Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

“Yoongi, Jungkook-hyung, let’s go.”

Yoongi jerks awake at the sounds of Namjoon’s voice. Namjoon is standing in the doorway of the green room, his hair is a faded purple Yoongi is pretty sure he didn’t have yesterday.

And Yoongi is also pretty sure he fell asleep at home in their dorm, not at HYBE. 

“C’mon,” Namjoon gestures for them to get up again. “Hyung, seriously.”

“I’m coming,” Yoongi stretches and stands up off the leather couch. He looks down at himself. He’s dressed in a leather jacket and white shirt and laced shoes that remind him of his look for ON. He must be seriously delirious with sleep if he can’t remember putting any of this on.

“Make sure Jungkook-hyung gets up, will you? Our interview starts in five.”

With that Namjoon leaves the room.

Jungkook-hyung? Namjoon must be tired too. 

Yoongi looks back to the couch, and slugged by the armrest is Jungkook. His hair is short and black, his eyebrow piercing gleams on his forehead. He’s dressed similar to Yoongi—in white and leather. Jungkook is awake, blinking and rubbing at his eyes.

“Jungkook, let’s go. Don’t smear your makeup.”

“Hyung, what’s going on?” Jungkook stands, frowning as he looks around the room sleepily and then at Yoongi. “I…I swear I fell asleep in my studio.”

“I told you to stop sleeping in there,” Yoongi chastises. They start towards the door and enter the hallway. They can hear staff running around and the other members chatting in the large filming studio. They've been using it for interviews because of the pandemic. 

“Hyung,” Jungkook‘s voice lowers. “Something seems weird. Why are we dressed like this? Are you—doesn't it seem weird to you?”

Yoongi steps into the filming studio, and the first thing he sees is a massive, blue seven on the wall. It’s a screen with the album cover from last year. All the other members are set up in chairs in front of it, a camera and lighting crew ready to begin the interview at any moment.

“There you are!” A manager rushes over with a couple make-up artists beside him. 

Immediately Yoongi's nose and cheeks are dabbed at and Jungkook is quickly fitted with his mic pack and the mic pinned to his jacket. Yoongi’s is already on, he felt it uncomfortably pressing into him on the couch, but now it's switched on.

“Okay. You guys remember your lines?” The manager asks, guiding them both over to the set. “They love when you speak Japanese. Remember it’s not live, but please try to act like it is. We don’t have much time for cuts.”

“What—” Jungkook starts to ask, panicked eyes finding Yoongi, but it’s too late. 

They fill in the last two seats on stage, sitting next to each other. Yoongi is sweating now. He’s not usually so unprepared, but he really has no idea what’s happening. What is this interview for? They haven’t been promoting since Permission to Dance came out, and now suddenly, this?

“Here,” a crew member hands Yoongi and Jungkook earbuds, and then runs off.

In front of them is a screen with the logo of a Japanese TV network. Yoongi glances at Jungkook, whose eyes are wide. His hands are gripping his knees, rings on fingers.

Yoongi takes a deep breath. He’s bullshitted before. He can do it again. Jungkook is right, though. Something is off. This studio is familiar but the setup is not. His outfit is from another era. Yoongi definitely didn’t fall asleep in the waiting room. And he swears the only schedule he should have had for today was time in the recording studio with the producers. 

Yoongi tries to come up with possible explanations for his lapse in memory—but nothing makes sense. Amnesia, bad medicine making his brain foggy...or maybe it’s all a dream? THis doesn’t feel like any dream he’s ever had before.

“Rolling.”

“Stream connecting.”

The screen changes to two hosts Yoongi’s definitely been interviewed by before.

“Testing audio.”

The hosts say something in Japanese, and seconds later it’s translated straight into Yoongi’s ear.

“Welcome, BTS! Will you introduce yourself?”

Namjoon counts them off and then they all bow and say, we are BTS.

As the interview goes on, Yoongi gets more and more confused. He tries not to show it in his face, he’s on screen after all, but… They’re asked about their “new” album, Map of the Soul 7, and about their solo tracks. Taehyung spontaneously does some of the ON choreography, and Namjoon talks about the choir and marching band they worked with. Hoseok recites a thank you to ARMY for supporting the album in Japanese. It seems like everyone else is finding this whole thing normal. Except for Jungkook. 

“Jungkook-ssi, if you were to perform My Time what do you imagine for the stage?” The question is translated. 

But Jungkook has performed it before. At their ON:E online concert. 

“Um,” Jungkook starts and then looks anxiously at Yoongi. “I would definitely dance. Maybe a sexy dance.”

The members jostle Jungkook and tease him, making up for any apparent awkwardness. The next question is directed at Yoongi.

“Yoongi-ssi, on this album you released Shadow, which is about the dark side of having fame. What inspired it?”

“Um,” Yoongi thinks back to the song, hoping he can be convincing enough. “It can be interpreted many ways. I originally wanted the message to be more like confronting our inner struggles, but not letting yourself get lost in them. I think people can grow a lot when they face themselves.”

The host nods, calling the message good for people of all ages. 

“Another question for Suga-ssi…”

Yoongi shifts on his chair, straightening his back. He’s grateful the other members are all politely watching the screen and not making Yoongi even more nervous under their stares. Normally, they’d make him feel more comfortable, but with whatever is happening here, nothing is comfortable. 

“Many fans expected you to write a love song for this album. Four months ago Jungkook released a song for your first anniversary. Should we anticipate more tracks from you two?”

Yoongi frowns, last he checked it was August. What anniversary does the interviewer mean? Yoongi can’t really fake an answer here. It’s the first thing he’s heard mentioned that he really has no frame of reference for. Anniversary song?

“What anniversary?”

The hosts laugh on screen and Jimin turns around in his seat to look back at Yoongi, laughing. “Yoongi! Apologize to your husband right now!”

“My—”

“Your wedding anniversary,” the host’s words are translated. “I’m sure Jungkook-ssi would love for you to write a song.”

Yoongi looks at Jungkook, seeing the shock he feels reflected back at him. Wedding anniversary? He tries to get a hold of his facial features. The last thing he wants is drama coming out of this interview.

“Or maybe Jungkook-ssi will write another song for you instead,” the host adds. “He was voted as the Best Celebrity Husband in Asia last month.”

Yoongi is stunned into silence. Not another word leaves his mouth for the rest of the interview. All he can do is listen and watch as the members answer questions about their own solo songs and the unit tracks. A couple of them have certainly noticed something is up with Yoongi and Jungkook. Yoongi doesn’t have a clue what they think is happening, but he knows he needs to talk to Jungkook as soon as possible. 

“Thank you!” They all say in Japanese, bowing and concluding the interview. 

“Cut!”

Yoongi takes out the earbud and shuts off his mic pack, he makes eye contact with Jungkook. 

“Hyung,” Jungkook says under his breath.

“Yeah.”

They don’t spare a glance to the other members, escaping under the cover of the crew and managers rushing about. Yoongi feels Jungkook right beside him as they use a side exit and immediately feel relieved as they enter an empty corridor. The walls in HYBE are dark gray, the lights above them nearly white in color. 

“What’s going on?” Jungkook asks as they walk side-by-side away from the studio. Will a manager chase them down? Yoongi didn’t even check to see if they were done filming first. 

“I don’t know,” Yoongi says and pushes open the first door they come to. It’s a janitor’s closet. How appropriate for a private conversation.

Jungkook turns on the light and they catch their breath, looking around at the metal shelves of cleaning products and the mops hanging against the wall. Yoongi crosses his arms over his chest and leans his back against the door.

Jungkook stands awkwardly in front of him, looking down at his hands. And then, he points at Yoongi’s left hand.

“Hyung.”

“What?” Yoongi raises his hand, trying to see what Jungkook does. 

“Our rings.”

They hold their hands beside each other. On their ring fingers are matching gold bands with seven small diamonds embedded. 

“They said…” Jungkook swallows. “They made it sound like we’re married. We...we are married.”

Yoongi stares. They’re no use in denying it. His heart is thumping in his chest, it makes no sense that they would be married. No matter what world they’re in. Because that would mean that they had been engaged, had been dating. It means that Yoongi and Jungkook were in love with each other. Maybe this is all a dream. A strange one. Not a nightmare but not a pleasant dream either. 

Yet...it doesn’t feel like a dream. Jungkook is very real in front of me. Yoongi’s feet are firmly planted on the concrete floor. His physical reaction to stress is the same—tense shoulders, a furrowed brow. What convinces Yoongi the most that this is real to some degree is Jungkook himself. Jungkook’s eyes. They’re deep brown, and when Yoongi looks in them he can see sincere fear and confusion. 

