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The Stairs at Music Bank

Chapter 4

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

[2020]

“Is that…Jin?”

Seokjin hadn’t bothered trying to hide. His only disguise was that he had shown up to KSPO Dome in clothes that were more casual than anything he usually wore for performances or even fan meets. Just jeans and a white t-shirt and a black baseball cap.

Namjoon had given him a ticket to one of CYPHER’s encore shows along with a lightstick—a sphere with three linked chains wrapping around it.

Over the years, Seokjin had watched CYPHER perform at award shows and he wasn’t above watching fan cams—much to Namjoon’s embarrassment. But neither of those could fully capture what it was like to be in the audience of a CYPHER concert.

Seokjin’s own concerts were a more subtle affair. His fans knew the fan chants. They liked to sing along and cheer. They laughed at his jokes. They cried. Their time spent together was healing and comforting.

But there was also something incredibly cathartic about Seokjin waving his lightstick and letting out a delighted scream when CYPHER yelled, “But I don’t care! You can’t control my shit!”

CYPHER was amazing live.

Those kids that Seokjin had marveled at during their debut. The ones who taught Seokjin what having stage presences truly meant. The ones who lived on passion and dreams. Who ran full speed—

Seokjin felt like crying as he watched them take their final bow. He clapped until his hands stung. He yelled until his voice was hoarse.

Namjoon rose from his bow—and held up a hand to block the lights from his eyes as he searched the crowd.

Fans had been speculating about why Namjoon had shown up to Music Bank when he didn’t have a schedule and didn’t seem to know anyone recording that day. They probably had already put the pieces together that Namjoon had gone to see Seokjin. People were not being subtle about recording him being here.

Seokjin wasn’t sure if he would ever be completely comfortable with his fame. But there was also something freeing about no longer caring, about no longer being careful, about being open and honest—

Namjoon finally found him in the crowd. He gave an excited wave.

And Seokjin waved back just as excited.

There was also something freeing—

About finding someone worth it.

 

 

Seokjin held up a peace sign as he leaned in.

Namjoon held out his phone and snapped a few photos of them in quick succession.

“It’s a shame that we never thought to take a photo together before,” said Namjoon as he thumbed through the photos. Holding out his phone so Seokjin could see too. Not that it mattered. They all looked basically the same to him. “Though…it’s kind of nice. Only having the memories.”

“Yeah?”

Namjoon hummed. “I’m tired of content.”

Seokjin shook his head. “Not all photos have to be content.”

“You’re right,” agreed Namjoon, easy enough. He held out his phone again and Seokjin snort laughed because Namjoon was already in the middle of posting the photo to Instagram. “What should I caption it?”

“How about ‘I loooooooove yooooooou’?” yelled Hoseok from the other side of the green room.

“Yeah,” added Yoongi without looking up from his phone. “That sounds good to me.”

Seokjin grinned—but Namjoon put his head in his hands.

“Please,” mumbled Namjoon into his palms. “You met ten minutes ago. Please don’t embarrass me.”

“What?” asked Seokjin, full of mock offense. “Are you embarrassed of our love?”

Which only caused Hoseok to fall over laughing.

Yoongi snickered. “Oh, I can see why you looooooove him, Namjoon-ah.”

“Please leave,” said Namjoon.

“Yeah, yeah,” said Yoongi as he pulled himself off of the couch. “It was nice meeting you, Seokjin-ssi.”

“You guys were amazing,” said Seokjin as he shook Yoongi’s hand. “I’m glad I got to see your concert in person.”

“Invite us to yours too,” added Hoseok as he reached out for Seokjin’s hand and ended up pulling him into a hug. “We promise to be on our best behavior.”

“Oh,” said Seokjin with a shrug. “I don’t mind.”

“You hear that, Namjoon-ah!” called Yoongi from the door. “He doesn’t mind.”

“It was nice meeting you!” added Hoseok one last time. “See ya!”

Namjoon let out a deep sigh as the door finally closed behind them. “You might end up regretting that.”

“I don’t think so,” said Seokjin with a laugh. “I can see why the three of you have been friends for so long.”

Namjoon sighed again as he reached out and wrapped his arms around Seokjin. “I thought you would get along and I’m glad you do get along…it’s just…really embarrassing to have people who know me so well meet.”

Seokjin patted his head sympathetically. Namjoon snuggled closer. Dropping his head into the crook of Seokjin’s neck.

“Thanks for coming to the concert, hyung.”

