Chapter Text
When Hoseok wakes, it’s to the sound of quiet, gentle clicking and Yoongi’s frustrated sighs. He checks the alarm clock by the bed that tells him it’s only just gone four, and sighs himself. He turns over in bed, a little disgruntled by the early wake-up call, and finds Yoongi sat up beside him, knitting with a focused look on his face.
Hoseok shuffles closer to him, seeking his warmth. He grabs hold of Yoongi’s sleep-shirt under the covers, rubbing the fabric in-between his fingers. He glances down the bed to find an absence of Blue, who usually cuddles at their feet at night. He must have slept elsewhere, perhaps Yoongi had been sleeping too restlessly.
“Sorry, did I wake you?” Yoongi says, voice calmer than Hoseok expected.
“It’s alright.” He fidgets a little with Yoongi’s shirt, wanting to pull him into him so they can settle again; he’s still sleepy and wouldn’t mind a couple more hours cuddling with Yoongi. He’s sure he’d fallen asleep as the little spoon last night, and it’d be nice to repay the favour. He doesn’t pull him, though, sensing there must be something Yoongi needs to talk about if he’s up already. Instead, he watches as Yoongi’s deft fingers work the soft, green wool.
“Why are you knitting?”
“It calms me down. Keeps my hands busy.”
“I know it does, but why do you need calming down? What’s up?”
“I’m nervous. I’m giving the first lessons today.”
Ah. Hoseok should have known. After a year-or-so’s work of gentle persuasion, Hoseok has finally convinced Yoongi that it’s a good idea to start offering horse riding lessons, right off the ranch.
“But you’re a really good teacher,” Hoseok had whined to him, the third or fourth-time Yoongi had said no.
“I don’t like teaching.”
“But you taught me.'
“That’s because I was trying to get into your pants.”
Hoseok had swatted him on the arm. “Well, no getting into any student’s pants this time.”
“I’m not going to have students. I’m not going to do this.”
But Hoseok had had his way, in the end. He’d worn Yoongi down slowly, not wanting to push. Yoongi is endlessly patient, and always listens to Hoseok’s ideas, but he’s stubborn too. Hoseok wonders sometimes if it’s the years alone that has him so stuck in his ways, or whether that’s just the way he is. He doesn’t mind so much. It’s not like he never gets his own way.
“Oh, babe,” Hoseok says, kissing Yoongi’s shoulder and rubbing his stomach in the soothing way he knows he loves, “it’s going to go great.”
“I don’t know,” Yoongi says, putting down his needles and looking at Hoseok seriously, “do you really think I’m going to be able to do this? What if they misbehave, what if they scare the horses? I don’t know how to discipline kids.”
“You don’t know how to discipline anyone; Kookie is a little shit and you never tell him off for it.”
Yoongi frowns. “Not helping.”
Hoseok rolls his eyes, laughing softly as he sits up a little, leaning on his arm. With his free hand, he takes one of Yoongi’s hands in his and squeezes softly.
“It’s okay to be nervous. It’s okay that you’re not good at shouting at people. In fact, I really like that about you. And you have other things about you that make you a good teacher.”
Yoongi merely snorts, looking down at their hands, so Hoseok continues.
“I mean it. You’re patient, you’re intelligent,” he rubs his nose into Yoongi’s cheek until the older man is turning back to look at him again, “you’re endlessly kind, gentle. And the trust the horses have for you mean this is going to go just fine. Believe me, okay? You’re going to be amazing at this.”
For a moment, Yoongi just looks at him, smiling oddly in silence.
Hoseok frowns. “What?”
“Don’t think I’ve forgotten.”
“Forgotten what?”
“I know what day it is.”
Hoseok plays coy.
“Is it a special day?”
“Don’t give me that, you marked it on the calendar.”
“Ah!” Hoseok exclaims, his cover blown. “So, you needed the calendar to tell you, then!”
“I did not!”
“And there you were, telling me we didn’t need a calendar.”
“I never said-”
“And now, it’s helping you remember things that your sieve brain keeps-”
Hoseok is cut off when Yoongi leans in and kisses him, throwing the knitting to the end of the bed. Hoseok smiles, weaving his fingers into Yoongi’s hair and pulling him closer so he can lick into his mouth. It’s filthy, and it’s early, but Yoongi still smiles against him, pulls back so that they’re rolling. Yoongi ends up on his back, Hoseok spread on top of him. He’s definitely got morning breath and he kind of needs to pee, but that doesn’t stop him rutting down against Yoongi’s crotch, just to tease.
