[BTS] Unexpected Lenses
Title: [BTS] Unexpected Lenses
firenine or byulbinnie (AO3)
Rating: PG13
Pairing: Yoonjin (Suga/Jin)
Warnings: none
Word count: 7.1k
Summary: Min Yoongi's a celebrity photographer who doesn't like children or rookie actors. Kim Seokjin is only one of those two.
Disclaimer: I obviously don't own BTS or their members, or really, any of the characters that show up in this story. I own the plot, but that's about it. Big Hit, please don't sue me.
For J who is super cool and nice.
***
He’d never heard of Kim Seokjin when CéCi contacts him to photograph a spread on some actor the entertainment world is calling a “breakout rookie.” Yoongi has to get Jimin to explain.
Armed with a laptop and a YouTube playlist of clips, Jimin rolls two office chairs over to a conference table desk. “Think of it as a crash course in Kim Seokjin. Welcome to Jin 101, Yoongi-hyung,” Jimin says excitedly.
Warily, the blonde takes a seat in the empty chair and leans back, already preparing himself to be very unimpressed. He’s seen enough breakout rookies in his line of work to know that half are an entitled group of airheads who throw temper tantrums when their managers bring their drink order with only one shot of espresso. The other half are meek and really embody their rookie status; if anything, Yoongi thinks they’re worse because they apologize for everything and need to be instructed at every step. In short, he imagines working with rookies is a bit like managing a children's play and he does not like children.
Jimin shows him the first clip, a scene from last year’s hit drama about a man who develops early onset Alzheimer’s and forgets his wife and children. It’s boring stuff, if he’s going to be perfectly honest. The crying is over the top - he’s never once seen a person literally howl while crying - and he narrows his eyes after realizing that they’re only thirty seconds into an eight-minute clip. Jimin skips forward to somewhere in the middle and points excitedly at the screen when the teenage son enters the scene to try to comfort his crying mother.
“So he’s a pretty boy like all the other pretty boys out there. What’s up with his fingers?” Yoongi mutters. Arms crossed over his chest, he watches the predictable scene play out as the dependable oldest son tells his mother that he’ll take care of everything. The lines are so cheesy and this Seokjin kid is trying so hard to act the good son that it all becomes cloyingly sweet. He’d much prefer the push and pull of Do Minjoon and Cheon Songyi any day.
“You’re really not giving him a chance, are you?” Jimin asks. Unrelenting, the younger male pulls up another clip, this time an interview with Entertainment Weekly. “You might like him better if you actually think of him as a person.”
It’s a very standard, “Wow, you’re a great rookie actor. Tell us about yourself” kind of interview. More than anything, Yoongi wishes two things as he yawns his way through the awkward Q&A: first, that he hadn’t asked Jimin to explain Kim Seokjin to him, and second, that he could just go home and crash. There’s so much fawning and exaggerated praise from the interviewer when suddenly, Seokjin cuts her off, saying, “I don’t think I’ve deserved that much praise, but thank you all the same.” On screen, the woman titters nervously and checks her cue cards to move on to the next question. She’s thrown for a loop and Yoongi laughs; it’s something he least expected to do during this impromptu viewing party.
“He’s cool, right?” asks Jimin, veritably beaming.
Yoongi shrugs. Watching one or two clips doesn’t change or even help him form an opinion on the actor. And besides, he only wanted to know what the guy looked like. He doesn’t need to know if he can act - he’s leaning more towards ‘cannot act’ right now - or who his ideal girl is.
“Pack up and go home. Make sure you bring the -”
Jimin sighs loudly. “I know, hyung. I won’t forget the reflectors like last time.”
That’s the last that Yoongi thinks about Seokjin until a week later when Jimin reminds him that he’s due to head over to the magazine’s office to talk concept.
****
Stepping into an elevator at a women’s fashion magazine office is a lot like walking through the perfume section of a department store. Sniffling pitifully, Yoongi stares upwards at the ascending numbers until they reach CéCi’s floor. Thankfully for him, the smell seems to dissipate once he steps out onto the carpeted floor of the foyer.
He’s worked with them long enough that he can walk in and some available low-level employee will know to get him a hot mug of yuzu tea. Waiting at a table in Conference Room 1 is Uhm Junghwa, his contact at the magazine.
“You’re here,” she says.
The only reason why Yoongi ever takes these jobs for CéCi is because Junghwa knows what she’s doing as editor-in-chief and she always sends the better writers along to oversee those photo shoots. He’s never once turned her down and has probably even rescheduled with other magazines to accommodate her. The added bonus to all of this is that she’s fond of him - something about how his resourcefulness and craftsman abilities remind her of her little brother - and only books him for big-name celebrities who she knows will make the work easy for everyone involved.
“Not sure why you’re doing the briefing,” he says by way of greeting. It’s true, though. She’s the editor and there’s no need for her to sit him down and explain something that any of the writers can do.
Junghwa grins almost like she’s been caught. “You’re right. I’m not even writing the article, but I just really like this kid and I have a very specific vision for this spread,” she confesses.
“That,” Yoongi begins to say, “is kind of uncharacteristic of you. He’s not that great.” He has to catch himself to not scoff after recalling Seokjin’s very cringe worthy “Just leave it to me, mom” line.
“Are you jealous that he’s pretty? And tall? And has amazing shoulders?” she asks, snickering. There’s a playful glint in her eye that he deems should be labelled as ‘crazy middle-aged lady syndrome’ because he’s seen it before in his aunts who’ve occasionally pestered him to get signatures from young actors like Yeo Jingoo. He’s always declined, though.
Yoongi turns to face her. “He’s probably old enough to be your son. I’m old enough to be your son.”
Junghwa very nearly cackles with laughter. “I wish he were my kid!” she exclaims. “I’d never stop showing him off. Oh, you do know that he’s older than you, right?”
It’s a bit rare to be a rookie at 23, he thinks, but Yoongi supposes he’ll take that over working with a spoiled brat 17-year-old like the one he’d had to photograph the week prior. Still, age isn’t really a big deal to him. At the end of the day, he’s only there to take pictures and hand them over to Junghwa.
***
“Explain it again to me, please?” Jimin asks. He’s toting two large Rubbermaid boxes of equipment from their van to a studio buzzing with movement.
Verbatim, Yoongi rattles off the same concept idea that Junghwa had been so excited about: a young man on the brink of entering society. The point is to show Seokjin working different occupations because it also parallels his work as an actor having to move through different roles. Something about how he’d begun as a clean-cut teenager in that drama about Alzheimer’s, to envisioning him snagging greater roles such as a doctor. Yoongi’s only mildly surprised to see how enthusiastic Jimin is about all of this despite the younger male having to carry fifteen kilograms of equipment mostly by himself.
“Oh, you’re here,” Junghwa exclaims when her assistant notifies her of Yoongi's arrival.
“You’re here,” Yoongi echoes, astonished. That crazy middle-aged lady syndrome must really be taking a toll on her decision-making, he thinks.
“Yes, well.” Junghwa leads him over to hair and makeup where he can only assume Kim Seokjin must be.
It’s probably unkind of him to assume that Seokjin will jump up from the make up chair and go above and beyond to greet him. Yoongi is, after all, going to be taking the pictures and he’s experienced everything from female celebrities flirting with him for certain enhancements in post-processing, to bored actors who don’t care and also look that way in resulting images, and even the occasional diva who’ll tell him exactly what angle and lighting he needs to use. Of course, he can’t say that they’re all bad. He’s worked with some very lovely people who take direction well and seem to anticipate how he wants to photograph them. Seokjin, well, Yoongi’s just not sure.
Seokjin’s manager, Sejin, is actually the first one to greet him. He seems kind enough when he makes small talk and even asks if it was much trouble for Yoongi and his assistant to get to the studio. Sejin goes as far as offering to lighten Jimin’s burden by taking a box. Yoongi just sighs when Jimin mouths, ‘Even his manager is cool.’
“The photographer’s here,” Sejin announces.
Leaning against the adjacent wall, Seokjin looks up from his script and smiles, bowing. “I’m Kim Seokjin. It’s very nice to meet you and I hope you’ll take care of me today.”
If they weren’t in such close proximity to other people, Yoongi would have ground out an irritated “Quit it” at Jimin who’s whispering to himself about how cool it is to be face-to-face with the Kim Seokjin. He settles for a quick pinch to the younger male’s arm before exchanging his greetings as well.
***
“Now that is a handsome man,” Jimin comments when they’re well out of earshot.
Yoongi can’t find it in him to make fun of the cheerful male still carrying all of their equipment. Instead, he tells Jimin to unpack the totes and then to go around to check that all the lighting is in place. According to Junghwa’s schedule, the first set is the clean-cut neighbour’s son concept and everything needs to be bright. He’d already gotten a glimpse of it - sweater vest and pressed uniform slacks being the highlight - when they’d first met. He’s not sure he’ll be able to maintain composure if Seokjin emerges on set in 5:5 parted hair.
Busy making last-minute checks on his cameras, Yoongi doesn’t bother to address someone just at the edge of his peripheral vision. Nine times out of ten, it’s Jimin, anyway, so he continues to fiddle with camera settings.