“Thanks for inviting me—” Seokjin cut himself off. He took his own slow breath and let it out just as slowly. “I’m sorry it took me so long.”

“You don’t have to apologize for that.” Namjoon pulled just far enough away to look at Seokjin. “Was it worth the wait?”

Seokjin hummed. “Good things always are.”

Namjoon turned. Letting go of Seokjin. But not before Seokjin caught him smiling—it was a small, almost guarded smile. It was the smile that Namjoon smiled when he was proud of himself.

“Am I invited to your concert too or is it just Yoongi-hyung and Hoseok?” asked Namjoon as they headed for the doors.

Seokjin pushed the door to the green room open. He glanced back at Namjoon. “You think you can handle one of my concerts?”

Namjoon laughed. “I mean…I’ll probably cry, is that what you mean?”

“You think you’ll cry?” asked Seokjin, confused.

“Hyung, I cried listening to you sing ‘Epiphany’ backstage at Music bank. Your hair stylist had to keep handing me tissues.”

“Knowing Dohyun-hyung you both were probably a mess.”

Namjoon nodded. “It wasn’t pretty.”

Seokjin laughed and because he could—he reached out and took Namjoon’s hand. Threading their fingers together.

“You’re still invited.”

“Okay,” replied Namjoon as he absently swung their hands. “You’ve been warned.”

They were almost to the end of the hallway. Beyond that would be the parking lot where their vans and security and managers would be waiting.

Seokjin took a fortifying breath and let it out.

“So, um…speaking of invites…I’ve been invited to the wedding for the Ahn’s oldest son to the Choi’s only daughter—you know, from the market. I…um…offered to sing at their wedding.”

Namjoon paused before he let out a quiet, “Oh?”

Seokjin shrugged casually even though his heart was racing. “I’m…not hiding anymore.”

“Wow,” said Namjoon. “Anything to end the blood feud.”

Seokjin laughed—because it was funny—and because he couldn’t remember the last time he had been so nervous—maybe not since debut…?

“What do you want to get them for their wedding?”

Namjoon frowned. “I’m invited?”

“Well…” Seokjin cleared his throat as he stared down at the concrete floor. “I’m invited and I’m allowed to bring a date.”

“Wait.” Namjoon stopped walking. “Are you asking me out on a date?”

Seokjin stopped walking next to him. It had always been like this. The two of them in hallways and stairways and bathrooms and bus stops. It had always been like this…

But maybe…

It didn’t have to be anymore.

“Yeah. I am.” Seokjin smiled—it burst out of him because even the thought made him so happy he couldn’t contain it. “You wanted a reason to dance with me, right?”

“Yeah,” breathed Namjoon. “I did.”

“And just so you know, I will need to be a little bit tipsy—but just a little bit. So you’re in charge of making sure I don’t make a drunken fool of myself in front of everyone from the market—because they would never let me forget it and I would like to be able to—”

Namjoon kissed him. Muffling his words and effectively cutting off his rambling. Seokjin couldn’t help smiling before he pressed himself against Namjoon. Seokjin forced himself to take his time, to not rush, to not worry. Namjoon smiled before he nipped at his bottom lip. They kissed languidly—as if they had all the time in the world.

“So,” said Seokjin into the space between them. “Be my date to this wedding?”

Namjoon grinned back at him. “Of course.”

Seokjin was pretty sure he was blushing all the way to his ears. He took Namjoon’s hand again as they walked to the end of the hallway.

“Well,” said Namjoon as he glanced at Seokjin. “I’ll see you.”

Seokjin hummed in confirmation. “Yeah.”

Namjoon leaned in and kissed him quickly—once, twice, three times—Seokjin finally laughed as he shoved Namjoon towards the door.

“We have to go. Everyone is waiting.”

“Love you, hyung,” called Namjoon as he pushed open the door.

Seokjin shook his head as he followed Namjoon outside. “Love you too.”

 

 

Seokjin was halfway home when he got a notification that he had been tagged in an Instagram post.

He unlocked his phone—

Namjoon had posted their selca together and he had captioned it:

 

Not perfect, but so beautiful.

 

After all these years, Seokjin knew Namjoon.

And Namjoon knew him.

Seokjin closed his eyes as he clutched his phone to his chest. He wanted to stay in this moment a little bit longer. He wanted to feel what he was feeling for as long as possible. The car, his manager, the traffic, the whole city faded into the background—

 

 

For both of them…

It started like this.

 

 

Notes:

"But I don’t care! You can’t control my shit!" is from Cypher PT. 3: Killer by the BTS rapline.