“Where are we?” Yoongi takes his hand back and tucks it beneath his other arm.

“How am I supposed to know? It’s like…” Jungkook fiddles with the zipper of his leather jacket. “It’s like home, but...different? Not a dream either but…”

There is one other way Yoongi can think to describe it. But...he’s not sure how it would be possible, or if they’re even real as people have theorized they are. 

“This is gonna sound stupid,” Yoongi prefaces, which makes Jungkook shake his head as if to say you’re not stupid . “What if we’re in, like, a parallel universe? A universe where almost everything is the same except…”

We’re married.

“Except we’re married,” Jungkook finishes his sentence, sheepish. “I don’t think any explanation would make sense, but that comes the closest.”

“Do you think—”

Knock knock knock.

Yoongi freezes, Jungkook stiffens in front of him and his mouth hangs open mid-sentence.

“I know you guys are in there.”

It’s Namjoon. His voice is unmistakable across universes, apparently. 

“We should talk to him,” Yoongi whispers.

“What if he thinks we’re crazy?”

“I think we might be crazy,” Yoongi says. “Let’s just see.”

“Okay.”

Yoongi exhales deeply and then turns around, yanking down on the door handle and pushing it open. 

Namjoon and Seokjin are there, and down the hall to the left Yoongi sees a manager lurking. Jungkook files out behind him and they shut the closet door.

“What’s going on, you guys?” Namjoon’s voice is quiet.

“It better not be a sex thing,” Seokjin deadpans, unimpressed.

Jungkook makes an embarrassed sound and shakes his head.

“Jungkook and I aren’t really sure what’s going on. We…” Well, Yoongi might as well say it upfront. “We don’t think we belong here?”

“What does that mean?” Namjoon studies their faces. Then, sensing their hesitance, waves them over to a small sitting area. It’s a somewhat secluded nook with two couches, a window with a view of Seoul’s skyline. It’s midday, cloudy and possibly on the verge of rain. It doesn’t look like August.

They sit down, Jungkook hiding his hands in his leather sleeves and hunching his shoulders a bit. Yoongi really wishes he didn’t look so stressed out, but he can’t blame him. Yoongi is anxious as hell too. He has absolutely no idea how he’s keeping it together. But part of him feels like he has to . For Jungkook’s sake. Yoongi is the hyung. Jungkook doesn’t do well with confrontations. Yoongi needs to talk to Namjoon and Seokjin for him, for both of them. 

If Yoongi had woken in this universe alone, he’s not sure he’d be so motivated. Fear is a strange thing. But the desire to protect is another beast entirely. 

“Why are you being weird with each other?” Seokjin looks between them curiously, thankfully speaking quietly too. 

“We’re confused,” Yoongi stares earnestly at Namjoon. If they can convince him, get him to trust them, then it will all be okay. Namjoon, young as he is, has always been a better problem solver than Yoongi. He’s their leader for a reason. “When Jungkook and I went to sleep last night I was at the dorm and he was in his studio. Then suddenly we woke up in the waiting room, and…we don’t know what’s happening. Why are we promoting Map of the Soul? That came out in 2020.”

“What do you mean?” Namjoon’s brow furrows. “It came out a couple weeks ago, it’s 2021.”

“I…” Yoongi doesn’t know how to put it into words. “Okay. But I think me and Jungkook are from another place, where it came out in 2020.”

“I don’t get it,” Namjoon says dumbly, looking genuinely apologetic. “I’m sorry. I want to understand, but—”

“Ah, Namjoon-ah!” Seokjin claps him on the shoulder. “Don’t you see? Look at them.”

Seokjin points at Yoongi and then at Jungkook who are sitting on opposite ends of the small sofa. 

“These aren’t our members. They’re from another universe.”

“Excuse me?” Namjoon looks at him incredulously. “Now’s not the time for jokes, hyung.”

“No, I’m completely serious, Namjoon-ah.” Seokjin is wearing an expression that says he’s satisfied with himself. “They’re not our Yoongi and Jungkook. It’s...I can’t explain. We just have to ask them. What is your universe like?”

“Um, well,” Jungkook rubs the back of his neck. “You’re right. We’re pretty sure we somehow ended up here in this...parallel universe. We’re still in Bangtan and everything back home. We’re working on our next album right now. Permission to Dance came out a couple months ago, and—”

“What’s that? A song?” Seokjin straightens up, interested as Namjoon merely gapes and tries to process.

Yoongi relaxes a bit. His only hyung in the group is making him feel better already. They’re not crazy. Someone else believes this madness is possible. 

“Yeah, it’s a song,” Jungkook confirms. “It was the last thing we released. Map of the Soul 7 came out last year, and then the pandemic happened and we’re still—”

“The what?” Namjoon questions, alarmed. 

“The—the pandemic,” Jungkook explains even quieter. “Um. COVID-19?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Jungkook glances over at Yoongi, eyes asking for help. Or…no. Maybe it’s something else. Amazement? Relief? Jealousy? Yoongi holds his breath. They don’t have a pandemic here? They get to see the fans and travel and… Yoongi is jealous too. So much time has been stolen from them and they’ll never get it back. 

“Okay. So,” Seokjin shakes his long black hair out of his face. He’s still wearing his washed out denim jacket and black jeans from the interview. “Why did you wake up in our universe then?”

“I don’t know,” Yoongi answers.

Namjoon sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “What are we going to do with you guys?”

“Don’t worry, hyung,” Jungkook says. “We’ll try not to make a big disturbance. But I would really like to go home soon.”

“Did you just call me hyung?” 

Jungkook is wearing his doe-eyed expression, looking at their leader who Yoongi knows he values so much. 

“Oh my god,” Seokjin claps his hands and laughs. “No way!”

“What?” Jungkook looks at him, confused.

“How cute! Are you younger than Namjoon-ah in your world?”

“Yeah,” Jungkook blinks. “Am I not here?”

“Didn't you notice in the interview?” Yoongi asks him. “Everyone calls you hyung.”

Yoongi hadn’t been sure if he was hearing them right. But now, with Seokjin’s confirmation, he knows that he did. Jungkook is older here than in their universe. He still has tattoos—at least on his hand—and the eyebrow piercing that Yoongi is still getting used to as a permanent feature on their maknae’s face. He does look a bit older now. More filled out in his face, maybe a bit broader, somehow his thighs even thicker. There’s still the innocence in his eyes, but maybe that’s not a sign of youth but rather just of Jungkook.

“Everyone but me,” Seokjin cackles. “How old are you guys?”

“I’m 23, and hyung is 28,” Jungkook gestures to Yoongi.

“Well not here,” Namjoon is smiling a bit. “You’re 28, Jungkook. And Yoongi is our maknae. He’s 24.”

“I’m the youngest?” Yoongi repeats, mildly horrified. He’s 24? “I knew I was younger but I didn’t think…”

“Aw, you’re so cute Yoongi-yah,” Seokjin teases. He even stretches over and tries to pat Yoongi on the head. “You don’t need to worry. We take good care of you. Just remember to call Jungkookie hyung while you’re here.”

Seokjin is wearing a shit-eating grin and Jungkook is smiling, though he looks a bit embarrassed. Great. How is he meant to call him hyung when Yoongi knows that it’s his maknae sitting there? Also, it’s a bit concerning how quickly Namjoon and Seokjin have concluded that Yoongi and Jungkook are going to be stuck in this universe for more than just a few hours, and that they’ve already decided that the pair need to act and play the roles of the Yoongi and Jungkook they’re replacing. Yoongi curls one hand into a fist, nails digging into his palm.

He has to stay calm. Then they can figure out a real plan on what to do. 

How does one even get teleported to an alternate universe? Why are he and Jungkook here together? How can they get back home?

“Have you guys gotten married yet?” Namjoon asks, innocent. “You know, in your universe.”

“No,” Jungkook replies tentatively, sparing Yoongi a quick glance. 

“Engaged?” Their leader presses, searching their faces. 

“No,” Jungkook answers again.

“Namjoon-ah,” Seokjin clicks his tongue, and repeats what he said before. “Look at them.”

Namjoon and Seokjin now openly examine Yoongi’s face, Jungkook’s face. Yoongi glances around, not liking the attention. What exactly are they getting at? Of course Yoongi and Jungkook aren’t a couple in their world. The thought hadn’t even occurred to him. They’re group mates, they're friends, anything more would be ridiculous. Which is why them being husbands in this universe is so beyond Yoongi’s comprehension.

Jungkook looks as embarrassed as Yoongi feels. It’s so strange, and a bit silly, to imagine himself with Jungkook like that. It’s far too intimate to feel real. He can’t even picture them kissing. God, if they have to do that here it would be so awkward. How is he meant to act in love when Yoongi has never, as far as he’s aware, been in love before?