“Sorry to interrupt,” comes Seokjin’s voice hesitantly.
Yoongi looks up and can’t help the slight jaw drop when their eyes meet. It’s not 5:5 hair, that’s for sure. When they’d met maybe half an hour prior, Seokjin’s hair looked more like he’d just left it to air dry after a morning shower. In the time that it took Yoongi to get everything just about ready, Seokjin had gone from naturally easy-on-the-eyes to celebrity. His hairstyle isn’t even that special - it’d just been blow-dried and styled properly to keep in line with the perfect teenage son sort of image.
“Um, are you okay, Yoongi-ssi?”
Some part of his awareness catches Jimin snickering at him from across the set and Yoongi quickly says, “I’m fine” before putting down the camera. “What can I do for you?” he chooses to ask when he knows he’s not going to drop a 5 million won box of wires and complex mirrors.
“I just wanted to come and check out how everything is coming along. I haven’t done photo shoots this professional before,” Seokjin explains. Eyes wide, he scans the set from top to bottom with the kind of awe that Yoongi’s probably only ever seen in Jimin’s best friend and their neighbourhood barista, Taehyung.
“Oh.” The blonde knows that he’s not the most eloquent at times, but right now is really starting to feel like one of his less-than-stellar moments in conversing. He’d care less if he weren’t so flustered by Seokjin’s presence; more specifically, why the actor even bothered to come over when he could be memorizing lines or really, doing anything else.
A palpable five seconds passes and Yoongi swears that he’s way more uncomfortable with the silence than the taller male who seems content to smile gently and take in what looks to be new surroundings for him.
“I’ve seen some of your work,” Seokjin finally says. His fingers linger on the printed schedule for today. “I really like how the spread on Park Boyoung turned out for the July issue of ‘The STAR’.”
Seokjin’s smile is so sincere that Yoongi actually feels a bit sorry for holding a groundless grudge against the actor. It’s not because Seokjin is standing before him and saying that he likes his work - anyone can do that and some starlets have made vain attempts to ply Yoongi with overly kind words in order to get him to do outside work like photographing their children for free. It’s that Seokjin seems content to just be there and take it all in without talking unnecessarily.
***
Once they get started, Yoongi no longer has time to feel guilty or conflicted about how he’d assumed that Seokjin would fit any of those default categories of “rookie actor" - not when the other male takes instruction well and moves through poses easily. He’s definitely not a model, but from Yoongi’s vantage point behind the lens, Seokjin at least looks like he knows what works and what doesn’t for his appearance. For one, it’s surprising to him how easily Seokjin can sit there at the prop desk and pretend to study and then move behind a podium as if to give his student council president speech all while Yoongi’s favourite hip hop playlist blasts from the studio’s sound system. The word the photographer would use is ‘perplexing.’
Since he already looks so upstanding, the ladies from wardrobe come out to swap Seokjin’s prep school sweater vest for a doctor’s overcoat and glasses. It’s easy, Yoongi supposes, to shoot this set of pictures: Doctor Kim looking at a fake chart, Doctor Kim looking at a fake x-ray, and the cheesiest of all, Doctor Kim pulling on latex gloves. The set ends so quickly that Jimin has to rush to throw on colour filters for the fun-loving university student set scheduled next.
“I look like a kid pretending to be a teenager,” Seokjin calls over the music when he walks out on to set with a backwards baseball cap, blindingly colourful tee, ripped skinny jeans, and Timberlands.
“I guess that makes you a man pretending to be a kid pretending to be a teenager,” Yoongi points out with a grin.
Seokjin sets a backpack, likely filled with balled up newspaper and a water bottle for weight, down on the floor. “So you actually can smile!”
Surprisingly flustered by the comment, Yoongi waves him off and instructs him to play the part of a happy student. He does laugh again, but only because Seokjin decides to start dancing - very awkwardly and totally off-beat to some choice A$AP Rocky - like he’s joined the university’s dance club. Off to the side, Jimin cheers, “Kim Seokjin, Kim Seokjin!” loudly until the actor stops, content to just listen to the Michael Jackson slow jam that follows. Yoongi takes a few shots anyway, marvelling somewhat at how the actor doesn’t seem embarrassed about his poor excuse for dancing. He figures it has to be that, or Seokjin doesn’t know that he can’t actually dance. Still, the photographer goes on to get snapshots of Seokjin pulling a book off literally the only shelf on set and flipping through it. He’d ask Junghwa how she and her team managed to pull all these very weird props together on one huge white backdrop, but he remembers the overly gleeful look in her eyes as she spoke about Seokjin and thinks he’s better off not knowing.
Seokjin goes off to change into the next outfit and to answer some questions for the accompanying article, giving Yoongi an opportunity to finally snack and check his phone. Sighing because he’s not the least bit surprised, the very first message is from his aunt in Daegu asking him to get Seokjin’s autograph. The blonde furiously texts back a “Sorry, can’t” and vows to not tell his mother about his work in that much detail again. It occurs to him now, though, that what he’d thought was a simple, “I can’t help with the kitchen remodelling because I’ve got to work with the son from that Alzheimer’s drama” excuse probably revealed more than necessary. Putting his phone aside, he begins to click through the pictures and somehow finds himself staring at the image of Seokjin studying, the actor’s eyes downcast at an open chemistry textbook.
“I like that one, too,” Jimin says softly. He has a knack for sneaking up unannounced and has done it enough times in the past that Yoongi no longer startles that much.
“Good lighting,” Yoongi explains, watching Jimin beam with pride. He’s not about to reveal that it’s more than the lighting that interrupts what should be a cursory check of the work thus far. “Go change out the filters, though,” he says when the younger male begins repeats, “I’m good” under his breath.
What’s most surprising and probably unexpected is when Seokjin emerges on set in what’s supposed to be some sort of rebel high schooler outfit complete with clunky jewellery and eyeliner. The look somehow fits him, although it’s clear to anyone there that the actor looks more comfortable without the stiff product in his hair or the kohl in his waterline. Yoongi laughs when Seokjin, brass knuckles and all, throws a chair across the set and then apologizes profusely the moment its metal legs hit the floor in a cacophonous crash. It’s when Seokjin switches to poses without the use of props, however, that the photographer feels a change in atmosphere on set; it’s all smouldering eyes and barely parted lips from here on out. Distracted, Jimin manages to drop a reflector as Seokjin, sitting against a wall, tilts his head back and looks at the camera as if to say, “What’s your problem?” Yoongi, unexpectedly dazed, keeps clicking the shutter through it all.
***
Yoongi’s busy overseeing packing up when Seokjin reappears, now in a boxy tee and jeans but still in full make up, to personally thank him for their session.
“This was harder than I thought,” confesses the actor. “I mean, I can memorize lines and be a character, but this was like being a multiple personality disorder zoo feature,” he clarifies.
This is usually the time when celebrities will come to thank him and ask him for favours, not to have what seems like an actual conversation. And it’s not that talking bothers Yoongi but he does wonder, standing there inexplicably at a loss for words, why Seokjin’s reaching down to pick up one end of a tote with a star-struck Jimin.
“You really don’t have to help us do this. You’ve worked hard enough today,” Yoongi says, rushing in to take the end currently in Seokjin’s hands. Instead, he somehow ends up getting pushed away, the actor insisting that it’s the least he can do.
The van doesn’t get packed any faster with Seokjin’s assistance; Yoongi only allows him to help with the one tote before the magazine crew spots the actor trying to help and rush in to do the rest. That leaves Yoongi alone with Seokjin.
“Would you like to take a picture with me?” Seokjin asks suddenly. A beat passes and he can’t help but laugh at the dumbfounded look that washes over the photographer’s face. “I mean, I’d like to take a picture with you to post on my SNS. If it’s okay with you.”
Wordlessly, Yoongi agrees. Seokjin is a number of centimetres taller than him and he’s about to reach up on tiptoes when the actor actually lowers himself just the slightest. Their heads are close enough that Yoongi can actually smell the product in Seokjin’s hair and he’s sure his general confusion shows up grainy in the flip phone’s screen.
“Smile,” says Seokjin.
It’s so automatic for Yoongi to reach up with one hand to make a V-sign with his pinky and ring finger and he watches, slightly embarrassed, as Seokjin checks the picture declaring it “very cute.” He’s thankful that he doesn’t have some sort of street cred or image as a taciturn photographer because he would have lost that all with just one picture.
“Thanks for the awesome shoot today, at -” Seokjin says while tapping out the message on his phone. “What’s your twitter handle?”
“minsuga,” replies Yoongi. Years ago, when he’d first created an account, he’d thought nothing of the user name because people who know him also know the story behind it. But if he’d known how many times he ended up explaining the ‘suga’ part to people who asked, he would have just used his real name instead. It's still better than Taehyung’s ‘@makchangchang.’
Seokjin, however, doesn’t ask. Sejin comes over to usher him away for onsite filming and they part ways with an awkward exchange of, “Enjoy the rest of your night” and “Good luck with filming.”
***
The next day, he wakes up to 200 notifications and a variety of unread messages from Jimin and Taehyung.
06:24
You were off taking pics with him while I was loading the van!?