Yoongi pulls back from the kiss, staring at Hoseok headily. Hoseok lands his arm next to Yoongi’s head on the pillow, so he can stare down at him and grin suggestively.
“You just woke up,” Yoongi reasons, even though Hoseok hadn’t said anything.
“You know you love my morning wood,” Hoseok says in a seductive drawl. Slowly, he leans down and trails his teeth over Yoongi’s jaw, nipping a little when he hears Yoongi exhale. If this is what Hoseok has to do to make his boyfriend relax, then do it he must.
“Your mouth tastes gross,” Yoongi comments, smacking his lips.
“I’ll put it somewhere else, then. If you admit you needed the calendar to remind you what day it is,” Hoseok says, grinning when Yoongi rolls his eyes, “I’ll suck you off.”
Yoongi’s eyes roll once again at the offer, but the second Hoseok reaches down to play with his waistband, nail scratching along the edge, he looks more interested in the proposal.
“I knew it was coming up,” he says, obviously trying to keep his voice steady, “but I wasn’t certain of the exact day.”
Hoseok hums, taking the elastic band between two fingers and letting it ping back with a snap. He likes playing this game; this slow, teasing game. He likes it as much as he knows Yoongi likes to play on his obedience on other occasions. He likes that there’s never a struggle between the two; one always just seems to have its time without any resistance from the other.
“Come on, Yoon,” Hoseok says, nosing along Yoongi’s collar to kiss at his chest, “admit you need my organisational skills.”
“I need your hand- Fuck,” he gasps, as Hoseok cups him over his boxers, unable to resist the feeling of Yoongi hardening against his fingers. He finds it one of the most splendid joys to indulge himself in, when Yoongi gives him time to do it.
“Love your cock,” Hoseok says, casually, like he’s talking about the weather, or remembering an old friend. With how acquainted he is with Yoongi’s length, it’s not such an outlandish tone to take. “Wish you’d just swallow your pride…”
“It’s too early for this,” Yoongi groans, pushing his hips up at the same time.
“Well, if you want to go back to knitting,” Hoseok says, pulling away his hand, “I can-”
“No!” Yoongi says suddenly. “God, no, you monster.”
Hoseok giggles, doesn’t return his hand just yet. He keeps hovering, staring at Yoongi intently, falling a little more in love with him in the process. Yoongi has a way of staring at him that makes him a little weak; kind eyes, always the hint of a smile even when he’s being serious, like he can’t help but grin when he’s with Hoseok. Hoseok understands, thinks he’s understood for as long as he’s known Yoongi, for as long as he’s felt exactly the same.
“Tell me, then.”
Yoongi gives him a pout, and Hoseok wants to kiss it straight off of his mouth.
“Fine,” Yoongi says, finally, “I needed your calendar to remind me of the day. I need it to remind me of most things. You have revolutionised my life with your obsessive organisation and I’m very thankful that you keep a note of every little thing because God knows I can’t. Now, if you could please just get yourself around my cock that’d be fantastic.”
Hoseok laughs, can’t help it. He loves how desperate Yoongi can get for it, sometimes, makes him feel better about being so desperate for it himself all the time. They’re growing older, the pair of them, but he doesn’t feel close to slowing down yet. Not remotely close.
“Now was that so hard?” Hoseok says, composing himself as he reaches underneath Yoongi’s shorts slowly. Not touching, not yet. Just settling his palm against Yoongi’s skin, liking the way his cock twitches, like it’s trying to jump straight into his hand.
“No, but you are,” Yoongi says, obviously trying to sound composed even as his arousal begins to form. He moves his leg slowly, knocking against Hoseok’s length, already half-hard.
“You’ll just have to sort me out later, then. It’s your turn.”
Spurred by Yoongi’s heavy breathing, Hoseok crawls off of him and shuffles down the bed, pulling Yoongi’s shorts down as he goes. Once they’re head-to-head (or face-to-cock, whatever), he looks up at Yoongi again, eyebrow twitching upwards. “May I?” he asks, sweetly.
“It’s all yours,” Yoongi says, kicking off his shorts with all the grace of Blue rushing into a body of water.
Grinning, Hoseok wraps his lips around Yoongi’s length, long past the point of careful, hesitant introductions and greetings. He takes him about half-way down, lets his mouth and throat adjust and relax as he goes, focusing on the heady little noises Yoongi is letting escape him.