“We’re not dating or anything,” Yoongi says, wanting to stop being examined like a specimen. 

“Not even secretly?” Seokjin wiggles his eyebrows.

“No!” Yoongi exclaims. “I have zero feelings for Jungkook, that would be weird.”

“I don’t like hyung like that,” Jungkook agrees.

“You can’t keep calling him hyung, that’s what people are gonna think is weird. Kinky or something,” Seokjin jokes. 

“Hyung,” Namjoon chastises him. “Stop that. But, Jin-hyung’s right. Our schedules for today aren’t really over. We need you guys to keep up appearances for the rest of today and then we can talk about it with the guys tonight. For now…let’s not let the managers find out.”

“You two need to act like husbands, basically,” Seokjin grins, enjoying this far too much. “And Jungkook-ah, you’re a hyung now.”

“What does that even mean?” Yoongi asks. “Can’t we just act like normal?”

“I think your normal is probably pretty different from ours,” Namjoon grimaces. “Our Jungkook-hyung and Yoongi are very in love.”

Yoongi doesn’t have time to ask what that means because a manager finds them and brings them back to get changed. They need to record a performance, and then they have a meeting about concepts for their end of the year award shows. It’s nothing Yoongi isn't used to, but he has no idea what everyone else will expect from him. Especially since he’s supposed to be the youngest now. He doesn’t foresee any issues with rapping or dancing, and he’s sure Jungkook will be fine with performing, but as a hyung to everyone else surely they’ll treat him differently.

When Yoongi sat in front of a mirror to get his hair sprayed into place, he finally notices how much younger he looks. Four years younger. A bit softer around the eyes, face less round. 

It’s the end of November here. Later in the year than at home, where it’s only August. Most of the other members are already ready and waiting, and Hoseok comes up beside Yoongi and beams at him in the mirror. 

“You okay, Yoongi? Ready to dance?”

“Yeah, I’m ready.”

“You and Jungkook-hyung okay?”

“Yeah,” Yoongi avoids his gaze.

“See you out there,” Hoseok claps him on the shoulder. “Don’t let Jungkook-hyung mess up your lipstick this time.”

Yoongi blushes underneath his makeup, not liking what Hoseok is implying. Jungkook is two seats over, getting a final few dabs of concealer on his chin. When he’s allowed up he starts doing vocal warm ups with the others. Yoongi joins in as soon as he’s ready, trying to get into the performance headspace. This is normal. He can do this. He knows how to do this. Focusing on work has always been his default when under pressure from personal issues. Block everything else out and rap. Dance. Produce and write. It’s a part of him at this point.

They return to the film studio, in-ears are handed out and the packs are strapped to their belts. Yoongi gets a handheld mic and some members put on headsets. One half of the massive studio has been transformed into their temporary stage. Black panels border and light up around the raised platform, their backup dancers have emerged in black leather outfits with drumsticks in hand. It’s everything Yoongi remembers ON being. 

Will I get to perform it in front of our fans? Depending how long he’s trapped here, maybe. 

He’s glad that it’s not happening right now, though. If he had to perform in person at this moment he’s not sure he’d be able to keep it together—or Jungkook for that matter. 

Hoseok leads them in some stretches on stage while the crew sorts out the lighting and then do a quick sound check. The members walk through the choreo slowly as a refresher—which Yoongi is grateful for. He and Jungkook keep glancing at each other. Yoongi just wants to make sure he’s okay. And Yoongi thinks Jungkook is doing the same for him. If Yoongi were here alone, he’s not sure what he would do. Knowing Jungkook has his back is a relief. 

They’re in this together.

When they finish the stage they’re shuffled into the massive dance practice room. The walls are high and black, the mirrors clean and shining, the wood floor easy to move on and not emitting a single creek. Sungdeuk walks them through special intro choreography for their upcoming MAMA stage in Hong Kong. Yoongi’s grateful they’re at the beginning of the process—he and Jungkook aren’t behind at all. It’s easy to pretend for a minute like nothing has changed. They didn’t wake up in an alternate universe, they’re not married, everything is normal.

It only works for so long.

A few hours later practice ends. The members disperse to lay on the ground and drink water or shower. 

Yoongi is dabbing some of the sweat off his face with a towel when one of the managers calls Yoongi and Jungkook over. Her name is Hwang Eunju. They do know her, have worked with her for a couple years now, but Yoongi is on edge. Jungkook is too. He looks at Yoongi nervously as they walk across the practice room towards her. They’re still catching their breath, shirts clinging to their sweaty bodies.

Yoongi feels a nudge on his right arm, and is glad to see Namjoon falling into step with him, having him there to mitigate any possible damage he or Jungkook could do when speaking to a manager is for the best.

“You’re not needed, Namjoon-ssi,” Eunju says.

“I just wanna know what the plan is,” Namjoon shrugs and takes a gulp of water from his bottle as they form a semi-circle around her. 

Jungkook drifts closer to Yoongi, their arms brushing. Is he doing it because of Eunju? Or because he wants Yoongi’s touch as genuine comfort?

“Alright, so you two have the BUDDY shoot tomorrow morning. We’ll be getting you prepped in the HYBE salon and then we’re driving to their studio in Itaewon. There’s the photoshoot and then the interview portion. It won’t be filmed, just audio recording and transcription,” Eunju runs down the list of some of the questions, and with each one Yoongi feels his stomach twist. 

Namjoon is watching them both with a neutral face, but Yoongi thinks they’re on the same page: they’re fucked.

Because it’s not just any interview. It’s a special edition of the monthly magazine BUDDY for just Yoongi and Jungkook—it’s the most well known LGBTQ magazine in South Korea. And they’re going to be on the cover. Because in this universe, Yoongi is openly bisexual. Jungkook is some kind of queer, and of course, they’re married. Gay icons in the music industry, the entertainment industry. It was huge news when it first came out—when they came out. 

After Eunju talks to them Namjoon tells Yoongi and Jungkook to shower and then come to his studio. 

That’s where they are now. The RKive. Namjoon is in his desk chair, leaning forward with his elbows in his knees. Yoongi and Jungkook are on his sofa like a couple of kids being scolded by the school principal for bad behavior. 

Namjoon’s studio looks just how it does back home. Lots of wood and Kaws figures lining the walls. 

“You guys have kept your relationship pretty private,” Namjoon continues to explain. “I know the interview tomorrow is going to be really difficult, but as long as you keep the main stuff straight I think it will be okay. Like, obviously you’re very public about being together but you don’t talk about your personal life all that much. You can make up whatever they ask you about living together, or what you like about each other.”

“Can we not just cancel it? Or reschedule?” Jungkook asks. He’s biting the inside of his cheek, one leg bouncing up and down.

“This has been anticipated for a long time,” Namjoon runs a hand through his still damp hair. “It’s a really big moment. Yoongi and Jungkook-hyung have been trying to get the company to let them do this, and it’s really now or never.”

“Shouldn’t we let them do it though? I don’t want to take it from, uh, the other us. And I feel like I can’t…I can’t talk about these things. I—” Jungkook shrinks himself. “I don’t even know what my sexuality is so how can I talk about being gay?”

“You heard the questions,” Yoongi says softly. Namjoon and Jungkook look at him in surprise. “It was still mostly about our music and Bangtan. You can probably talk about being confused or not needing to label your sexuality when they ask about it. I’m not thrilled about this either, I have no idea how I’m gonna answer these questions, but I think being as honest as we can without too many specifics is our best option.”

“Ah,” Namjoon smiles, dimples showing. “I can see how you’re a hyung in your universe.”

Yoongi’s face heats up and he rubs the back of his neck. “Can you just…give a rundown of our timeline? When Yoongi and Jungkook started dating and how it went public and…all of that?”

Namjoon nods.

They started to date in 2016. Yoongi was 19 years old back then, Jungkook was 23. They dated for two years without the public knowing, and then on their two-year anniversary they went live and told everyone. A statement was released by BigHit. A lot of people thought it would ruin them—as an idol group, as a couple, the rest of their careers—but it didn’t. Of course it was difficult at first, but thankfully by that time Bangtan had gotten big enough that nothing could really stop them.

In 2019, Jungkook proposed to Yoongi. 

“I proposed at a concert?” Jungkook repeats, shocked. “I don’t think I’d have the guts for that.”

“Yes, you did. Jungkook-hyung has always been a daredevil, I’m sure you are too. We all helped him plan it. It was during the encore stage. You guys should watch the video tonight so you have it fresh in your head,” Namjoon says. “But after the show, you guys also had dinner together and Jungkook-hyung asked Yoongi again, to really make sure.”