06:24
HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME
06:24
WHY DO YOU HATE ME
06:25
Okay, but you guys look cute. OTL hyung
Jimin’s slew of messages, well, Yoongi can understand the younger male feeling upset about not actually getting a moment to talk with Seokjin. He’d been his usual cheerfully helpful self and still missed out on at least a photo opportunity. Judging from the time stamps, the younger male was probably working out all his sadness at the gym. Taehyung’s messages, on the other hand, were of the usual strange variety like the barista himself.
10:18
Jimin (;´༎ຶД༎ຶ`) 💔
10:18
He won’t let me make it better with chocolate chip cookies
10:27
I promise not to tell anyone if you start dating that guy. I think I went to school with him?
The rest are retweets remarking on Seokjin’s “amazing” bad boy transformation, as well as strange comments about Yoongi varying from “troll-looking blonde” to “what a cutie pie.” It’s too early for him to care that much. Groaning, Yoongi flings his phone somewhere in the rumpled folds of his comforter and tries to ignore the afterimage of Seokjin’s smiling face no further than a centimetre from his own.
Later at work, Jimin tries to confront him about being left out of the picture and whines about all the work that he does, and so Yoongi offers to buy him a whole canister of whey protein and they leave it at that.
***
“It’s here!” Jimin yells, waving a floppy-looking parcel while running towards him.
Junghwa promised to send them a copy of the issue even though Yoongi had told her repeatedly that it’s not necessary. Even his mother stopped collecting magazines when she realized that his pictures really took up only five or six pages out of hundreds. He did keep a few issues because he’d had a great time taking pictures or had special memories attached to where they’d gone to do the photo shoots.
Excitedly, Jimin rips the shipping envelope open and almost immediately grabs Yoongi in a quick but tight hug.
It’s the bad boy image of Seokjin, full lips parted and eyes lined darkly, on the cover.
Yoongi takes just a second to glance at it before pushing the magazine into a corner of the big work desk to make room for actual assignments. “Great, now let’s get to work.”
It’s a good picture, but he’s a good photographer and there’s no need to celebrate or spend more time on someone he barely knows.
Taehyung strolls into the studio sometime around lunchtime after Yoongi and Jimin have sifted through most of the pile of proofs. He fixes Yoongi with a curious stare and asks, “Are you dating Kim Seokjin?”
Seated at a computer, Jimin whips around in his office chair and calls his best friend an idiot. “Yoongi-hyung is dating his job. It’s all he does if he’s not sleeping. Besides, why would an actor date him?” He glances cautiously at Yoongi who looks indifferent to the comment.
“True,” Taehyung concedes, sharing a knowing grin with Jimin. “But,” he continues, “what’s up with him mentioning you?”
“Are you by any chance suffering some memory loss, Taehyung? Too many burgers fry your brain cells, perhaps?” Yoongi asks. Seokjin’s tweet dates back to nearly a month ago and Taehyung had even sent him messages about Jimin’s heart being broken after missing the photo opportunity.
“No and burgers help me sleep at night,” the barista says simply. He pulls up Seokjin’s twitter account to the latest tweet dated to twenty minutes ago and reads aloud, “Thanks for your kind messages everyone. It’s all thanks to the stylists, make up artists, and at minsuga.”
Yoongi squints at the screen.
“Are you guys friends or something?” Jimin asks, looking up from his own phone. He mutters something about how he didn’t know all of this while flicking through the comments. “This one’s pretty funny: ‘Freaking amazing. This photographer has worked with huge names but he looks like a middle school student. I’m confused?’”
“Ooh, what about this one?” adds Taehyung. “‘Seokjinnie-oppa, you don’t need anyone to make you look handsome!’” He frowns when nobody laughs with him.
The blonde sighs loudly. “Why is it that you’re always here when we are? Did you somehow get Hoseok to schedule you for work whenever we’re not in the studio?” asks Yoongi. Besides, he doesn’t really care to hear more about what people think about Seokjin’s tweet.
Taehyung just beams his begrudgingly endearing boxy smile.
***
After a hectic few weeks of photo assignments, Yoongi finally finds time to take Namjoon up on trying out some trendy restaurant run by a chef rumoured to have been trained by Gordon Ramsay.
“How’s your steak?” Namjoon asks.
Yoongi shrugs. “Good, but I could probably make this.”
Namjoon laughs loudly. “I doubt it.”
“I could if I had the recipe,” Yoongi insists. He’s ready to remind Namjoon about how well he makes instant noodles when someone in a black baseball cap approaches their table.
It’s Seokjin, of all people.
“Yoongi-ssi, I’m so sorry to bother you while you’re eating, but I saw you and thought it rude if I didn’t at least come and say ‘Hi’,” says the actor.
Namjoon looks at Yoongi curiously before turning to Seokjin. “If you’re a friend of Yoongi-hyung’s, you’re welcome to have a seat with us,” he offers. He, like Yoongi from a month ago, doesn't know anything about Kim Seokjin.
Seokjin looks like he’s trying to decide whether or not to stay. “Please stay,” Yoongi finally says, reaching over to take a chair from an empty table beside theirs. He introduces Seokjin and Namjoon to each other, decidedly leaving out their occupations.
“I can’t stay long, but I did want to thank you for the photo shoot. Everyone at my company had such nice things to say about the spread,” Seokjin says.
The blonde watches Namjoon’s eyebrows raise, the other male’s curiosity suddenly piqued because Yoongi only ever photographs celebrities. “You did all the work. I just clicked buttons and the editors at the magazine chose all of the pictures. Thanks for the mention, though. Jimin and his friend told me about it.”
“Ah, that,” Seokjin says with a smile. “My followers really seem to like the cover shot.”
There’s an awkward pause that, really, only Namjoon can fill. He doesn’t.
Thankfully, Seokjin’s phone buzzes and he frowns after skimming the message. “It’s my manager. I’ve got to get to set.” Standing, he turns to Namjoon and adds, “Namjoon-ssi, it was really nice meeting you” before he rushes out of the restaurant and into a white van with tinted windows.
“You’re going to explain, right?” asks Namjoon.
***
Wedding season comes upon them so heavily that both Yoongi and Jimin hardly ever come into the office unless it’s to get their equipment or work on post-processing. For some reason this year, six celebrity couples decide to hold their ceremonies over the span of June and July. Yoongi had chosen to work with just two couples which is plenty; it’s not like he’s the only photographer around, anyway.
“I’ve finished images 100 to 150. Should I do the next set?” Jimin asks from his workstation.
Yoongi rubs his eyes. “I’ll do it. Can you grab us something to eat? Anything is fine.”
Jimin’s about to head out to get food from the café that Taehyung works at when the main phone line rings.
Blearily, Yoongi gets through exactly one image before Jimin tells him that Seokjin’s manager is on the phone.
It turns out that the CEO of Seokjin’s agency has been thinking of doing a whole artist portrait to spruce up the company foyer and website and that Seokjin had suggested hiring Yoongi to do it.
“I’ll do it,” says Yoongi into the mouthpiece. “Please let me know when.”
“So?” Jimin asks after Yoongi hangs up. He’s not going to leave until he knows what the call was about.
Yoongi scratches his head, bewildered. “The company CEO wants us to take a portrait of their artist line up. I said okay.”
“This is huge! I gotta tell Tae Tae,” the younger male exclaims before disappearing out the front door.
Sejin does call back in the ten-minute window during which Jimin isn’t present. The only day that works for all of the artists is tomorrow in the evening. Although there are wedding picture proofs to do, Yoongi finds himself accepting the job because it’s not particularly difficult and the group of ten or so will be coming down to his studio. There’s also no hard deadline and that’s what sells him on the idea of doing the photo shoot so last minute. At least that's what he tells himself.
***
There’s no time for either Yoongi or Jimin to waste worrying about the group of celebrities due to walk into the studio - not when there’s a fast approaching deadline to hand over three huge printed canvases to a national soccer player and his new wife.
Yoongi decides to end work at 6, thereby giving them time to eat an actual meal and quickly set up. The CEO had relayed no message about how he wanted the pictures to look, and so Yoongi and Jimin agree to keep it absolutely simple with a white backdrop and large seating blocks of various sizes for the artists to either sit on or lean against.
They eat in record time during which Jimin mentions that Taehyung will be stopping by to watch and for Yoongi to therefore feel free to give the barista work to do while he’s there. They both know when left idle, Taehyung will likely be a tremendous nuisance. Said nuisance arrives not ten minutes later citing something about his ears burning and he immediately gets tasked with vacuuming to make sure that the backdrop is free of visible debris.
By 7, the first set of artists arrives. They’re a young group of actors who seem content to sit in the lounge and chat amongst themselves while Taehyung serves them refreshments. The boys, a mix of middle and secondary school students, busy themselves with the game console while the girls flip through an album, squealing when they come across a photo shoot Yoongi did with B1A4 at the beginning of the year.
“My little brother’s favourite actress is here. He’s going to flip out when I tell him about today,” Jimin whispers. He’s currently cleaning lenses and Yoongi tells him to sit at the table to do it if he’s going to be this excited about celebrities. Yoongi concedes, though, that the younger male has only worked for him for a little over a year; Jimin will probably learn later that the wow factor sort of wears off after meeting so many people.