“I hate how cocky you get when y-” Yoongi squeals half-way through his sentence as Hoseok pulls off enough to tongue at his slit. Prior to meeting Yoongi, Hoseok hadn’t been too fussed about blowjobs, giving or receiving, but after the last few years of experimenting, he’s found quite the appetite for sucking Yoongi off.
“On the contrary,” Hoseok says, kissing the tip and gliding the smattering of precum across his lips in the way he knows drives Yoongi crazy, “I’d say you’re the one who’s cocky, right now.”
Yoongi groans, and Hoseok isn’t sure if it’s the gentle squeeze he’s keeping up at the base of Yoongi’s cock, or the lame innuendo. Figuring he’d rather it was the former, he gets back to work, working his slick lips around Yoongi’s length. He takes him deeply, steadies his hips so he can’t buck as Hoseok adjusts. He feels Yoongi’s thick fingers tangling in his hair, a nice easy grip that has Hoseok pushing further.
“You okay, baby?” Yoongi says, voice still with that gentle deepness that always seems to steady Hoseok. When he’s running on uneven ground, something about Yoongi seems to smooth out the path in front of him. He’s been unwavering since he met him, a presence so solid and consistent that Hoseok has never had to worry about him fading away.
Hoseok moans shamelessly in response to Yoongi’s question, keeps up the sounds and lets them open his throat and tingle the sensitive skin of Yoongi’s cock. Yoongi matches them himself, stroking through his hair as he watches Hoseok pull himself up and bobs his head down. Soon, with Yoongi’s gentle guidance, he finds a rhythm to lead Yoongi to his end. He works up to it, then pinches Yoongi’s side to tell him he’s ready for Yoongi to fuck into his throat, if he wants that. Yoongi takes the sign, holds Hoseok’s head carefully in his hands, and thrusts into Hoseok’s mouth.
Hoseok takes it, keeps up the moans that help him accommodate Yoongi’s movements. He knows Yoongi holds himself back when they do this, worries too much about Hoseok to completely let go. He likes that, though, likes that that’s Yoongi’s priority in these moments. It just makes it mean more when he allows Yoongi to be free with him. He looks up, finds Yoongi’s eyes, telling him without words that it’s okay, that he wants this. Yoongi smiles, a little more sure now as he finds his own rhythm. Each breathy moan he gives is interrupted by another, and Hoseok lets them fill his ears and consume him; he loves hearing Yoongi like this. Loves to hear him let go.
A sharp “Oh fuck,” is what accompanies Yoongi’s release. Hoseok holds himself down, nose nuzzling the wisps of hair smattered on Yoongi’s crotch. He swallows around Yoongi’s length a final time, lets Yoongi finish entirely before he pulls off. The load slips down his throat, and he regrets not keeping some on his tongue to tease Yoongi with, but he likes taking it this way too. He knows Yoongi does too, if his swift action in pulling Hoseok back up to kiss him tells him anything.
Hoseok allows Yoongi to take him in his hold, pulling him back on top of him and connecting their mouths with no hint of hesitation. Hoseok moans as Yoongi licks into his mouth, apparently unperturbed by the staleness of morning-breath and his own release. The action is so heady, Hoseok can’t help himself rutting his own length against Yoongi’s thigh, working himself now he’s handled Yoongi.
Yoongi picks up on his movements, uses one hand on Hoseok’s lower back to push him down, pushes his thigh up so Hoseok is pressed tightly between the two.
“There you go,” Yoongi whispers between them, biting at Hoseok’s lips when they pull apart to breathe, “you want me to-”
“Want it like this,” Hoseok interrupts, pushing down into Yoongi’s leg with more intent, “please, just need this.”
“Okay, baby,” Yoongi says, moving his leg to rub against Hoseok through his shorts more purposely, “whatever you want."
They kiss lazily as Hoseok grinds on Yoongi, mouths slipping away from each other every so often but neither of them caring very much. Hoseok’s mouth ends up on Yoongi’s nose at one point, and they giggle despite the heaviness of the moment. Hoseok bites it gently, then slots their mouths back together again, gripping hard on Yoongi’s shoulders as he finally cums.
“That was adorable,” Yoongi says, as Hoseok slumps on top of him, breathing hard. Hoseok whimpers when Yoongi pulls up his sleep-shirt and trails the tips of his fingers up and down his back. The touches are light. Hoseok tracks their routes and shivers.