They got married on July 25th, 2020. The event was private and highly exclusive to the members and everyone’s families. They could have done something grand, but they kept it simple. Now they’ve been married for over a year—a year and four months, to be specific. 

“Namjoon,” Yoongi props his elbow on the armrest and leans his head into his hand, “before you said that me and Jungkookie are like, very in love in this universe. What does that mean?”

“Um,” Namjoon looks embarrassed for the first time. He shakes his head so his bangs fall flat onto his forehead. “Well…I’m sure you could watch plenty of videos but basically… Yoongi and Jungkook-hyung use a lot of pet names, they’re always together. They always say gross, sweet things about each other.”

“Do we…do we—” Jungkook stops himself, also not knowing how exactly to go about asking all of this.

It’s strange only because it’s them. Because they’re talking about themselves being in a relationship, being in love, when they’re not. They’re not at all but they’re gonna have to pretend like they are.

“Is it just for the cameras?” Jungkook decides on. “Like, are we really that close in front of the crew and all of you?”

Namjoon makes a face. “You guys are like... actually married, so of course it’s not for the cameras. They aren’t shy and want to show they love each other. If anything they’re tame in front of the cameras. Once those are off…” Namjoon grits his teeth and tilts his head. “They’re even worse. You guys obviously don’t need to be excessive, but you also don’t want anyone thinking something is wrong with your relationship. So, just figure out what you’re comfortable with and get ready to wear your acting shoes.”

Yoongi doesn’t much like the sound of this, but it's better to know than to not know. 

They take a car back to the dorm together. Namjoon texted everyone and let them know they needed to have a group meeting tonight, and Yoongi is trying to brace himself for all the questions. They ride home in silence, Namjoon in the passenger seat beside their driver. Jungkook is looking out the window, watching the city pass by. Colorful lights flash over his face, and Yoongi has to tear his gaze away. He wants to check up with him and ask how he is, but the driver would overhear and they have to be careful. 

Yoongi, for the first time today, takes his phone out of his pocket. It’s weight has been heavy all day, but he’s been scared of trying to open it. He doesn’t know what he could find inside. In a way, it feels invasive. Even if it is Yoongi’s phone, it’s not his phone. The pictures, messages, and anything else it contains aren’t his own. Still, it probably holds the answer to questions Yoongi hasn’t even thought to ask yet. 

The lock screen is of all the members. It’s a photo from their Bon Voyage trip to New Zealand. They’re standing in the snow, flecks of white thrown in the air and falling down on them. The glacier is white and vast behind them. 

Yoongi uses his fingerprint to unlock it, and is immediately met with the homescreen wallpaper. It’s Jungkook. This world’s Jungkook. He’s sleeping on a couch, and Holly is curled up beside him. It’s such a soft and warm photograph he can’t help but smile. Sure, this Jungkook is the other Yoongi’s husband, but he looks so cute. Just like the Jungkook sitting next to Yoongi now. 

“Look,” Yoongi whispers and hands his phone over to Jungkook. 

The other man smiles, finger brushing over the screen to pet Holly. “I still haven’t met him properly, you know.”

“You will one day,” Yoongi promises. He takes his phone back and opens the messaging app. 

The first person listed is Yeobo.  

That can only be one person. It’s Jungkook. He scrolls up in their conversation, reading past messages sent between husband-Yoongi and husband-Jungkook.

Yeobo

Jagi, you better be asleep when i get home

I know you have lots of ideas but rest is important

Me

Okay okay I’m almost done

Jimin-hyung got food for us, yours is in the fridge

Yeobo

Thank god I’m starving

We just finished discussing my music video..would you be in it?

Me

It’s your solo debut, hyung

Are you sure you want me in it?

Yeobo

I love you, jagi. And you know the song is about you

Pleeeeasssse

Me

;-; if you’re sure

I love you

Yeobo

:))))))

Yoongi clicks out, overwhelmed. Their other selves really are in love , just as Namjoon said. And Jungkook’s mixtape is done? They’re working on a music video? Yoongi wonders when they’re filming it, will they still be here? Yoongi goes to his camera roll next, wincing a bit as he discovers tons of pictures of himself and Jungkook. And a lot just of Jungkook. There’s other stuff, too. His HYBE studio, choreography videos to study, screenshots of menus and pictures of the other members. But...anyone looking can’t deny the evidence. The Yoongi of this universe loves Jungkook. 

And of course, Yoongi himself loves Jungkook too. But not like that. Not romantically or sexually or anything like how he’d need to in order to date him—much less marry him. 

He can’t think about this too deeply though. Yoongi needs to study his role and play it as best he can. That's all there is to it. Like memorizing a speech or lyrics of a song. Like embodying a character in their music videos and VCRs. That’s all this is.

It’s definitely awkward having everyone gather in the living room for a serious conversation. Sure, it happens back home a lot too, but those conversations tend to happen more naturally and not because of an immediate issue or conflict. They’ve had a lot more since the pandemic began. 

Namjoon, like the leader he is, gets everyone to sit and be quiet. The others notice right away that whatever the conversation is gonna be, it’s about Yoongi and Jungkook. Taehyung pulls Yoongi over to sit beside him on the couch, and Jungkook follows Yoongi to be on his other side. Hoseok is sitting on the ground, fingers tapping anxiously on his knee and Jimin is spread out on one of their recliners. Namjoon and Seokjin share the other couch, one of Seokjin’s hands on Namjoon’s knee. 

“So, um,” Namjoon clears his throat. “We have some news to talk about. It’s about Yoongi and Jungkook-hyung,”

They’re all silent. Taehyung grabs yoongi’s hand and tugs it into his lap. To comfort Yoongi? To comfort himself?

“Basically...god, it’s hard for me to say,” Namjoon runs a hand through his hair. 

“You guys are okay, right?” Jimin speaks up, eyes wide and panicked. “You’re not getting divorced or anything are you?”

“No, no,” their leader quickly corrects. “Nothing at all like that. Um... Jin-hyung. You understand better than I do?”

“Why can’t they tell us?” Hoseok asks, eyes flicking between Yoongi and Jungkook.

“We’re afraid you might not believe us,” Yoongi tells him, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. His palms are sweating a little. He wished Namjoon had just ripped the band aid off.

“So,” Seokjin straightens up. “Basically the Yoongi and Jungkook here with us are a Yoongi and Jungkook from another universe. Apparently they woke up here right before our Japanese interview, and don’t know why it happened.”

Seokjin laid it out exactly as it is, but of course the living room erupts into chaos. They ask a million questions, Taehyung tugs on Yoongi’s arm. They ask questions like they're quizzing them about this universe—or about their own—as if to see if it’s all a prank. When they’ve finally started to process that Yoongi and Jungkook aren’t from this world, the next thing they can’t seem to grasp is that they’re not in a relationship. 

“I can’t believe you’re not married,” Taehyung exhales in shock. 

Jimin and Hoseok inquire about their ages and seem thrilled about Jungkook being the maknae in their universe. Some of it is light hearted, and some of it is serious. They worry over husband-Yoongi and husband-Jungkook, and what they must be going through in the other universe. They all assume they’ve been swapped with each other, for some reason living one another’s lives. To teach them something? To punish them? Just out of random chance?

Yoongi and Jungkook take turns answering their questions, glancing at each other in confusion and wonder when they learn something new about this parallel universe. It’s overwhelming. But it’s also a relief. These are their members. Their family and best friends. And somehow, they're not all that different here than they are back home.

Everyone disperses slowly. Jungkook is among the first, saying he’s gonna change into pajamas and then doesn’t come back. Namjoon goes, Seokjin and Taehyung follow, and then Yoongi is left with Hoseok and Jimin.

“Yoongi,” Jimin combs his fingers through his silver hair. “Yoongi-hyung? No, that’s weird.”

“Isn’t it?” Hoseok cackles, clapping. “I can’t imagine you being our hyung.”

“Why do you say that?” Yoongi sticks his bottom lip out, trying not to feel disrespected. He’s gonna have to get used to it—but still.

“Just, you know,” Hoseok shrugs, “you’re our baby. Our talented producer maknae. I remember when Yoongi joined us at the beginning how shy he was, but I really admired his rapping for being younger than me. I needed his help a lot, but…we also went to your first day of high school with you. That adorable yellow uniform.”

“Jungkook-hyung was always the most protective of you. He was never loud about it,” Jimin slumps back into their couch, legs laid out straight in front of himself. “But I remember, as Yoongi got older, the way he looked at him changed. It was cute, watching him be embarrassed for once.”

“Yoongi,” Hoseok reached for the last spring roll, somehow escaping the hungry mouths of everyone for this long. “Can I ask you something personal?”