The rest arrive not much later with Seokjin as part of the same group.
“Thank you for doing this on such short notice,” Sejin says. He’s not the only manager present, but because Seokjin suggested that the company use Yoongi for the photo shoot, he was ultimately left in charge of arranging tonight’s session.
“It’s my honour, really,” Yoongi assures.
To his surprise, the session goes amazingly fast. Granted, it’s not like a wedding or a magazine shoot that requires him to wait for people to get changed and go through hair and make up. Tonight, all of the artists came ready in just one outfit and it’s a tremendous benefit to everyone involved. They’re completely done in half an hour, a testament to miraculous planning. Most of the artists leave shortly after they say their goodbyes, save for Seokjin and a few of the younger ones who stuck around to play video games with Jimin and Taehyung, their managers fighting sleep in a different corner of the studio.
“I didn’t get a chance to say ‘Hi’ to you today. Hi,” says Seokjin. He, like his fellow label mates, is clad in a tuxedo, of all formal wear. There’s a hint of eyeliner that Yoongi wishes he hadn’t noticed.
“Hi to you, too,” Yoongi says. There’s nothing left for him to do today and while part of him really hopes that everyone leaves so that he can lock up for the night, another part doesn’t mind letting the younger ones enjoy themselves a bit.
Seokjin scans the studio, commenting on the simple but clean décor. “My drama’s finished,” he says, taking a seat next to Yoongi.
“Oh, congratulations. I guess you can catch up on sleep now,” replies Yoongi. Sleep would be nice, he thinks sadly. With an influx of demanding work, he hasn’t even had a spare moment to watch TV or stream anything in what seems like weeks, and he was only aware that Seokjin was filming something. He hadn’t thought to ask before.
Seokjin hums in agreement. “I’ve got a new drama coming up, though. I have maybe two weeks off before filming starts up again.”
Across the room in the lounge, Jimin hollers, “I won’t do it,” to the heckling of the others goading him on to dance. Begrudgingly, he breaks out into some girl group choreography and the room erupts into cheers. A tuxedo-clad boy, Jungkook, suddenly joins him and the noise from the room heightens, spilling so far out into the studio that two dozing managers snap awake and rush over only to find two boys dancing around.
“Sleep for two weeks, then,” Yoongi suggests. “I would,” he says, rubbing at his eyes.
The actor looks like he’s about to say something before he reaches forward. “Eyelash,” he explains, opting to take Yoongi’s hand in his to remove the fallen hair with Yoongi’s index finger. “I would have done it, but some people don’t like it when others touch their face.”
Yoongi doesn’t know what to say after mumbling, “Thanks.” He watches the commotion from the lounge die down only to be replaced with simultaneous moans of “Why?” when the managers decide that it’s time to go given that they all have homework and studying to do.
“I guess I should go, too,” Seokjin says standing up.
“You can stay if you’re not busy,” Yoongi finds himself saying. He’s certain about two things after Seokjin fixes him with a curious stare: that he just suggested sleeping for two weeks only a moment ago and that he’s absolutely unsure what he’s trying to achieve by inviting the actor to hang around. “Jimin is still a bit upset with me that we took a picture together. He’s a really big fan of yours, you know,” he adds, as if saying that would be impetus for Seokjin to stay.
“So I should stay to hang out with Jimin?” Seokjin asks, amused.
Yoongi laughs. “No, stay because I invited you and if you want to. We can celebrate the end of your drama.”
“I’d better tell my manager, then.”
***
Jimin finally does get his photo opportunity with Seokjin and very nearly needs to be pried off of the actor when he refuses to let go. Taehyung yells something about it being the wrong side of tipsy skewing with his best friend’s judgment, yet the barista cuddles up to Seokjin the moment Jimin gets pushed to the opposite end of the long sofa.
Yoongi decides to send the two friends home after they start blathering on about how it’s Yoongi’s turn to get another picture, but more specifically after Taehyung yells that they have to promise to keep him in the loop if they start dating. It’s ridiculous, the blonde thinks, how Taehyung and Jimin are convinced of something that won’t happen.
“Will your manager come and get you, or should I call a cab?” Yoongi asks after he sees to it that Jimin and Taehyung at least have it in themselves to walk the short distance to their shared apartment. He probably doesn’t have to worry that much since they tend to act drunker than they really are - being buzzed and that close to a nice celebrity certainly gave them more courage to get cosy with Seokjin who was content to pull faces and take pictures with them.
Seokjin checks the time on his phone. “He’ll probably be able to come, but he’s back at the company, so it’ll be a while until he gets here. You’re stuck with me until then.”
They haven’t had that many chances to interact, but Yoongi’s starting to notice a pattern with the few conversations that they’ve had; he almost feels bad that half of their conversations have started with Seokjin apologizing for interrupting him, as though he’s such a busy and important person. “You’re always sorry when you talk to me.” The observation slips out a bit too quickly for him to retract, but now that it’s out, he leaves it.
“I like you,” says the actor. He states it like it’s a fact. There’s no tenderness to its delivery because he’s not an actor delivering a line from his script and they’re not characters in a drama with some post-processed soundtrack music to fill up the tangible silence that surrounds them. He says it with no expectation of the receiving party to smile and return the feelings.
“I’m not - I don’t know how to answer that. I don’t -” Yoongi says, mouth stumbling around the words. He’s aware that they’re both just barely buzzed and that probably neither of them is willing to use alcohol as a pretence to say anything and then act like it didn’t happen the next day.
Silently, Seokjin moves closer to shorten the distance between them and he reaches out to place a steadying hand on Yoongi’s shoulder. “Then don’t say anything. I’m going to kiss you, though. Y-you’ve been warned,” he says, immediately muttering, “Why am I stuttering?” under his breath.
Yoongi doesn’t know whether to laugh, run, or sit still. He’s a bit mesmerized,though, by how glossy Seokjin’s lower lip appears even after a few snacks and drinks, and really, there’s a lot to like about the actor as a person. The only thing that maybe complicates this entire situation is his status as a hot rookie actor, one who girls and women can’t seem to get enough of judging by the growing number of his SNS followers. He may or may not have been checking.
“You’re thinking way too much,” Seokjin whispers. His eyes, half-mast, watch as Yoongi licks his own lips once, twice, hesitating, before Seokjin makes the decision for them both. They’re both adults and can figure it all out afterwards.
Seokjin is a clumsy kisser and Yoongi finds that he really, really doesn’t mind. Not when the actor’s hands come up to bracket either side of his face, anchoring him there as if Seokjin fears that he’ll run away scared. Seokjin breaks it off first with a smack of the lips that seem to echo throughout the very empty studio. And then he laughs loudly, hand coming up to cover up his laughter. “Sorry, I’m a really bad kisser,” he apologizes.
Yoongi smiles, suddenly just the slightest bit shy. “Quit apologizing for every little thing.” A wave of rare tenderness overcomes him and he doesn’t quite know how to deal with it; instead, he fixes Seokjin with an impish grin and says, “You’ll get better with practice. You wouldn’t want any future co-stars discovering that you’re a bad kisser with that face.”
“Hey!” Seokjin exclaims, feigning indignance. He grins. “You better take responsibility for that, then,” he says before leaning in once more.
***
“AGAIN?!” Jimin yells the second he comes through the door the very next morning.
Yoongi looks up from photo 231 of 385. “What?”
On the screen of Jimin’s phone is Seokjin’s tweet from late last night. It’s a picture of a somewhat dishevelled Seokjin with his arm around Yoongi’s shoulder and an almost microscopic preview of the agency’s new group photo behind them displayed on the studio’s computer screen. The text reads, “@minsuga + new agency photo! Thank you~”
“What’s there to yell about?” Yoongi asks. He turns back around to fix the strange contrast issue with the current picture. From this position, Jimin won’t be able to see him grin a little because he’s very aware that the picture shows how Seokjin’s hair is a mess and that the top two buttons of his dress shirt are undone, bowtie nowhere in sight. The picture is actually from his phone because Seokjin’s pink flip phone has a terrible front-facing camera.
“You guys had sex!” Jimin shouts like that’s the only volume he knows. He looks at the picture and laments that Taehyung was the reason why they got sent home early instead of getting to hang out more with Seokjin.
Rather than get into an unnecessary explanation about what he did or didn’t do with Seokjin, Yoongi chooses to turn around in his computer chair very slowly and fix Jimin with a curious smile. “Seokjin thinks you and Taehyung make a cute couple.”
"That's not - I - you're mean," he huffs before he hangs his bag up and gets to work.
Yoongi laughs, but leaves it at that. His phone buzzes with a message from Seokjin.
9:34
Left my bowtie at the studio. I’ll swing by around dinnertime to pick it up. And you too, if you’re free.
He’d found said bowtie when he came in this morning and had safely tucked it away in his bag; Jimin happens to be ridiculously observant most of the time, which is probably why he was so upset about the picture. Yoongi types back, “See you then” and sighs at how much work he still has to get through before he can see Seokjin again.
-END-
Thanks for reading!