“Not exactly what I was going for,” Hoseok says after a moment, his voice a little rough.
“It was hot too,” Yoongi assures him, kissing the side of his head. “Really fucking hot.”
“Hm,” Hoseok says, satisfied, using all his remaining energy to turn for a kiss.
Yoongi indulges him, but gives no more than a gentle peck before he’s pulling away. Hoseok whines.
“You need to brush your teeth.”
Hoseok groans, turning back again. “Yeah, yeah. Later. Keep petting me.”
Yoongi continues to stroke him. “You’re not at the store all day, right?”
“Nope, just in the morning. I took the afternoon shift off to help you out, if you need it."
“My angel.
“I’m only doing it for the sex.”
Yoongi kisses his head. “Yeah, yeah.”
Hoseok works at the local grocery store five days a week. They’re not always long shifts; he likes to help Yoongi with the chores at the ranch too, when he gets a chance. It’s not strictly necessary; Yoongi does enough to keep them afloat, but Hoseok likes to pay his way, plus he has other expenses he has to think about. He’s worked out a deal with his parents, paying back the loan he’d taken from them for school in little instalments. All things considered, they’ve been good to him about everything; the move, his new relationship, all his reckless actions.
He’s terrible at early mornings, but thanks to his accidental wake-up call (and the wake-up call he’d given Yoongi in response), he’s wide awake before he’s even had breakfast. He leaves some out for Yoongi, who is seeing to his chores, and quickly gets ready for the day.
Blue greets him on the porch, and Hoseok finishes his tea as he looks out onto the ranch. It’s a clear day, likely to be warm if it’s to be consistent with the week of hot weather that’s hit Nebraska; they’ve been having a lot of outside showers this week. He throws Blue’s tennis ball a couple of times, likes that he can be a little lazy because of his early start. Once his cup is empty, he leaves it on the deck for Yoongi pick up on his way in and walks to the barn with Blue whipping around his ankles, like he knows Hoseok is going to work soon.
Once there, Hoseok gives a quick hello to everyone inside. Some of the horses are angsty as he approaches, ready to be out and running wild already. Shadow neighs loudest of all, and Hoseok smiles.
“Good morning to you too, Horse,” Hoseok says, patting Shadow’s snout as he passes. He and Shadow, after more than a year of hard, hard work, have finally found an understanding between one another. Hoseok is no longer afraid, Shadow is no longer cold. At least, they’re not outwardly afraid or cold in each other’s presences. He’s not sure if it’s possible for horses to fake friendship, but if any horse could, Hoseok believes it would be Shadow.
He gets to the hutch in the corner of the room, leans in to check on Kookie and Tokki and smiles at the sight of Kookie rolling in the hay, ears flopping around madly. He has another show coming up this month; Yoongi has been letting Hoseok watch them train together. Hoseok likes the shows, finds the whole thing hilarious and adorable. And he’s proud of Kookie, of course. His little wonder bunny.
“And good morning to you both.”
Hoseok giggles as Kookie rolls too far and bumps into Tokki accidentally. She looks up at him like she’s begging him for a bigger hutch to have space from her brother. Yoongi has been thinking about building one. Hoseok makes a note to remind him.
He greets Hedy and Elly too, the two old maids a little grumpy this morning but still eager for attention, and a couple of the other horses who come to the edges of their stables to greet him as he makes his way back out to the truck. He’d fed the chickens before breakfast, but they’re still happy to see him again.
It’s nice, having so many good-mornings to give, so many little faces who rely on him and look to him for attention and care. His time on the ranch has given him more purpose than he’d ever felt studying. It feels more like home, more like a place he’s needed. He hasn’t had to work his way in, or spend long, strenuous hours working out how to best fit without bothering anyone. It’s like he’s always been here, just another piece of the place. It always takes him a few moments in the morning to fully appreciate that, how much life it’s given him.
By the time Hoseok is ready to leave, Yoongi is hauling saddles from the shed into the barn, ready for today’s lessons. He’s calmer than he was a few hours ago, which is good, but the way he asks Hoseok to hurry home after his shift is telling of how nervous he still feels. As Hoseok says his good-byes, Blue starts to bark wildly. He goes to chase after Hoseok, but Yoongi calls him back firmly. It’s always with great distress for Blue that Hoseok leaves, even though he knows he’ll be coming back. It’s sad, but kind of nice to know that the dog doesn’t want him to leave. Makes him feel good, wanted. In a strange sort of way.