“We’re already getting very personal today so you may as well. You wanna know something about my universe?”

“Well, kinda,” Hoseok chews and then silently hands the other half of the roll to Jimin who eagerly stuffs it into his mouth. “I know you said you’re not dating in your universe…”

Yoongi nods, a bad feeling stirring. 

“But do you really not have a crush on Jungkook-hyung? Or, I guess he’s not your hyung. But…do you like Jungkook?” Hoseok’s tone is gentle, his eyes soft. Yoongi can tell he’s trying to be as warm and welcoming as possible.

“I know you want me to say I secretly have feelings for him or something,” Yoongi says, “but I really don’t. Jungkook is…he’s great. He works really hard for the group and he’s obviously one of my best friends but I really don’t see him like that.”

Yoongi feels like he’s had this conversation five times already. Why doesn’t anyone want to believe him?

“But…” Hoseok wipes his hand on his pants, “I just…I can’t imagine a universe where you guys aren’t together.”

“It’s really weird,” Jimin agrees, yawning. “You’ve been inseparable for years. I hardly remember when you guys were just friends. Could you imagine being with your Jungkook in your universe?”

Yoongi opens his mouth, ready to say no, but Jimin cuts him off with a raised hand.

“Don't just say no. Think about it for a second. If nothing else, maybe it will help you act like a couple while you’re here.”

Yoongi presses his lips together, trying to obey him. It’s interesting how the members talk to him here. They’re more straightforward, less careful, more willing to tell Yoongi exactly what to do. It’s not like they’re rude, but they don’t see Yoongi as having authority because of his age because they’ve grown up with Yoongi as their dongsaeng.

His gaze drifts over to the black TV screen, then to the curtains that are the same boring beige as in his own universe. Yoongi tries to picture it. He really does. Himself and Jungkook, back home, holding hands. Going on a date. Kissing . But everytime he tries to conjure up an image of Jungkook’s face close to his own, tries to hear himself professing his love to the younger man, there’s emptiness. He can’t see it. He really can’t.

It’s not like Jungkook is unattractive or unavailable or anything like that—but they’ve never been in a scenario Yoongi would call romantic. There’s never been any reason to consider Jungkook as anything more than family, a friend, a member of their indivisible group of seven.

“I really can’t,” Yoongi finally says. “I tried to imagine it, I really did, but… I don’t have feelings for Jungkook like that. I can’t even picture being with him like it.”

“Okay,” Jimin purses his lips. “I believe you. I’m gonna go to bed. I gotta go to the gym early tomorrow.”

“You and Jungkook-hyung have the BUDDY shoot don’t you?” Hoseok stands up, stretching.

“Yeah,” Yoongi pushes down the anxiety he’s already starting to feel about it. “We’ll try our best.”

“I believe in you guys,” Hoseok claps him on the shoulder. “Wish we could be there.”

“Nah, that would be more pressure, honestly,” Yoongi shakes his head. “Don’t worry.”

They head towards their bedrooms, and Yoongi is left to shut off the living room light and make his way to his bedroom. 

“Hyung,” a whisper comes from down the hall. Jungkook is standing in his doorway, lamp light slipping out of his room and casting his shadow on the floor. “Come here.”

“What’s up?” Yoongi walks past his own bedroom door and towards Jungkook.

“I don’t think you have your own room anymore. We—we share a room,” Jungkook tells him. Then he steps back, gesturing Yoongi in to see for himself.

There's a four-poster king-size bed taking up the right side of the room. Mesh, black curtains hang down around it, with one side held open to welcome them into the bed. There’s nightstands on either side with various personal belongings and the lamps that make the room glow warm orange. Yoongi sees a framed picture on one of the dressers that looks alarmingly like a wedding photo. The room is clean, like the way Jungkook usually keeps his own. There’s a thick, shaggy carpet covering half of the wood flooring and then there’s a desk with a full set up for late night projects. Like the one Yoongi has in his room at home. 

“The closet is full of our stuff,” Jungkook shuts the door behind them. “And I checked your room, I think it’s basically just been made into a storage closet.”

“Great,” Yoongi is rooted to the spot, afraid to touch anything. “What do we do?”

“I can sleep on the couch, hyung,” Jungkook shuffles his feet. He’s in pajamas and is wearing slippers. “You should take the bed.”

“Okay,” Yoongi allows, “but tomorrow you get the bed. We’ll trade off.”

“Okay.”

They stand silently, glancing around the room. On the walls are more framed photographs. Most are landscapes. Saipan, Hawaii, Daegu, Busan. Then there’s another, of the other Yoongi and Jungkook…

“It’s weird, isn’t it?” Jungkook laughs dryly. “Seeing us like this.”

Now he’s staring at the picture too.

The sun is setting behind them, a beautiful yellow, orange, and pink. Jungkook’s hair is long and black in the photograph, longer than he’s ever managed to grow it out back home. Yoongi looks young. Rounder cheeks and dirty blonde hair. They’re staring into each other’s eyes, with ridiculous smiles on their faces. Jungkook’s arm is wrapped around Yoongi’s back in the picture, making it so their bodies are pressed together. Like they’re about to kiss. Or maybe they already did. 

“Should we watch our engagement video?” Yoongi breathes, secretly hoping Jungkook says no.

“Namjoon-hyung made it sound important,” Jungkook replies. “I guess we should.”

“Okay.”

They get on the bed, leaning against the pillows. Yoongi crosses his ankles and tucks his hand between his thighs as Jungkook searches up the video on YouTube. Looking over his shoulder, Yoongi can see that there’s dozens of fancams from that night. 

[FANCAM] Jungkook Proposes to Suga - Love Yourself: Speak Yourself Seoul The Final, Day 3 | 191029

“Are you ready?” Jungkook settles back into the cushions, his side pressed into Yoongi’s. His thumb is hovering over the play button.

“Yeah,” Yoongi glued his eyes to the screen. Why is he so nervous? 

“I’m nervous,” Jungkook says out loud, making Yoongi look at him. 

“Me too,” Yoongi confesses. “I don’t know why.”

“Okay,” Jungkook meets his gaze and smiles a bit. “We can do this.”

“Just start it.”

And Jungkook does.

The video starts with the end of Make it Right playing, the fan chants of the audience loud and clear. Usually—or at least back home—these concerts ended with Mikrokosmos.

Yoongi watches all the members on the stage as the song fades. He sees himself crouching on the left side, gulping down water and staring into the crowd. The members are lining up, preparing for their ending segments. One, two, three, four, five, six—Jungkook doesn't line up with them. 

“Where did you go?” Yoongi whispers to Jungkook as the fans yell don’t go!

“I don’t know, I think I went right off stage.”

“Alright guys,” Namjoon on screen begins his speech. He’s wearing a black baseball cap and their own merch for the tour. “You’ve been awesome! It has been a really happy year for us on tour. Thank you for being with us from the beginning. We love to start and end here, at home, in Seoul.”

The fans cheer and brightly colored ARMY bombs wave. 

“Now we’re gonna hear from each member about their feelings on the Final Love Yourself concert.”

“Should I skip ahead?” Jungkook asks, as Taehyung begins to do his ending commentary

Yoongi nods. It’s a little hard to watch themselves like this. After all, this was the last concert he and Jungkook performed. At least, the concert they performed in person. Hearing the thank you’s, hearing the fans cries and shouts, it’s a lot. Yoongi misses performing. And even though saying goodbye was always the hardest part, he remembers not even considering that would be the last time saying goodbye in person for a long time. Amongst the group they’ve always said to never take anything for granted—but Yoongi did. They all did. 

The other Yoongi is last to go of the six on stage, and that’s where Jungkook hits play again.

“Make some noise!” Other Yoongi raises his mic to the sky and the fans clap and cheer. “Okay. It’s the final concert tonight. I know it’s sad, but this is what I think. Where there’s a beginning, there’s an end. And where there’s a hello, there’s a goodbye. This may be the final concert but it’s a new beginning at the same time.”

“Ooo, our maknae is so wise!” Jimin teases and the members and fans laugh.

“We have many more songs and stages to share with you. I appreciate you all so much for giving us these wonderful memories. Thank you for working hard with us. I love you, ARMY .”

Yoongi watches as the other him shoots a finger heart toward the audience, the massive screens behind them showing a close up of his fingers. And then…

The lights suddenly dim. Yoongi hears the crowd murmur in confusion. He sees a vague outline of himself turning around, looking towards the other members for an explanation. On the main stage, a single spotlight shines down as fake smoke blows around the stage. A platform is rising up, and then on the big screens Yoongi can see it clearly—Jungkook.