In case anyone asks, Taehyung is my bias, Yoonjin isn't actually my OTP but I do like them, and I don't know that much about photography so please let me know if I've made any mistakes with terminology or processes.
firenine or byulbinnie (AO3)
Rating: PG13
Pairing: Yoonjin (Suga/Jin)
Warnings: none
Word count: 7.1k
Summary: Min Yoongi's a celebrity photographer who doesn't like children or rookie actors. Kim Seokjin is only one of those two.
Disclaimer: I obviously don't own BTS or their members, or really, any of the characters that show up in this story. I own the plot, but that's about it. Big Hit, please don't sue me.
For J who is super cool and nice.
***
He’d never heard of Kim Seokjin when CéCi contacts him to photograph a spread on some actor the entertainment world is calling a “breakout rookie.” Yoongi has to get Jimin to explain.
Armed with a laptop and a YouTube playlist of clips, Jimin rolls two office chairs over to a conference table desk. “Think of it as a crash course in Kim Seokjin. Welcome to Jin 101, Yoongi-hyung,” Jimin says excitedly.
Warily, the blonde takes a seat in the empty chair and leans back, already preparing himself to be very unimpressed. He’s seen enough breakout rookies in his line of work to know that half are an entitled group of airheads who throw temper tantrums when their managers bring their drink order with only one shot of espresso. The other half are meek and really embody their rookie status; if anything, Yoongi thinks they’re worse because they apologize for everything and need to be instructed at every step. In short, he imagines working with rookies is a bit like managing a children's play and he does not like children.
Jimin shows him the first clip, a scene from last year’s hit drama about a man who develops early onset Alzheimer’s and forgets his wife and children. It’s boring stuff, if he’s going to be perfectly honest. The crying is over the top - he’s never once seen a person literally howl while crying - and he narrows his eyes after realizing that they’re only thirty seconds into an eight-minute clip. Jimin skips forward to somewhere in the middle and points excitedly at the screen when the teenage son enters the scene to try to comfort his crying mother.
“So he’s a pretty boy like all the other pretty boys out there. What’s up with his fingers?” Yoongi mutters. Arms crossed over his chest, he watches the predictable scene play out as the dependable oldest son tells his mother that he’ll take care of everything. The lines are so cheesy and this Seokjin kid is trying so hard to act the good son that it all becomes cloyingly sweet. He’d much prefer the push and pull of Do Minjoon and Cheon Songyi any day.
“You’re really not giving him a chance, are you?” Jimin asks. Unrelenting, the younger male pulls up another clip, this time an interview with Entertainment Weekly. “You might like him better if you actually think of him as a person.”
It’s a very standard, “Wow, you’re a great rookie actor. Tell us about yourself” kind of interview. More than anything, Yoongi wishes two things as he yawns his way through the awkward Q&A: first, that he hadn’t asked Jimin to explain Kim Seokjin to him, and second, that he could just go home and crash. There’s so much fawning and exaggerated praise from the interviewer when suddenly, Seokjin cuts her off, saying, “I don’t think I’ve deserved that much praise, but thank you all the same.” On screen, the woman titters nervously and checks her cue cards to move on to the next question. She’s thrown for a loop and Yoongi laughs; it’s something he least expected to do during this impromptu viewing party.
“He’s cool, right?” asks Jimin, veritably beaming.
Yoongi shrugs. Watching one or two clips doesn’t change or even help him form an opinion on the actor. And besides, he only wanted to know what the guy looked like. He doesn’t need to know if he can act - he’s leaning more towards ‘cannot act’ right now - or who his ideal girl is.
“Pack up and go home. Make sure you bring the -”
Jimin sighs loudly. “I know, hyung. I won’t forget the reflectors like last time.”
That’s the last that Yoongi thinks about Seokjin until a week later when Jimin reminds him that he’s due to head over to the magazine’s office to talk concept.
****
Stepping into an elevator at a women’s fashion magazine office is a lot like walking through the perfume section of a department store. Sniffling pitifully, Yoongi stares upwards at the ascending numbers until they reach CéCi’s floor. Thankfully for him, the smell seems to dissipate once he steps out onto the carpeted floor of the foyer.
He’s worked with them long enough that he can walk in and some available low-level employee will know to get him a hot mug of yuzu tea. Waiting at a table in Conference Room 1 is Uhm Junghwa, his contact at the magazine.
“You’re here,” she says.
The only reason why Yoongi ever takes these jobs for CéCi is because Junghwa knows what she’s doing as editor-in-chief and she always sends the better writers along to oversee those photo shoots. He’s never once turned her down and has probably even rescheduled with other magazines to accommodate her. The added bonus to all of this is that she’s fond of him - something about how his resourcefulness and craftsman abilities remind her of her little brother - and only books him for big-name celebrities who she knows will make the work easy for everyone involved.
“Not sure why you’re doing the briefing,” he says by way of greeting. It’s true, though. She’s the editor and there’s no need for her to sit him down and explain something that any of the writers can do.
Junghwa grins almost like she’s been caught. “You’re right. I’m not even writing the article, but I just really like this kid and I have a very specific vision for this spread,” she confesses.
“That,” Yoongi begins to say, “is kind of uncharacteristic of you. He’s not that great.” He has to catch himself to not scoff after recalling Seokjin’s very cringe worthy “Just leave it to me, mom” line.
“Are you jealous that he’s pretty? And tall? And has amazing shoulders?” she asks, snickering. There’s a playful glint in her eye that he deems should be labelled as ‘crazy middle-aged lady syndrome’ because he’s seen it before in his aunts who’ve occasionally pestered him to get signatures from young actors like Yeo Jingoo. He’s always declined, though.
Yoongi turns to face her. “He’s probably old enough to be your son. I’m old enough to be your son.”
Junghwa very nearly cackles with laughter. “I wish he were my kid!” she exclaims. “I’d never stop showing him off. Oh, you do know that he’s older than you, right?”
It’s a bit rare to be a rookie at 23, he thinks, but Yoongi supposes he’ll take that over working with a spoiled brat 17-year-old like the one he’d had to photograph the week prior. Still, age isn’t really a big deal to him. At the end of the day, he’s only there to take pictures and hand them over to Junghwa.
***
“Explain it again to me, please?” Jimin asks. He’s toting two large Rubbermaid boxes of equipment from their van to a studio buzzing with movement.
Verbatim, Yoongi rattles off the same concept idea that Junghwa had been so excited about: a young man on the brink of entering society. The point is to show Seokjin working different occupations because it also parallels his work as an actor having to move through different roles. Something about how he’d begun as a clean-cut teenager in that drama about Alzheimer’s, to envisioning him snagging greater roles such as a doctor. Yoongi’s only mildly surprised to see how enthusiastic Jimin is about all of this despite the younger male having to carry fifteen kilograms of equipment mostly by himself.
“Oh, you’re here,” Junghwa exclaims when her assistant notifies her of Yoongi's arrival.
“You’re here,” Yoongi echoes, astonished. That crazy middle-aged lady syndrome must really be taking a toll on her decision-making, he thinks.
“Yes, well.” Junghwa leads him over to hair and makeup where he can only assume Kim Seokjin must be.
It’s probably unkind of him to assume that Seokjin will jump up from the make up chair and go above and beyond to greet him. Yoongi is, after all, going to be taking the pictures and he’s experienced everything from female celebrities flirting with him for certain enhancements in post-processing, to bored actors who don’t care and also look that way in resulting images, and even the occasional diva who’ll tell him exactly what angle and lighting he needs to use. Of course, he can’t say that they’re all bad. He’s worked with some very lovely people who take direction well and seem to anticipate how he wants to photograph them. Seokjin, well, Yoongi’s just not sure.
Seokjin’s manager, Sejin, is actually the first one to greet him. He seems kind enough when he makes small talk and even asks if it was much trouble for Yoongi and his assistant to get to the studio. Sejin goes as far as offering to lighten Jimin’s burden by taking a box. Yoongi just sighs when Jimin mouths, ‘Even his manager is cool.’
“The photographer’s here,” Sejin announces.
Leaning against the adjacent wall, Seokjin looks up from his script and smiles, bowing. “I’m Kim Seokjin. It’s very nice to meet you and I hope you’ll take care of me today.”
If they weren’t in such close proximity to other people, Yoongi would have ground out an irritated “Quit it” at Jimin who’s whispering to himself about how cool it is to be face-to-face with the Kim Seokjin. He settles for a quick pinch to the younger male’s arm before exchanging his greetings as well.
***
“Now that is a handsome man,” Jimin comments when they’re well out of earshot.
Yoongi can’t find it in him to make fun of the cheerful male still carrying all of their equipment. Instead, he tells Jimin to unpack the totes and then to go around to check that all the lighting is in place. According to Junghwa’s schedule, the first set is the clean-cut neighbour’s son concept and everything needs to be bright. He’d already gotten a glimpse of it - sweater vest and pressed uniform slacks being the highlight - when they’d first met. He’s not sure he’ll be able to maintain composure if Seokjin emerges on set in 5:5 parted hair.
Busy making last-minute checks on his cameras, Yoongi doesn’t bother to address someone just at the edge of his peripheral vision. Nine times out of ten, it’s Jimin, anyway, so he continues to fiddle with camera settings.
“Sorry to interrupt,” comes Seokjin’s voice hesitantly.