Hoseok takes the truck into Arnold. He likes riding these days, and it costs less, but it wouldn’t be fair for the horse to leave it tied all morning. It’s still a nice drive, and Hoseok lets himself appreciate it, as he does every time he pecks Yoongi on the cheek and sets off. As much as he loves Yoongi and the time they spend together on the ranch, he loves finding his alone time too. He likes that they’re not so on top of each other, that at the end of the day he can come home and share his day with Yoongi, in the same way Yoongi will share his day with him, and they can meet in the middle again.
He likes meeting people, too. In the store, he meets a lot of people who have known Yoongi for years and have stories about him and his brother coming into town as kids. Yoongi was quite mischievous as a child, from what Hoseok has gathered, but reasonably well-liked too. Arnold is a small place, a lot smaller than what Hoseok is used to, but he likes it. Likes feeling a little more enclosed, likes that people know each other and say hi to one another. He likes that people know his name.
He works through his shift quickly. Yoongi sells his produce here, and Hoseok helps get the delivery of eggs, milk and various vegetables out on the shelves. It’s a quiet day, so Hoseok is mostly free to chat with his co-workers. He shares stories from the ranch a lot, and though he’s well aware of how much he goes on about it, his special, perfect place, with his special, perfect person in the centre, he can never seem to stop.
When it gets to eleven-thirty, Hoseok clocks off. He’s half-way out of the door before he remembers to grab a bottle of wine from the shelves. Then, with another thought, he picks up dog food and a packet of condoms, too.
The girl on the till, Lauren, smiles knowingly at him as she scans his items.
“Special evening planned?” she says, slyly.
“Oh, yeah. That’s Yoongi’s favourite brand of dog-meat,” Hoseok replies, as she scans through the several cans of lamb and vegetables, “thought I’d treat him.”
“Wish my girlfriend would treat me to dog-food once in a while,” Lauren says, packing everything up in a paper bag and pushing it to Hoseok.
“I’ll have a word with her next time I see her.” Hoseok pays, gathers the bag in his arm and flashes Lauren a bright smile. “Every girl deserves a bottle of red and a few cans of Nature’s Variety every once in a while.”
Lauren snorts, waving him out of the shop. “Have a good rest of your day, and an even better evening. And give my love to everyone, lots of cuddles for Kookie!”
“I will,” Hoseok says, feeling excited now he’s heading home. That’s the thing, really, it’s always been his favourite part of having his alone time. Getting to come home, to see Yoongi again.
Once he pulls into the small stretch of road that leads to the ranch, he finds it cramped with cars and trucks that he assumes belong to the families of Yoongi’s new students. The kids are aged from six through to twelve, some with a little riding experience but for the most part complete beginners. Hoseok had taken the calls and arranged the lessons to make the whole thing less strenuous on his boyfriend. He’d made a chart. Colour-coded and everything.
He pulls into the gate slowly, wary of any stray children or animals they may be running amuck across the ranch. There’s no shortage of wandering animals here, usually. The chickens like to be out roaming in the day, and Tom the cat has been slinking around a lot lately, which has elated Yoongi after years of patient effort. He’s still yet to come into the house, but he’ll take scraps of chicken straight from Hoseok’s hand now, and Yoongi has been able to pet him a couple of times. He likes to sleep in the workshop, and so Yoongi has installed a small cat door for him around the back.
Once confident that the way is clear, Hoseok stops the truck for a moment and rolls down the window to see the small crowd of parents on his side of the fence leading off the barn. He takes note of the horses Yoongi has out. Shadow, he notices, hasn’t made the cut. Not a surprise, really, but Hoseok stills feel bad for the Stallion being left out. Still, Hoseok supposes, he’ll have his time on their nightly walk. Yoongi and Hoseok take it together now, with the horses and Blue trotting along with them.
Hoseok parks up, tries to catch Yoongi’s eye when he spots him on the other side of the fence, talking to the line of kids with their brand-new riding helmets and boots, but he doesn’t notice. Two of Yoongi’s friends are here, men he’s met in the ranching business, who help him out with the horses sometimes, training or making sure they all get their exercise. Yoongi had asked them to come today to oversee the lesson, and Hoseok had agreed it was a good idea. Yoongi is a good teacher, but even he’s not capable of keeping his eye on ten horses with ten young, inexperienced riders all at once.