He’s completely changed his outfit. He’s in tightly fitting black pants with his long hair partially slicked back. He’s wearing a dark blue sweater with a collared shirt beneath. And he’s sitting at a sleek black piano. Jungkook isn’t looking at the camera, he’s looking down the walkway towards the B-stage where all the members are gathered as he rises higher into the air and stairs are raised to give him a path down. 

The fans’ screaming gets louder, and Yoongi watches carefully as the members push other Yoongi towards the center and go to the sides of the stage. 

The screens show Yoongi’s face. Pale, lips parted, eyes sparkling with wonder at Jungkook.

“You look so shocked,” Jungkook comments.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Yoongi’s mouth is dry.

“I wonder what song I’m going to play.”

Jungkook on screen then turns to the piano, and plays the opening notes to a familiar song. 

“Oh,” Jungkook exhales next to Yoongi. “That makes sense.”

Then the other Jungkook begins to sing into the glittering purple mic that’s been secured onto the piano. 

“The long night is following you as it flows~

Time follows you and fades.

Why are you getting farther away?

So far that I can’t reach you?” 

Jungkook continues to play the piano, singing with his heart into the mic. 

“Tell me why, you’re so far away, why

Can’t you see me in your eyes anymore?”

Then he stands, taking his microphone with him. The music swells, strings and another piano taking over as Jungkook begins down the steps. 

The song has been restructured, tailored to the other Jungkook’s performance perfectly. He starts to rap, which surprises Yoongi.

“It’s your verse,” Jungkook says beside him.

“I know.”

“I always smile at you

Even the love is a tragedy for me

I always cry after it’s over

Farewell,

Even though it's a comedy for you

Yes nothing is everlasting

I live without you even I feel like dying

Over, over, love is not over

Please take me out of this endless maze.”

The Jungkook on screen stops at the end of the walkway, lowering his mic and staring over at Yoongi with adoration in his eyes. It feels so personal. Almost like they shouldn’t be watching. 

Jungkook walks the rest of the way, entering the B-stage as the spotlight follows him and another joins to ignite Yoongi in an almost angelic glow. Jungkook takes one of Yoongi’s hands in his own, pulling him so they face each other and they can properly show the sides of their faces now. Their image is blown up big in the screens behind them, the other Yoongi’s eyes clearly swelling with tears already.

Jungkook lifts his mic again, piano playing softly and beginning to fade out.

“Love is not over, over, over

Love is not over, over, over

Love is not over, over, over~”

The audience erupts with cheers. The members on the sides of the stage all jump up, waving their hands as they try to hush the crowd again. When everyone quiets down, Jungkook on stage sets his microphone down on stage. Then he takes Yoongi’s and puts it down too. 

Then he drops to a knee, and Yoongi hears Jungkook inhale shapely beside him. 

They can’t hear what they’re saying. There’s only the gasps of the fans. But they don’t need to hear what’s being said to understand what’s happening. The other Jungkook pulls out a small box from his pocket, and holds it. He’s saying something, a few tears slipping down his face. The other Yoongi is crying too, wiping angrily at his face with one sleeve. Then the black-velvet  box opens, and everyone can read Jungkook’s lips this time.

Will you marry me?

Yoongi watches himself nod and say yes as tears streak his face. They scramble to slide the ring on and then the box is dropped to the ground and Jungkook stands and they kiss. Right there on stage, in front of everyone. Far longer than is usually appropriate in public, but the fans are going crazy. The other members have tears in their eyes and are clapping, cheering, circling Yoongi and Jungkook and forming a group hug. 

“Okay,” Yoongi swallows, “that’s enough.”

There’s still a few minutes left but Jungkook stops it, shutting his phone off. 

“Hyung,” Jungkook says softly. His voice is raspy, and Yoongi knows if he looked at him his eyes would be glassy. 

“Yeah?”

“How are we supposed to be anything like them?”

“I don’t know.”

~

Yoongi wakes the next morning to his phone alarm going off in bed next to him. He rolls over and quickly fumbles to turn it off. He rubs at his face, and then forces himself to look around.

Yep.

He’s still here. In the alternate universe. A place where he and Jungkook are married, and he’s the maknae of Bangtan.

Yoongi forces himself to get out of bed and goes to the massive walk-in closet. One side is Jungkook’s clothes and the other is his own. He pulls on the first pair of sweats he sees and then a big hoodie. They’ll give them clothes for the photoshoot anyway. He hears a distant knock on the door as he pulls the sweater over his head, and goes to answer it. 

“Hey, I have to get dressed,” Jungkook says.

Yoongi waves him in and they silently get ready together. They brush their teeth simultaneously in the attached bathroom, and Yoongi adamantly ignores the shower with two showerheads in it. They put on masks and Jungkook dawns a massive bucket hat, and then they head out to the living room.

Sejin is standing there, scrolling through his phone. He looks up at their appearance and nods towards the front door. 

“Got coffee for you both in the car.”

“Thank you,” they both say simultaneously. Yoongi laughs, seeing Jungkook’s eyes become crescents between his hat and mask as he grins back.

They follow Sejin out of the apartment and down to the parking garage. As they walk towards the waiting black SUV, Jungkook puts a soft hand on Yoongi's shoulder. He’s about to ask what? when he remembers what they’re supposed to be doing. Acting . Acting like they’re married.

Right.

So he lets Jungkook guide him to the car, and then Yoongi sits in the middle so that way he can be closer to Jungkook. Sejin hands them back their coffees and they hold the paper cups in their palms, letting it warm them. The late fall weather is chilly, especially this early when the sun has hardly begun to peak over the horizon. 

Jungkook rests his head on Yoongi’s shoulder, yawning. 

Okay. He can do this. Yoongi can manage this. He takes careful sips of his coffee as they drive though morning traffic to HYBE. When they arrive, they go up to the salons and sit in front of mirrors. The stylists are chattering quietly about products and their kids and other random things, and Yoongi lets himself rest as various products are applied to his face. They finish the base layer of makeup and add light eyeshadow and lip tint, but anything extra will be added once they’re at BUDDY’s headquarters in Itaewon. 

They’re dressed in complimenting outfits. Yoongi is in loose red, cloth pants with a blue button up tucked into the high waist. Over it goes a black sweater with a golden moon and city lights emblazoned on the front.

He looks across the room when Jungkook comes out of his changing stall, and sees him wearing similar loose black pants and red shoes. He’s wearing a simple black sweater vest over a long-sleeved shirt dotted with orange-gold.

They’re quite the pair. 

“You look good,” Jungkook comes over, fixing the last button on his cuff. 

“So do you,” Yoongi returns the compliment shyly, hyper-aware of the people around them. There’s a camera here, likely filming the behind-the-scenes of the photoshoot for today. 

“Ready?” Sejin asks, slipping his hands in his pockets and smiling at them both.

“Yeah,” Jungkook shrugs, “nervous though.”

“You guys will do great,” their manager smiles proudly down at them. “I’m excited for you. Eunju-ssi ran down the questions with you?”

“Yeah, she did,” Yoongi confirms as he grabs his coffee and finishes it off.

“Good. Photoshoot, interview separately and then together. You shouldn’t be asked about politics, but if you are, you know the drill.”

The pair nods as they leave the salons and return to the SUV.

“Jagi, let me sit in the middle. I know it’s uncomfortable for you,” Jungkook says as they approach the car.

Yoongi has to do a double take to make sure Jungkook is talking to him. He blushes at the affectionate name, having never been called that before. Sejin is right there, he definitely heard Jungkook. Yoongi knows it’s for the act, but the word is so strange coming out of his mouth.

“Okay,” Yoongi manages to respond quietly. 

Jungkook opens the door and climbs in first, then offers a hand down to help Yoongi up into the SUV. Yoongi takes it, feeling silly. It’s not as if he’s a princess or a girl in heels or a little kid. He doesn’t need help. Would the other Yoongi like treatment like this? Would the other Jungkook treat Yoongi like this? 

They sit close together again, and Jungkook pulls out his phone for the ride. His lock screen is Yoongi, and his home screen is a picture of them all bowing on stage at a concert. Yoongi sees Jungkook go to Messages, and then open their conversation together.

Jungkook nudges him, and Yoongi gets the hint to take out his own phone too.

Yeobo

I watched a ton of videos last night

Of us

I call you jagi a lot

Me

Oh, I see. That’s fine, I just wasn’t expecting it

Do I call you something?

Yeobo

I think just hyung, but sometimes plain Jungkook and if you’re being cute you call me yeobo 

Me

that’s your name in my phone

Yeobo

I can see that

Jungkook snorts next to him and then continues to type. 