Yoongi looks up and can’t help the slight jaw drop when their eyes meet. It’s not 5:5 hair, that’s for sure. When they’d met maybe half an hour prior, Seokjin’s hair looked more like he’d just left it to air dry after a morning shower. In the time that it took Yoongi to get everything just about ready, Seokjin had gone from naturally easy-on-the-eyes to celebrity. His hairstyle isn’t even that special - it’d just been blow-dried and styled properly to keep in line with the perfect teenage son sort of image.
“Um, are you okay, Yoongi-ssi?”
Some part of his awareness catches Jimin snickering at him from across the set and Yoongi quickly says, “I’m fine” before putting down the camera. “What can I do for you?” he chooses to ask when he knows he’s not going to drop a 5 million won box of wires and complex mirrors.
“I just wanted to come and check out how everything is coming along. I haven’t done photo shoots this professional before,” Seokjin explains. Eyes wide, he scans the set from top to bottom with the kind of awe that Yoongi’s probably only ever seen in Jimin’s best friend and their neighbourhood barista, Taehyung.
“Oh.” The blonde knows that he’s not the most eloquent at times, but right now is really starting to feel like one of his less-than-stellar moments in conversing. He’d care less if he weren’t so flustered by Seokjin’s presence; more specifically, why the actor even bothered to come over when he could be memorizing lines or really, doing anything else.
A palpable five seconds passes and Yoongi swears that he’s way more uncomfortable with the silence than the taller male who seems content to smile gently and take in what looks to be new surroundings for him.
“I’ve seen some of your work,” Seokjin finally says. His fingers linger on the printed schedule for today. “I really like how the spread on Park Boyoung turned out for the July issue of ‘The STAR’.”
Seokjin’s smile is so sincere that Yoongi actually feels a bit sorry for holding a groundless grudge against the actor. It’s not because Seokjin is standing before him and saying that he likes his work - anyone can do that and some starlets have made vain attempts to ply Yoongi with overly kind words in order to get him to do outside work like photographing their children for free. It’s that Seokjin seems content to just be there and take it all in without talking unnecessarily.
***
Once they get started, Yoongi no longer has time to feel guilty or conflicted about how he’d assumed that Seokjin would fit any of those default categories of “rookie actor" - not when the other male takes instruction well and moves through poses easily. He’s definitely not a model, but from Yoongi’s vantage point behind the lens, Seokjin at least looks like he knows what works and what doesn’t for his appearance. For one, it’s surprising to him how easily Seokjin can sit there at the prop desk and pretend to study and then move behind a podium as if to give his student council president speech all while Yoongi’s favourite hip hop playlist blasts from the studio’s sound system. The word the photographer would use is ‘perplexing.’
Since he already looks so upstanding, the ladies from wardrobe come out to swap Seokjin’s prep school sweater vest for a doctor’s overcoat and glasses. It’s easy, Yoongi supposes, to shoot this set of pictures: Doctor Kim looking at a fake chart, Doctor Kim looking at a fake x-ray, and the cheesiest of all, Doctor Kim pulling on latex gloves. The set ends so quickly that Jimin has to rush to throw on colour filters for the fun-loving university student set scheduled next.
“I look like a kid pretending to be a teenager,” Seokjin calls over the music when he walks out on to set with a backwards baseball cap, blindingly colourful tee, ripped skinny jeans, and Timberlands.
“I guess that makes you a man pretending to be a kid pretending to be a teenager,” Yoongi points out with a grin.
Seokjin sets a backpack, likely filled with balled up newspaper and a water bottle for weight, down on the floor. “So you actually can smile!”
Surprisingly flustered by the comment, Yoongi waves him off and instructs him to play the part of a happy student. He does laugh again, but only because Seokjin decides to start dancing - very awkwardly and totally off-beat to some choice A$AP Rocky - like he’s joined the university’s dance club. Off to the side, Jimin cheers, “Kim Seokjin, Kim Seokjin!” loudly until the actor stops, content to just listen to the Michael Jackson slow jam that follows. Yoongi takes a few shots anyway, marvelling somewhat at how the actor doesn’t seem embarrassed about his poor excuse for dancing. He figures it has to be that, or Seokjin doesn’t know that he can’t actually dance. Still, the photographer goes on to get snapshots of Seokjin pulling a book off literally the only shelf on set and flipping through it. He’d ask Junghwa how she and her team managed to pull all these very weird props together on one huge white backdrop, but he remembers the overly gleeful look in her eyes as she spoke about Seokjin and thinks he’s better off not knowing.
Seokjin goes off to change into the next outfit and to answer some questions for the accompanying article, giving Yoongi an opportunity to finally snack and check his phone. Sighing because he’s not the least bit surprised, the very first message is from his aunt in Daegu asking him to get Seokjin’s autograph. The blonde furiously texts back a “Sorry, can’t” and vows to not tell his mother about his work in that much detail again. It occurs to him now, though, that what he’d thought was a simple, “I can’t help with the kitchen remodelling because I’ve got to work with the son from that Alzheimer’s drama” excuse probably revealed more than necessary. Putting his phone aside, he begins to click through the pictures and somehow finds himself staring at the image of Seokjin studying, the actor’s eyes downcast at an open chemistry textbook.
“I like that one, too,” Jimin says softly. He has a knack for sneaking up unannounced and has done it enough times in the past that Yoongi no longer startles that much.
“Good lighting,” Yoongi explains, watching Jimin beam with pride. He’s not about to reveal that it’s more than the lighting that interrupts what should be a cursory check of the work thus far. “Go change out the filters, though,” he says when the younger male begins repeats, “I’m good” under his breath.
What’s most surprising and probably unexpected is when Seokjin emerges on set in what’s supposed to be some sort of rebel high schooler outfit complete with clunky jewellery and eyeliner. The look somehow fits him, although it’s clear to anyone there that the actor looks more comfortable without the stiff product in his hair or the kohl in his waterline. Yoongi laughs when Seokjin, brass knuckles and all, throws a chair across the set and then apologizes profusely the moment its metal legs hit the floor in a cacophonous crash. It’s when Seokjin switches to poses without the use of props, however, that the photographer feels a change in atmosphere on set; it’s all smouldering eyes and barely parted lips from here on out. Distracted, Jimin manages to drop a reflector as Seokjin, sitting against a wall, tilts his head back and looks at the camera as if to say, “What’s your problem?” Yoongi, unexpectedly dazed, keeps clicking the shutter through it all.
***
Yoongi’s busy overseeing packing up when Seokjin reappears, now in a boxy tee and jeans but still in full make up, to personally thank him for their session.
“This was harder than I thought,” confesses the actor. “I mean, I can memorize lines and be a character, but this was like being a multiple personality disorder zoo feature,” he clarifies.
This is usually the time when celebrities will come to thank him and ask him for favours, not to have what seems like an actual conversation. And it’s not that talking bothers Yoongi but he does wonder, standing there inexplicably at a loss for words, why Seokjin’s reaching down to pick up one end of a tote with a star-struck Jimin.
“You really don’t have to help us do this. You’ve worked hard enough today,” Yoongi says, rushing in to take the end currently in Seokjin’s hands. Instead, he somehow ends up getting pushed away, the actor insisting that it’s the least he can do.
The van doesn’t get packed any faster with Seokjin’s assistance; Yoongi only allows him to help with the one tote before the magazine crew spots the actor trying to help and rush in to do the rest. That leaves Yoongi alone with Seokjin.
“Would you like to take a picture with me?” Seokjin asks suddenly. A beat passes and he can’t help but laugh at the dumbfounded look that washes over the photographer’s face. “I mean, I’d like to take a picture with you to post on my SNS. If it’s okay with you.”
Wordlessly, Yoongi agrees. Seokjin is a number of centimetres taller than him and he’s about to reach up on tiptoes when the actor actually lowers himself just the slightest. Their heads are close enough that Yoongi can actually smell the product in Seokjin’s hair and he’s sure his general confusion shows up grainy in the flip phone’s screen.
“Smile,” says Seokjin.
It’s so automatic for Yoongi to reach up with one hand to make a V-sign with his pinky and ring finger and he watches, slightly embarrassed, as Seokjin checks the picture declaring it “very cute.” He’s thankful that he doesn’t have some sort of street cred or image as a taciturn photographer because he would have lost that all with just one picture.
“Thanks for the awesome shoot today, at -” Seokjin says while tapping out the message on his phone. “What’s your twitter handle?”
“minsuga,” replies Yoongi. Years ago, when he’d first created an account, he’d thought nothing of the user name because people who know him also know the story behind it. But if he’d known how many times he ended up explaining the ‘suga’ part to people who asked, he would have just used his real name instead. It's still better than Taehyung’s ‘@makchangchang.’
Seokjin, however, doesn’t ask. Sejin comes over to usher him away for onsite filming and they part ways with an awkward exchange of, “Enjoy the rest of your night” and “Good luck with filming.”
***
The next day, he wakes up to 200 notifications and a variety of unread messages from Jimin and Taehyung.
06:24
You were off taking pics with him while I was loading the van!?