Hoseok watches Yoongi for a bit, as he carefully explains how to approach horses, how to make sure they don’t get scared, and the like. He’d practised this little speech on Hoseok a few nights ago. It had taken Hoseok back to learning to ride, and then again to how hot he’d found Yoongi as a teacher. They were making out before he’d had a chance to tell Yoongi how much he liked his speech.
When he finally manages to tear his eyes away from the sight of Yoongi leading the cautious children closer to the horses, Hoseok jogs to the house to put away the groceries he bought and change out of his work things. When he pushes open the door, he’s met with Blue, barking with excitement at his arrival.
“Hey, buddy,” Hoseok says, trying to keep the brown bag steady in his arm as he reaches to pet the dog pushing into his legs.
“Did Yoon lock you in here? How mean,” he teases, in a baby voice that he knows embarrasses Yoongi as much as it makes him smile at Hoseok adoringly. “We’re a little busy now. But if you’re a good boy, we can play later, okay?” He can’t help but talk like Blue understands him; it’s a habit he’s sure he’s picked up from Yoongi. It’s the tone that matters, Yoongi had told him once, animals understand tones.
Hoseok pats his thigh as he moves to the kitchen, and Blue happily follows. He puts the bottle of wine in the fridge to chill, sets the dog food in Blue’s special cupboard, then takes the packet of condoms to their bedroom for later. While there, he pulls on a pair of shorts, as it’s a warm day.
“Like you ever need an excuse to wear shorts,” Yoongi would say, with a smirk. Then Hoseok would flash him a sight of his legs and he’d fall silent and serious. Hoseok likes having that power.
On his way out, Hoseok grabs his hat from the hook that sits on the wall beside Yoongi’s and puts it on. It’s a hat much like Yoongi’s, except a lighter brown and a lot less worn. Yoongi had bought it for his birthday last year, had called it the final step in his cowboy initiation.
When he gets back outside, Hoseok finds Yoongi so in his element that he hangs back, rather than greeting him or asking him if he needs help. He leans against the fence, looking over at where Yoongi is helping a boy onto a mare. Suga, she’s called, an ex-racehorse. A friend of Yoongi’s had saved her from a shady auction, and Yoongi had agreed to take her in. She’s nice. A little skittish, but Yoongi’s patience has yet to find its match.
Hoseok watches as Yoongi slows the eager boy with a gentle hand. He’s holding onto Suga’s rein tightly, a sign he’s a little worried about this not going smoothly, but he remains steady as the boy slowly tries again, swinging his leg over her back and listening to Yoongi’s instructions. Hoseok smiles when Yoongi smiles, and though he can’t quite hear what he’s saying from here, he can imagine the affirmative words he’s no doubt relaying to the boy, if the boy’s proud smile is anything to go off.
“Excuse me? Hoseok?”
Hoseok turns his gaze from Yoongi to the woman standing beside him. He thinks he recognises her from the shop, though can’t quite place her name.
“Mrs…"
“Stewart,” she says with a smile, “I come into the store sometimes, you recommended these lessons for my kids.”
“Of course, hi,” Hoseok replies, looking down to spot one of Mrs Stewart’s three children standing in front of her, looking up at him nervously. When he smiles down at him, he looks away quickly. “Not joining in?”
“Finn is actually feeling a little nervous,” his mother explains. “He really wants to do it, since his big sisters are doing it too, but the horses are a little big for him.” She gives him a significant look, and he understands immediately.
Taking off his hat so Finn can see his face more clearly, Hoseok bends down on one knee until he’s face-to-face with the young boy. Hoseok holds out his hand and smiles.
“Nice to meet you, Finn. I’m Hoseok. You can call me Hobi, if you want.”
Finn looks at Hoseok’s hand, then up at his mother, who nods. Slowly, he reaches out and lets Hoseok shake their hands together.
“Would you like to ride today?”
Finn shrugs.
“I think you should. It’s a lot of fun, even though it’s scary at first. I have a special friend who might make it easier for you, you wanna meet her?”
Finn looks up at his mother again, who smiles softly. Finn looks at Hoseok again, and finally nods. Hoseok smiles and gets back on his feet, putting his hat back on and dusting off his knee. “Wait there, okay?”