Yeobo

We hold hands a lot, is that okay?

Me

yeah

Anything else?

Yeobo

What if they ask us to kiss for the magazine ?

Yoongi reads the sentence over. Kiss Jungkook? It’s not like it would be bad, but it would be strange. 

Me

Let’s try and avoid it

At least not lips

We would look so awkward doing it for the first time there

Yeobo

Good point

When they arrive they enter through the back entrance. There’s not many staff from the magazine present, but is also a smaller publication since—as much as South Korea has progressed—being gay still isn’t widely accepted. Yoongi had looked up last night, after watching their engagement video, about the marriage equality laws in the country. Technically, the Yoongi and Jungkook of this universe are tied by a Civil Union, not marriage. Which basically means that though they are legally unified, they don’t receive the same benefits or protections that most married couples do.

It was upsetting to see, but also gave Yoongi hope. At least they’re on track to real change. Back home, he couldn't marry a man in South Korea in any form. Maybe, they’re closer to achieving this than Yoongi thinks they are.

“Jungkook-ssi, Yoongi-ssi,” a director greets them when they enter the photoshoot studio. “I’m Lee Gyedeok and I’ll be your photo director today. This is Kwak Yikyong, she’ll be your interviewer later today.”

The woman beside Director Lee bows politely. She’s older, wrinkles by her eyes and her voice low. Her smile is sweet though, and the director is grinning wide. They seem incredibly excited to have Yoongi and Jungkook here. 

“Thank you so much for being here,” the director says and he takes them to a side room where a few stylists are leaning against the makeup counters, waiting for their arrival. “We thought we might never get a yes, but we’re so honored to be able to learn about you two and show more people that love really does win.”

Yoongi shares a look with Jungkook, neither of them sure how to respond to the situation. Yoongi had thought he was ready, but now that they’re here he isn’t so sure.

“Thank you,” Yoongi forces the words out. “We appreciate you taking the time for us. Jungkook and I love everything BUDDY has done for the community.”

“Everyone deserves to have a voice,” Diector Lee pushes his black-framed glasses up his nose. His hair dark brown, falling in light waves over his forehead. He has plugs in his earlobes and a lip piercing. “You two have one of the biggest platforms in Korea, you’re inspiring real change and opening the minds of so many young people.”

They sit in the makeup chair and get a few touch-ups on their face before heavier, golden eyeshadow begins to get applied and their hair gets sprayed, brush, blow dried, and sprayed again. Yoongi’s grey-silver hair is fluffed out and parted around his forehead. Jungkook’s short, black hair is slicked mostly off his forehand, with a few strands hanging free. 

Sejin lurks behind them the whole time, monitoring everything. Usually he would be a comfort, but now he’s stressful to have around. He knows Bangtan so well, each of the members so well, if any of the staff were to notice something is off between Yoongi and Jungkook—it would be Sejin. 

“Jungkook,” Yoongi gets his friend's attention, and then turns his palm up at him. Jungkook takes the hint, and accepts his hand. 

Their arms hang between them, and their eyes meet in the mirror in front of them. 

The photoshoot studio has been completely set up. It’s quite simple, with a white backdrop and big box lights. The backdrop can change colors with additional lights shining onto it, and there’s a projector set up to cast additional images over it. 

“Jungkook-ssi, if you could go first,” Director Lee gestures. “My partner, Yun Hyonseok, will be taking your pictures today.”

Yoongi nods to the photographer, Jungkook doing the same as he passes by him and carefully steps into the lights. 

If the other members were here, they’d probably hoot and holler at Jungkook. Call him sexy, make him laugh, and then get shooed out of the room so they could actually get some work done. Yoongi finds a chair and sits down, watching as a stylist runs up and adjusts Jungkook’s hair with a comb. The director tells him the general concept— mysterious and handsome —and the lights shift to an eerie purple and yellow. 

The camera starts to click as Jungkook shifts between poses like a pro. He gives seductive looks towards the camera, puts his hand in pockets, plays with his hair and leans against the wall. They shift the lighting to be more bright, and tell him to give cute, flirty looks.

“Actually, Yoongi-ssi,” Director Lee calls. Yoongi straightens up. Is it his turn already? “Could you come stand over here? We want Jungkook to try and look at the camera as if it were you.”

“Oh, okay,” Yoongi gets up, praying his face isn’t giving away his uncertainty. 

He stands behind the photographer, making eye contact with Jungkook who smirks. And as he does, the camera snaps a picture.

“Perfect, just like that,” the director praises. 

Jungkook turns the same smirk to the lens, and then alternates between giving Yoongi big smiles, kissy lips, and playfully curling a finger as if he’s trying to lure Yoongi in. Yoongi just laughs, a little embarrassed, but mostly finding it funny to be the center of Jungkook’s attention. So Yoongi teases back, sticking out his tongue and making Jungkook laugh. He genuinely looks so beautiful. All dressed up, looking so happy. At one point he completely tilts to one side, nearly falling over with laughter as Yoongi wiggles his entire body in his signature goofy dance.

“Ah, Jagiya!” Jungkook claps his hands together as a makeup artist hurries to fix some of his smudged eyeshadow. “You make me laugh too much.”

Yoongi feels his face heat up, noticing the way Director Lee beams in his peripheral vision. Jungkook really adapted to the situation quickly, and it’s throwing Yoongi off a little. At least from what Yoongi can tell, Jungkook is unphased about needing to act like a couple. Because it’s not a big deal , Yoongi reminds himself. Because it isn’t. 

They take a few close up shots of Jungkook—focusing on his eyes, his side profile, his nose and mouth. Yoongi watches as the images appear on the monitor, smiling to himself. Jungkook really looks good in them, hopefully he agrees. He joins Yoongi a few minutes later, one hand finding the small of Yoongi’s back and leaning over to see the pictures. The touch isn’t really necessary, no is looking that closely at them. The crew member at the desk clicks through them, and Jungkook hums in appreciation. He gives a thumbs up, thanking them all, and then goes to take Yoongi's abandoned seat.

The lighting on the backdrop shifts to light blue as Yoongi enters the set. 

“Alright, for this first batch of photos we want to go for cozy and gentle looks,” Director Lee says. 

Yoongi nods, it’s perfect since he’s still feeling tired. He pretends to stretch, runs a hand through his hair, puts his hands in his pockets and strikes different poses. The photographer moves in and out, capturing many angles. Sometimes Yoongi looks straight into the lens, sometimes he looks off into a random corner. They have Yoongi remove his outer black sweater so he’s just in the pale blue button up, and they undo some of the sleeve buttons. He smiles at the camera, trying to be more playful.

“Ah, it’s a bit forced. I think we’ll have Jungkook come over.”

So Jungkook stands behind the photographer this time, and he’s somehow gotten his hands on some food and stuffing a last cracker into his mouth as fast as he can. That alone makes Yoongi laugh, which makes Jungkook cover his mouth as he laughs too. 

Yoongi smiles over at his friend, surprised at how much it helps him relax. Usually it’s too much pressure to have another member watching him, but Jungkook isn’t like that. He just wants Yoongi to do well. He sticks his teeth out and gives himself bunny ears with his hands which makes Yoongi smile. He leans against the wall, the camera flashing at him as he tilts his head back and grins. 

“Excellent!” The director claps. “If you could do a few more serious and sexy looks, then we’ll take your close ups and move on to the pair shoot!”

When Yoongi is done he goes to look at the monitors, noticing the way he smiles are far more genuine when Jungkook is behind the camera. He nods his approval, and then goes to find his faux-husband. 

Jungkook is at the snack table, popping a grape into his mouth as they add some props to the set.

“The easy part is almost over,” Yoongi mumbles as he pours himself some coffee from a dispenser into a paper cup. 

“You should eat something, Jagi,” Jungkook eyes flick from past Yoongi then to his face. “You haven’t eaten yet today.”

“You guys are truly pros,” Director Lee suddenly joins them, “you’ve made my job so easy today.”

“Ah,” Jungkook rubs the back of his neck. “We try, thank you.”

“I hope you’ll forgive us when we get to the interview portion,” Yoongi adds. “We find it hard to talk about personal things.”

“No, we understand. You’re public figures and you want to hold onto what privacy you have. We hope you’ll find some things to share with us and your fans.”

Yoongi nods, examining the snack table for anything he could eat. Jungkook’s right, he is hungry. Yoongi swallows as he tries to get the next words out.

“Hyung, can you make me a bowl of fruit?” Yoongi asks, looking directly at Jungkook so he knows it’s him he’s addressing.

“Of course,” Jungkook grabs a bowl and starts to prepare it. The director nods a goodbye to them as he leaves to check the set preparations.