06:24
HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME
06:24
WHY DO YOU HATE ME
06:25
Okay, but you guys look cute. OTL hyung
Jimin’s slew of messages, well, Yoongi can understand the younger male feeling upset about not actually getting a moment to talk with Seokjin. He’d been his usual cheerfully helpful self and still missed out on at least a photo opportunity. Judging from the time stamps, the younger male was probably working out all his sadness at the gym. Taehyung’s messages, on the other hand, were of the usual strange variety like the barista himself.
10:18
Jimin (;´༎ຶД༎ຶ`) 💔
10:18
He won’t let me make it better with chocolate chip cookies
10:27
I promise not to tell anyone if you start dating that guy. I think I went to school with him?
The rest are retweets remarking on Seokjin’s “amazing” bad boy transformation, as well as strange comments about Yoongi varying from “troll-looking blonde” to “what a cutie pie.” It’s too early for him to care that much. Groaning, Yoongi flings his phone somewhere in the rumpled folds of his comforter and tries to ignore the afterimage of Seokjin’s smiling face no further than a centimetre from his own.
Later at work, Jimin tries to confront him about being left out of the picture and whines about all the work that he does, and so Yoongi offers to buy him a whole canister of whey protein and they leave it at that.
***
“It’s here!” Jimin yells, waving a floppy-looking parcel while running towards him.
Junghwa promised to send them a copy of the issue even though Yoongi had told her repeatedly that it’s not necessary. Even his mother stopped collecting magazines when she realized that his pictures really took up only five or six pages out of hundreds. He did keep a few issues because he’d had a great time taking pictures or had special memories attached to where they’d gone to do the photo shoots.
Excitedly, Jimin rips the shipping envelope open and almost immediately grabs Yoongi in a quick but tight hug.
It’s the bad boy image of Seokjin, full lips parted and eyes lined darkly, on the cover.
Yoongi takes just a second to glance at it before pushing the magazine into a corner of the big work desk to make room for actual assignments. “Great, now let’s get to work.”
It’s a good picture, but he’s a good photographer and there’s no need to celebrate or spend more time on someone he barely knows.
Taehyung strolls into the studio sometime around lunchtime after Yoongi and Jimin have sifted through most of the pile of proofs. He fixes Yoongi with a curious stare and asks, “Are you dating Kim Seokjin?”
Seated at a computer, Jimin whips around in his office chair and calls his best friend an idiot. “Yoongi-hyung is dating his job. It’s all he does if he’s not sleeping. Besides, why would an actor date him?” He glances cautiously at Yoongi who looks indifferent to the comment.
“True,” Taehyung concedes, sharing a knowing grin with Jimin. “But,” he continues, “what’s up with him mentioning you?”
“Are you by any chance suffering some memory loss, Taehyung? Too many burgers fry your brain cells, perhaps?” Yoongi asks. Seokjin’s tweet dates back to nearly a month ago and Taehyung had even sent him messages about Jimin’s heart being broken after missing the photo opportunity.
“No and burgers help me sleep at night,” the barista says simply. He pulls up Seokjin’s twitter account to the latest tweet dated to twenty minutes ago and reads aloud, “Thanks for your kind messages everyone. It’s all thanks to the stylists, make up artists, and at minsuga.”
Yoongi squints at the screen.
“Are you guys friends or something?” Jimin asks, looking up from his own phone. He mutters something about how he didn’t know all of this while flicking through the comments. “This one’s pretty funny: ‘Freaking amazing. This photographer has worked with huge names but he looks like a middle school student. I’m confused?’”
“Ooh, what about this one?” adds Taehyung. “‘Seokjinnie-oppa, you don’t need anyone to make you look handsome!’” He frowns when nobody laughs with him.
The blonde sighs loudly. “Why is it that you’re always here when we are? Did you somehow get Hoseok to schedule you for work whenever we’re not in the studio?” asks Yoongi. Besides, he doesn’t really care to hear more about what people think about Seokjin’s tweet.
Taehyung just beams his begrudgingly endearing boxy smile.
***
After a hectic few weeks of photo assignments, Yoongi finally finds time to take Namjoon up on trying out some trendy restaurant run by a chef rumoured to have been trained by Gordon Ramsay.
“How’s your steak?” Namjoon asks.
Yoongi shrugs. “Good, but I could probably make this.”
Namjoon laughs loudly. “I doubt it.”
“I could if I had the recipe,” Yoongi insists. He’s ready to remind Namjoon about how well he makes instant noodles when someone in a black baseball cap approaches their table.
It’s Seokjin, of all people.
“Yoongi-ssi, I’m so sorry to bother you while you’re eating, but I saw you and thought it rude if I didn’t at least come and say ‘Hi’,” says the actor.
Namjoon looks at Yoongi curiously before turning to Seokjin. “If you’re a friend of Yoongi-hyung’s, you’re welcome to have a seat with us,” he offers. He, like Yoongi from a month ago, doesn't know anything about Kim Seokjin.
Seokjin looks like he’s trying to decide whether or not to stay. “Please stay,” Yoongi finally says, reaching over to take a chair from an empty table beside theirs. He introduces Seokjin and Namjoon to each other, decidedly leaving out their occupations.
“I can’t stay long, but I did want to thank you for the photo shoot. Everyone at my company had such nice things to say about the spread,” Seokjin says.
The blonde watches Namjoon’s eyebrows raise, the other male’s curiosity suddenly piqued because Yoongi only ever photographs celebrities. “You did all the work. I just clicked buttons and the editors at the magazine chose all of the pictures. Thanks for the mention, though. Jimin and his friend told me about it.”
“Ah, that,” Seokjin says with a smile. “My followers really seem to like the cover shot.”
There’s an awkward pause that, really, only Namjoon can fill. He doesn’t.
Thankfully, Seokjin’s phone buzzes and he frowns after skimming the message. “It’s my manager. I’ve got to get to set.” Standing, he turns to Namjoon and adds, “Namjoon-ssi, it was really nice meeting you” before he rushes out of the restaurant and into a white van with tinted windows.
“You’re going to explain, right?” asks Namjoon.
***
Wedding season comes upon them so heavily that both Yoongi and Jimin hardly ever come into the office unless it’s to get their equipment or work on post-processing. For some reason this year, six celebrity couples decide to hold their ceremonies over the span of June and July. Yoongi had chosen to work with just two couples which is plenty; it’s not like he’s the only photographer around, anyway.
“I’ve finished images 100 to 150. Should I do the next set?” Jimin asks from his workstation.
Yoongi rubs his eyes. “I’ll do it. Can you grab us something to eat? Anything is fine.”
Jimin’s about to head out to get food from the café that Taehyung works at when the main phone line rings.
Blearily, Yoongi gets through exactly one image before Jimin tells him that Seokjin’s manager is on the phone.
It turns out that the CEO of Seokjin’s agency has been thinking of doing a whole artist portrait to spruce up the company foyer and website and that Seokjin had suggested hiring Yoongi to do it.
“I’ll do it,” says Yoongi into the mouthpiece. “Please let me know when.”
“So?” Jimin asks after Yoongi hangs up. He’s not going to leave until he knows what the call was about.
Yoongi scratches his head, bewildered. “The company CEO wants us to take a portrait of their artist line up. I said okay.”
“This is huge! I gotta tell Tae Tae,” the younger male exclaims before disappearing out the front door.
Sejin does call back in the ten-minute window during which Jimin isn’t present. The only day that works for all of the artists is tomorrow in the evening. Although there are wedding picture proofs to do, Yoongi finds himself accepting the job because it’s not particularly difficult and the group of ten or so will be coming down to his studio. There’s also no hard deadline and that’s what sells him on the idea of doing the photo shoot so last minute. At least that's what he tells himself.
***
There’s no time for either Yoongi or Jimin to waste worrying about the group of celebrities due to walk into the studio - not when there’s a fast approaching deadline to hand over three huge printed canvases to a national soccer player and his new wife.
Yoongi decides to end work at 6, thereby giving them time to eat an actual meal and quickly set up. The CEO had relayed no message about how he wanted the pictures to look, and so Yoongi and Jimin agree to keep it absolutely simple with a white backdrop and large seating blocks of various sizes for the artists to either sit on or lean against.
They eat in record time during which Jimin mentions that Taehyung will be stopping by to watch and for Yoongi to therefore feel free to give the barista work to do while he’s there. They both know when left idle, Taehyung will likely be a tremendous nuisance. Said nuisance arrives not ten minutes later citing something about his ears burning and he immediately gets tasked with vacuuming to make sure that the backdrop is free of visible debris.
By 7, the first set of artists arrives. They’re a young group of actors who seem content to sit in the lounge and chat amongst themselves while Taehyung serves them refreshments. The boys, a mix of middle and secondary school students, busy themselves with the game console while the girls flip through an album, squealing when they come across a photo shoot Yoongi did with B1A4 at the beginning of the year.
“My little brother’s favourite actress is here. He’s going to flip out when I tell him about today,” Jimin whispers. He’s currently cleaning lenses and Yoongi tells him to sit at the table to do it if he’s going to be this excited about celebrities. Yoongi concedes, though, that the younger male has only worked for him for a little over a year; Jimin will probably learn later that the wow factor sort of wears off after meeting so many people.