Hoseok jogs into the barn and is glad to see that the horse he wants Finn to meet isn’t taken, because he can’t think of any one better for a beginner. Carefully, he walks over to the stable, picking up a lead on his way, carefully throws it around the horse’s neck and leads it out into the pen.
As he walks, Hoseok glances over to where Yoongi is now leading his students around the pen in a large circle. His friends are helping lead the horses with the younger riders, whilst the older ones who have ridden before go solo. Yoongi keeps his eyes trained on them all, is there whenever someone seems to panic or fumble.
Careful not to interrupt the circle, Hoseok leads the horse to stand before Mrs Stewart and Finn, this time on the other side of the fence. He brings the horse up just close enough that Finn can reach out to it, keeps a tight hold on the reins.
“Finn, this is Mang. She’s my very special girl. I’ve known her since she was a baby, so I know her really well. Mang, this is Finn. Be nice to him, okay?”
Over the last couple of years, Mang has grown from a beautiful fawn to a stunning horse. She’s a little on the small side, with a kind temperament that she’s no doubt gotten from Maria’s genes and Yoongi’s raising. Hoseok rides her often, likes how willing she is to take it easy, rather than rush off like some of the other horses. She’s coming up to racing age, but Hoseok and Yoongi have agreed that’s not the right path for her.
Hoseok knows her calmness will be best for someone as shy as Finn. Still, he also knows it takes time to build up trust and confidence, even with a horse as sweet as her, so he doesn’t want to push Finn too quickly.
Instead, he encourages Finn to start off by stroking her, as Yoongi had done with him. He instructs him to stand in her eyeline, watches the pair of them carefully as Finn reaches his hands out to touch her neck. She’s a little uneasy at first, but Hoseok calms her, and insists Finn keep going. After a little while, Finn seems a lot more confident, even smiling when Mang gently whinnies and flicks her long, white tail.
“I think she likes you,” Hoseok says, smiling when this makes Finn beam. “You wanna try and ride her?”
Finn looks nervous at the proposal, eyes suddenly agape.
“You don’t have to,” Hoseok assures him quickly. “You’re coming back next week, right? There’s always next time. We have all the time in the world.”
Finn looks at his mother again, then resumes stroking Mang with his small, gentle hands. Mrs Stewart looks at Hoseok and smiles, mouths a silent ‘thank you.’ Hoseok nods, smiling in return.
As the two fuss over Mang, Hoseok glances over to Yoongi once more, who’s looking at him now, a soft smile on his face. Hoseok beams, shooting him a thumbs up, feels proud of himself. Proud of them both.
Hours later, Hoseok comes into the barn wiping his hands on his shorts. The evening is humid, though not overwhelmingly so. Still, Hoseok feels sticky, even after his shower, and from the way Yoongi puts down his pitchfork to wipe his forehead with the bottom of his shirt, he suspects he is too. He watches as Yoongi sighs, pulls the shirt away from his body rapidly to air his chest.
“Just take it off,” Hoseok says with a grin, “if it’s easier.”
Yoongi spins, matching Hoseok’s smug smile and undoing the top buttons of his plaid shirt. That done, he pulls it over his head and throws it over the side of Maria’s stable. His chest is gleaming a little, and Hoseok knows it’s gross, but he’s come to really love the sweat-sheen that follows a hard-days work. Loves it on Yoongi, at least.
“Much better,” Hoseok says, obvious in his gaze.
“Pervert,” Yoongi retorts, picking up his fork again and turning back around. Hoseok snorts.
“Need some help?” he asks, eyes focusing on Yoongi’s back moles.
“If ‘help’ includes you rubbing your hands over me and licking the back of my neck, no thanks. I need to get this done before we go on our walk.”
“You have such little faith in me. I can keep it in my pants.”
“Like you did this morning?"
“It’s a special day.”
Yoongi snorts at that.
“The kids were cute today, huh?” Hoseok says, picking up a fork set by the gate and beginning to shove the dirty hay into the bucket in the middle of the stable.
“Yeah. They were sweet, I was surprised. You did such a great job with that little one, what was his name?”
“Finn.”
Yoongi nods. “You looked like a natural when you were introducing him to Mang. I couldn’t even get him in the pen with the others. He’ll be riding in no time with your help.”
Hoseok blushes at the praise. “Remember when you taught me? I channelled all that amazing teaching energy.”
Yoongi laughs, a nice deep rumble. “Shut up!”
“I mean it! You were amazing, teaching them all at once today. I don’t know how you managed it.”
