strange luck, Hoseok manages to get Yoongi's phone number after the date. Thanks for dinner, he texts Yoongi after pondering for ten minutes about what to say. It feels weird to upgrade from a fan to a friend-Hoseok has never gotten to this point with his other idols.
Hoseok's phone chimes. He can't believe Yoongi gave him his actual phone number and actually replies. No problem, Yoongi's text message says. And a couple minutes later, why are we having this conversation we're not actually dating.
Or are we? ;) Hoseok replies.
Hoseok doesn't dare move after sending the message, afraid of being demoted back to annoying fan. Then his Kakao Talk notification rings.
I only add your kkt for this, the message from one GlossMC says. The next message is a brown dog with a huge NO above his head.
Hoseok doesn't know how he ends up chatting until this late at night, but at 2 AM Yoongi tells him, btw you can keep the camera. Hoseok waits. Just drop the squealing.
*
In theory, Hoseok has three chances to blackmail Yoongi into a date: one for the placards, one for the camera, and one for the squealing. But now that Yoongi's told him he gets to keep the camera, Hoseok has already given up on the third date. Thankfully, he's already leveled up to being friends, and practically has dinner with Yoongi everyday anyway.
Case in point: "I'm hungry," Yoongi tells Hoseok when he comes from backstage. "Buy me dinner."
Hoseok sticks out his tongue. He then remembers a certain picture he took of Yoongi earlier, where the lights on stage creates an especially pretty background to Yoongi's passionate rapping. He scrolls through the pictures in his camera and leans in to show it to Yoongi. "Be proud of me," he says smugly.
Yoongi whistles in appreciation. "I look good."
Hoseok pouts at him. "That's it?"
"That is it," Yoongi nods. He grins, which still makes Hoseok shake internally, but a little less now that he sees it quite often. Hoseok tries hard to keep pouting. Yoongi relents, "And yes, Jung Hoseok, my lord my savior, thank you for taking the picture. Such high skills you got."
Hoseok smiles approvingly. "You are most welcome, peasant."
Hoseok loves the fact that he can make Yoongi laugh now. He loves the fact that he doesn't have to write letters for Yoongi, doesn't have to ask him questions through tiny post-its, because he gets to talk all he wants with Yoongi for however long he pleases. Hoseok has spent a good chunk of his life being a fan of someone without having any close friends, and now that the person he admires allows him to also be his friend, it feels like a lot of blessing.
"Hey, when do you want that third date?" Yoongi suddenly asks as they walk to a ramen place near the bar.
Hoseok nearly trips on his own feet. "You're still up for that?"
"Well," is all Yoongi says. He hides his face behind his scarf, which Hoseok has learned is an indication that he's either about to sneeze or he's blushing. Yoongi doesn't sneeze.
Hoseok feels his lips twitch into a smile. "Weekend?"
*
hobihobi
8:10 ur plan or mine?
GlossMC
8:11 go away im not awake yet
hobihobi
8:11 awww but you answer my kkt
8:11 never been so flattered in my lyf
GlossMC
8:12 stfu
hobihobi
8:12 im in front of ur door tho
hobihobi
8:19 let me in it's cold
8:20 hyuuuuuuuung
GlossMC
8:21 wtf
8:21 sasaeng
Yoongi opens his door a couple of minutes later, still clad in a white t-shirt and shorts with a huge blue blanket hanging from his shoulder. The weird thing about befriending Yoongi, Hoseok finds, is that nothing really changes. Hoseok still thinks Yoongi is hot as fuck and this is quite a problem, now that Yoongi is nearly always in touching distance.
"Get in it's cold," Yoongi grumbles. Hoseok hurries inside and invites himself to Yoongi's sofa. Yoongi closes the door and watches Hoseok's shamelessness with a groan. "How do you know where I live?"
"I'm a big fan."
"This world is a scary place because of people like you."
Hoseok lifts himself up from the sofa and starts pushing Yoongi to a general direction he thinks is of the bathroom. "Shower. Date," he instructs.
"I did not sign up for this," whines Yoongi. "Who goes on a date at 9 fucking AM?"
Hoseok tsks. "We are."
*
They don't really have to go at 9 AM, Hoseok just likes annoying Yoongi.
"I officially hate you," is what Yoongi says when Hoseok admits to this.
"That's okay, hyung, I've got enough love for both of us," replies Hoseok calmly. Yoongi pretends to barf. Hoseok tells himself he's delusional when he thinks that he sees Yoongi smiling.
*
Yoongi doesn't really owe him anything anymore, but when Hoseok tells him he's going to BangBand's fansign on the next day, Yoongi voluntarily offers to come with.
"I miss Jungkook," Yoongi reasons when he actually turns up at site, making Hoseok stare in awe. "Jungkook my little shit."
"Hyung you never told me how you know them," Hoseok remembers when they wait for their turn.
Yoongi laughs. "I almost debuted with them," he answers. Hoseok's eyes widen in surprise. Never in a million years has he ever imagined Yoongi being an idol. "But idol life didn't work out for me."
There are less than ten people in front of them. "I can imagine."
"Besides," Yoongi says. Five people. "If I were an idol I probably wouldn't have met you."
Hoseok doesn't get to question more because it's already their turn. Yoongi insists on going first, and Hoseok watches as he whispers something to Seokjin, his ears burning red when Seokjin practically cackles at him. "Just do it, hyung!" he hears Yoongi protests.
"What was that about?" Hoseok asks Seokjin when his turn comes. Next to him, Yoongi is doing pretty much the same thing to Jungkook, who snickers at the older guy.
Seokjin starts laughing again. "Oh, trust me, you'll know."
The scene replays up to Namjoon's post at the other end. Namjoon pats him on the back. "Good job, Hoseok," he says. "Good fucking job."
"What is happening?" Hoseok wails. Namjoon laughs in reply and one of the staff signals Hoseok to get off the stage.
"What was that about?" Hoseok repeats his question as he approaches Yoongi.
For some reason, Yoongi's face is still a faint shade of pink. "Read your post-its," he tells Hoseok.
Hoseok frowns, demanding more explanation. Yoongi offers none, so Hoseok opens his album and reads the first post-it, the one for Seokjin. What is your favorite vegetable? is his question. Ho is the answer. Hoseok is confused.
Jungkook's is next. I hope one day we get to dance together!, Hoseok's handwriting says. Jungkook scrawls Seok underneath it. Taehyung's When will you cover Sam Smith? is replied with Da. Jimin and Namjoon also replied with indecipherable Te and Me.
"What is happening?" Hoseok asks dumbly.
Yoongi looks frustrated. "Read your post-its!" he repeats.
What the hell is he supposed to read? Hoseok scans through his post-its once again, trying to understand the syllables written by the band. Ho. Seok. Da. Te. Me.
Oh.
Oh.
Hoseok laughs, because he does not know how else to react. "You're really lame," he finally says. He can feel his face burning from the unexpected request.
"Date the lame guy," Yoongi replies, smiling sheepishly at Hoseok. He looks perfect.
Hoseok smiles back. "Gladly."