The rest arrive not much later with Seokjin as part of the same group.
“Thank you for doing this on such short notice,” Sejin says. He’s not the only manager present, but because Seokjin suggested that the company use Yoongi for the photo shoot, he was ultimately left in charge of arranging tonight’s session.
“It’s my honour, really,” Yoongi assures.
To his surprise, the session goes amazingly fast. Granted, it’s not like a wedding or a magazine shoot that requires him to wait for people to get changed and go through hair and make up. Tonight, all of the artists came ready in just one outfit and it’s a tremendous benefit to everyone involved. They’re completely done in half an hour, a testament to miraculous planning. Most of the artists leave shortly after they say their goodbyes, save for Seokjin and a few of the younger ones who stuck around to play video games with Jimin and Taehyung, their managers fighting sleep in a different corner of the studio.
“I didn’t get a chance to say ‘Hi’ to you today. Hi,” says Seokjin. He, like his fellow label mates, is clad in a tuxedo, of all formal wear. There’s a hint of eyeliner that Yoongi wishes he hadn’t noticed.
“Hi to you, too,” Yoongi says. There’s nothing left for him to do today and while part of him really hopes that everyone leaves so that he can lock up for the night, another part doesn’t mind letting the younger ones enjoy themselves a bit.
Seokjin scans the studio, commenting on the simple but clean décor. “My drama’s finished,” he says, taking a seat next to Yoongi.
“Oh, congratulations. I guess you can catch up on sleep now,” replies Yoongi. Sleep would be nice, he thinks sadly. With an influx of demanding work, he hasn’t even had a spare moment to watch TV or stream anything in what seems like weeks, and he was only aware that Seokjin was filming something. He hadn’t thought to ask before.
Seokjin hums in agreement. “I’ve got a new drama coming up, though. I have maybe two weeks off before filming starts up again.”
Across the room in the lounge, Jimin hollers, “I won’t do it,” to the heckling of the others goading him on to dance. Begrudgingly, he breaks out into some girl group choreography and the room erupts into cheers. A tuxedo-clad boy, Jungkook, suddenly joins him and the noise from the room heightens, spilling so far out into the studio that two dozing managers snap awake and rush over only to find two boys dancing around.
“Sleep for two weeks, then,” Yoongi suggests. “I would,” he says, rubbing at his eyes.
The actor looks like he’s about to say something before he reaches forward. “Eyelash,” he explains, opting to take Yoongi’s hand in his to remove the fallen hair with Yoongi’s index finger. “I would have done it, but some people don’t like it when others touch their face.”
Yoongi doesn’t know what to say after mumbling, “Thanks.” He watches the commotion from the lounge die down only to be replaced with simultaneous moans of “Why?” when the managers decide that it’s time to go given that they all have homework and studying to do.
“I guess I should go, too,” Seokjin says standing up.
“You can stay if you’re not busy,” Yoongi finds himself saying. He’s certain about two things after Seokjin fixes him with a curious stare: that he just suggested sleeping for two weeks only a moment ago and that he’s absolutely unsure what he’s trying to achieve by inviting the actor to hang around. “Jimin is still a bit upset with me that we took a picture together. He’s a really big fan of yours, you know,” he adds, as if saying that would be impetus for Seokjin to stay.
“So I should stay to hang out with Jimin?” Seokjin asks, amused.
Yoongi laughs. “No, stay because I invited you and if you want to. We can celebrate the end of your drama.”
“I’d better tell my manager, then.”
***
Jimin finally does get his photo opportunity with Seokjin and very nearly needs to be pried off of the actor when he refuses to let go. Taehyung yells something about it being the wrong side of tipsy skewing with his best friend’s judgment, yet the barista cuddles up to Seokjin the moment Jimin gets pushed to the opposite end of the long sofa.
Yoongi decides to send the two friends home after they start blathering on about how it’s Yoongi’s turn to get another picture, but more specifically after Taehyung yells that they have to promise to keep him in the loop if they start dating. It’s ridiculous, the blonde thinks, how Taehyung and Jimin are convinced of something that won’t happen.
“Will your manager come and get you, or should I call a cab?” Yoongi asks after he sees to it that Jimin and Taehyung at least have it in themselves to walk the short distance to their shared apartment. He probably doesn’t have to worry that much since they tend to act drunker than they really are - being buzzed and that close to a nice celebrity certainly gave them more courage to get cosy with Seokjin who was content to pull faces and take pictures with them.
Seokjin checks the time on his phone. “He’ll probably be able to come, but he’s back at the company, so it’ll be a while until he gets here. You’re stuck with me until then.”
They haven’t had that many chances to interact, but Yoongi’s starting to notice a pattern with the few conversations that they’ve had; he almost feels bad that half of their conversations have started with Seokjin apologizing for interrupting him, as though he’s such a busy and important person. “You’re always sorry when you talk to me.” The observation slips out a bit too quickly for him to retract, but now that it’s out, he leaves it.
“I like you,” says the actor. He states it like it’s a fact. There’s no tenderness to its delivery because he’s not an actor delivering a line from his script and they’re not characters in a drama with some post-processed soundtrack music to fill up the tangible silence that surrounds them. He says it with no expectation of the receiving party to smile and return the feelings.
“I’m not - I don’t know how to answer that. I don’t -” Yoongi says, mouth stumbling around the words. He’s aware that they’re both just barely buzzed and that probably neither of them is willing to use alcohol as a pretence to say anything and then act like it didn’t happen the next day.
Silently, Seokjin moves closer to shorten the distance between them and he reaches out to place a steadying hand on Yoongi’s shoulder. “Then don’t say anything. I’m going to kiss you, though. Y-you’ve been warned,” he says, immediately muttering, “Why am I stuttering?” under his breath.
Yoongi doesn’t know whether to laugh, run, or sit still. He’s a bit mesmerized,though, by how glossy Seokjin’s lower lip appears even after a few snacks and drinks, and really, there’s a lot to like about the actor as a person. The only thing that maybe complicates this entire situation is his status as a hot rookie actor, one who girls and women can’t seem to get enough of judging by the growing number of his SNS followers. He may or may not have been checking.
“You’re thinking way too much,” Seokjin whispers. His eyes, half-mast, watch as Yoongi licks his own lips once, twice, hesitating, before Seokjin makes the decision for them both. They’re both adults and can figure it all out afterwards.
Seokjin is a clumsy kisser and Yoongi finds that he really, really doesn’t mind. Not when the actor’s hands come up to bracket either side of his face, anchoring him there as if Seokjin fears that he’ll run away scared. Seokjin breaks it off first with a smack of the lips that seem to echo throughout the very empty studio. And then he laughs loudly, hand coming up to cover up his laughter. “Sorry, I’m a really bad kisser,” he apologizes.
Yoongi smiles, suddenly just the slightest bit shy. “Quit apologizing for every little thing.” A wave of rare tenderness overcomes him and he doesn’t quite know how to deal with it; instead, he fixes Seokjin with an impish grin and says, “You’ll get better with practice. You wouldn’t want any future co-stars discovering that you’re a bad kisser with that face.”
“Hey!” Seokjin exclaims, feigning indignance. He grins. “You better take responsibility for that, then,” he says before leaning in once more.
***
“AGAIN?!” Jimin yells the second he comes through the door the very next morning.
Yoongi looks up from photo 231 of 385. “What?”
On the screen of Jimin’s phone is Seokjin’s tweet from late last night. It’s a picture of a somewhat dishevelled Seokjin with his arm around Yoongi’s shoulder and an almost microscopic preview of the agency’s new group photo behind them displayed on the studio’s computer screen. The text reads, “@minsuga + new agency photo! Thank you~”
“What’s there to yell about?” Yoongi asks. He turns back around to fix the strange contrast issue with the current picture. From this position, Jimin won’t be able to see him grin a little because he’s very aware that the picture shows how Seokjin’s hair is a mess and that the top two buttons of his dress shirt are undone, bowtie nowhere in sight. The picture is actually from his phone because Seokjin’s pink flip phone has a terrible front-facing camera.
“You guys had sex!” Jimin shouts like that’s the only volume he knows. He looks at the picture and laments that Taehyung was the reason why they got sent home early instead of getting to hang out more with Seokjin.
Rather than get into an unnecessary explanation about what he did or didn’t do with Seokjin, Yoongi chooses to turn around in his computer chair very slowly and fix Jimin with a curious smile. “Seokjin thinks you and Taehyung make a cute couple.”
"That's not - I - you're mean," he huffs before he hangs his bag up and gets to work.
Yoongi laughs, but leaves it at that. His phone buzzes with a message from Seokjin.
9:34
Left my bowtie at the studio. I’ll swing by around dinnertime to pick it up. And you too, if you’re free.
He’d found said bowtie when he came in this morning and had safely tucked it away in his bag; Jimin happens to be ridiculously observant most of the time, which is probably why he was so upset about the picture. Yoongi types back, “See you then” and sighs at how much work he still has to get through before he can see Seokjin again.
-END-
Thanks for reading!
In case anyone asks, Taehyung is my bias, Yoonjin isn't actually my OTP but I do like them, and I don't know that much about photography so please let me know if I've made any mistakes with terminology or processes.