“It wasn’t too hard, they listened well. Not as well as you, of course, but they probably didn’t have crushes on me.”
“I did not have a crush on you!”
“Yes, you did!” Yoongi shouts, spinning around to show his smiling face. “Remember, I held onto your waist as you got down, and you got so flustered you could barely speak.”
“Well, duh,” Hoseok replies, throwing hay in Yoongi’s direction. “You were a hot, buff cowboy.”
“Hey!” Yoongi throws some hay back. “I’m still a hot, buff cowboy.”
“Novelty has worn off,” Hoseok shrugs, not meaning it. He’s not sure the novelty of Yoongi will ever wear off. Even two years on, he still finds himself counting his blessings that he’d stumbled his way into Yoongi’s life. This life. The life they now share.
Yoongi smiles, a little more softly this time, like he can tell what Hoseok is thinking. “C’mere,” he says softly, throwing his fork to the ground.
Grinning, Hoseok spikes his own fork in a hay bale and goes to him, feeling satisfied when Yoongi grabs him by the waist and holds him in a strong grip. Hoseok rubs his fingers against Yoongi’s bare skin, everywhere he can reach; his shoulders, down his arms, up his back.
“My beautiful boy,” Hoseok says, not even thinking.
Yoongi rubs a thumb on his cheek, smiling. “I thought you were mine.”
“Nope. I’m in charge,” Hoseok says, with a smug grin. “I wear the trousers, or however the patriarchal nonsense goes.”
Yoongi rolls his eyes, running his hands down to squeeze Hoseok’s ass. “You wear the tiny little shorts.”
“You love my tiny little shorts,” Hoseok retorts, pushing his ass out to press it into Yoongi’s hands.
“Can’t argue.” Yoongi grins, leaning in to press their lips together in a deep kiss. Hoseok smiles into it, loops his arms around Yoongi’s neck and tugs roughly at his hair. He’s been letting it grow a little longer these days, a little shaggy. Hoseok loves it, loves to play with it when they lounge on the sofa in the evenings and as Yoongi falls asleep, loves the way Yoongi has to wear a headband when he cooks, the way he tucks it under his hat on hot days.
He loves the way it spurs Yoongi on to fuck him harder when he pulls it sharply, like he’s spurring a horse to go faster.
“I wish you’d fuck me in this barn,” Hoseok whines suddenly, their mouths still wet and close, “it’d be so hot.”
Yoongi pulls back, just a little. “My children sleep in this barn, Hoseok,” he says sternly, but without surprise, having heard this request before. “And it’s covered in shit. Where would we even do it?”
“You’d lift me, obviously.” Hoseok runs the tip of his nose down the bridge of Yoongi’s. “You’d lift me with your big buff cowboy arms, and I’d hold on really tight and you’d-”
Arms looped around his thighs, Yoongi lifts him suddenly, sending all the air from Hoseok’s lungs rushing out in a large gasp. He tightens his arms around Yoongi’s neck, holds on for dear life. “Like this?” Yoongi asks smugly. “Hm?”
Hoseok nods, catching his breath and pushing their foreheads together.
“And then what, huh? What were you saying?”
“And then you’d-” Hoseok gasps again when Yoongi shirks him up, readjusting him in his arms. “Then you’d push me up against one of the walls.”
“You’d get splinters."
“Worth it for a hot night with you.”
“You’re the absolute limit.”
Hoseok smiles smugly as he registers the hot lust in Yoongi’s voice. He tightens his legs around Yoongi’s waist, locking him in. Yoongi holds his ass to keep him in place, squeezing gently.
“I’ll keep asking ‘til it happens.”
“I know you will.” Slowly, Yoongi walks them over to the side of the stable and pushes him gently against the wooden half-wall that separates it from the rest of the barn. “And I’ll keep saying no.”
Hoseok laughs. “I know you will.”
Yoongi leaves a soft kiss on Hoseok’s lips. “I’ll fuck you really good after dinner, hm? I’m cooking tonight. Something nice, I got all the ingredients yesterday.”
“I got a bottle of wine when I went to the store.”
“The good stuff?”
“Only the best.”
“Hm, I love you.
“I love you too.”
Yoongi kisses the tip of his nose. “Happy anniversary, baby. Thanks for invading my ranch with all your calendars and your tiny shorts and your horny little hands.”
Hoseok giggles, rubs his nose into Yoongi's. “It’s been my absolute pleasure.”