“I can finish,” Yoongi says and comes up close beside Jungkook, trying to take his bowl from him.

Jungkook swats at his hand, “No, no. Let hyung do it.”

“You don’t need—” Yoongi is about to argue, but then he sees Jungkook’s smirk. “You’re enjoying this aren’t you? You think it’s funny I have to call you hyung?”

“I kinda do,” Jungkook’s grin widens.

“Wow,” Yoongi bumps him with his elbow. “I get no respect around here.”

“Here, jagi,” Jungkook presents the dish of melon to Yoongi.

Yoongi rolls his eyes, but accepts it. They wander back over to the perimeter of the set which has been transformed into something that mimics La La Land. There’s a black bench, a lamp post with a working light, and the projector has been turned on so that stars cast across the scene. Yoongi eats the melon with his fingers, listening closely as the Director Lee goes onto the set and begins acting out some of the poses and scenes he’s imagined for their couple shoot.

Yoongi and Jungkook take over the set, a little awkward at first, but easily get into the rhythm. They take advantage of the bench and use it various ways, Yoongi hangs off the light post like he’s in Singing in the Rain, they even give Jungkook and Yoongi props to use. A red rose, and umbrella. They do their best to give each other fond smiles and reach out their hands to each other—like they’re reaching for their lover who is just out of reach. 

Director Lee asks for a few special poses. First, for Yoongi to kneel and hold Jungkook’s hand like he’s proposing. It’s a bit awkward, Yoongi feels shy, and Jungkook makes a weird face when Yoongi drops to one knee in front of him that makes him laugh. They manage to keep it together, and then the director asks them to go through the whole moment as if it were an engagement.

Yoongi peeks up at Jungkook. How should they go about this?

“Okay,” Jungkook says to the director, then waves for Yoongi to stand up. Yoongi leans in as Jungkook whispers his idea to him. “I can sit on the bench, then you can act like you’re proposing. I’ll like, help you up and—”

“Would you two mind kissing for us?” Director Lee interrupts, voice loud. “We want to show off your pride.”

“Jungkook,” Yoongi gives him a quick look that says no.

“Ah, would you mind if we keep it on the cheek?” Jungkook asks the director. 

“Alright, if that’s how you’re comfortable,” the director looks a little disappointed, but thankfully doesn’t push it. 

So they go through the moment, making each motion slower as the photographer moves himself to capture the pictures at different angles. They smile, Jungkook stands. He reaches down to take Yoongi’s hand in his own. The touch is incredibly warm and gentle. Jungkook’s hands are a bit rough, but he’s anything but that as he brings Yoongi up in front of him.

“Will you press your foreheads together?” The photographer asks quietly.

Yoongi nods, and leans in to meet Jungkook. Jungkook’s hands fall on Yoongi’s hips and he wraps his arms around Jungkook's back. Yoongi breathes shallowly as their noses brush and forehead press together. A stylist comes over and moves their hair, then runs away as pictures start to click in their ears. Yoongi has his eyes shut, feeling Jungkook’s body heat against his own and the fruity scent of his breath. 

“Cup Jungkook-ssi’s cheek,” the photographer guides. 

Now Yoongi opens his eyes, raising one hand to gently touch the side of Jungkook’s face. The other man has his eyes closed, his pretty lashes so close Yoongi could count them. Jungkook is so beautiful, it’s no wonder he’s married in this universe. And I’m the one married to him , Yoongi remembers. 

“Jungkook-ssi, open your eyes please.”

Jungkook does as directed and meets Yoongi’s gaze. They’re so close to each other. It would be so easy to kiss for the camera like this. Yoongi feels his heart beating louder. Can Jungkook hear it? Yoongi drops his hand to Jungkook’s shoulder just as the other boy says—

“Your eyes are really pretty, jagi.”

Yoongi smiles stupidly wide, and Jungkook does the same. His nose scrunches against Yoongi’s and the photographer starts hitting the shutter button like crazy as they giggle and smile. 

“Will you kiss Yoongi-ssi on the cheek?” 

Yoongi turns to face the photographer, extracting his arms from around Jungkook, and playfully points at his cheek. Jungkook keeps one hand hooked around Yoongi’s waist and drags him a bit closer as he presses his lips to Yoongi.

He does it a few times as the photographer snaps close-ups and then backs up for a wider shot. 

Most of the time when the members have kissed each other on the cheek, it’s been a joke. They’re always laughing, screaming, and using the kiss as a punishment. They make such a big deal out of a tiny affectionate gesture. This is the first time Yoongi’s gotten a kiss from another member and it hasn’t felt like a joke. Obviously, it still doesn’t mean anything significant. It’s nice though. It makes Yoongi smile. With Jungkook—and the open-minded staff watching them—he’s comfortable.

“Okay,” Director Lee calls. “Come take a look and if you guys are good we’ll begin the interviews.”

Yoongi leads the way over to the monitors. Director Lee clicks through the pictures, complimenting them and pointing out his favorites. Yoongi hardly hears what he’s saying. All he sees is how much of, well, a couple he and Jungkook look like. The photos where their faces are pressed so close together they could be kissing are incredibly intimate, but…

“We look good,” Jungkook affirms from behind him. “I’m happy with them.”

“Me too,” Yoongi says. He really hopes they did the other Yoongi and Jungkook justice. “Thank you so much.”

“Of course,” the director smiles warmly. “Go ahead and take a break while we get everything set up for your interviews.”

It’s nerve-wracking to say the least. Yoongi’s anxiety is off the charts, but the interviewer is gentle and she understands when it takes Yoongi a minute to form an answer. They ask about 15 questions for each of them. Once he gets in the rhythm though, Yoongi is able to answer questions more naturally. After all, they are still about him even if it’s another version of himself. When they’re done, they’re told they’ll be emailed a rough transcript shortly. 

“You did well,” Sejin claps them both on the back as they exit through the back door. “I’m glad you were able to do this. We’re gonna head back to the company and then you have a break before everyone’s called for the MMA rehearsals, MAMA choreo practice after.” 

They climb into the SUV, Yoongi again in the window seat after Jungkook insists. Yoongi is still feeling a little embarrassed from the interview, and the intimate photoshoot, but he’s also satisfied with how it went. He thinks they did well. It wasn’t as hard to answer the questions genuinely as he feared it could be. Now all they have to do is pray they didn’t fuck over their other selves with something they said. 

“Jungkook,” Sejin turns around in the passenger seat and looks back at them. “You have a meeting about your music video this evening. I think the script was finalized.”

“Oh, okay,” Jungkook looks like a deer in headlights. 

“Yoongi, you’ll need to be there too since you’re in it,” Sejin adds casually as he turns back around and picks up his conversation with their driver about a new sushi bar near HYBE. 

“We can ask Namjoon when we see him,” Yoongi tells Jungkook under his breath. “Maybe you should dig around your studio and see what, um, the other you has been working on.”

“I don’t want to spoil it,” Jungkook sticks out his bottom lip, which is still a glossy red from the makeup. 

“Spoil it?”

“I haven’t finished my mixtape yet. I want to do it naturally, I don’t want to know what parallel-me wrote,” Jungkook complains quietly, huffing. 

Yoongi finds himself smiling, Jungkook looks rather cute with his arms wrapped around his chest and a small crease in his brow. 

“Hey,” Sejin says suddenly, making them both jump. Now his head is just turned sideways, not completely looking back at them. “I was wondering if you two were okay.”

“Yeah,” Yoongi replies. “I think the interview went well.”

“No, not that,” Sejin waves his hand dismissively. “I mean this morning. Jungkook was sleeping in the living room.”

Yoongi tries his hardest to keep a blank face, but Jungkook immediately has an expression of panic cast over his features. 

“I just wanted to make sure nothing is wrong. You guys have never done that before,” their manager's voice is smooth and calm. He doesn’t sound upset or stressed, more like he’s asking as their friend. Just checking in. 

The car ride gets bumpy, Yoongi and Jungkook’s arms and legs knocking against each other.

“I, uh,” Jungkook stutters a little, searching for an excuse. Yoongi puts a hand on his knee, trying to reassure him. “I was snoring really badly last night and I didn’t want hyu—Yoongi. Um. I didn’t want to ruin Yoongi’s sleep.”

Sejin is silent for a moment. The heat is running in the car, providing a steady dull hum as Yoongi accidentally squeezes Jungkook’s leg tighter with anticipation of Sejin’s response.

“Okay. But if there is anything I can do for you guys, if you need help or advice of any kind, please don’t be afraid to ask me. I’m here to support you.” 

“Thank you, hyung-nim,” Yoongi exhales in relief. “We really appreciate you.”

“You better,” Sejin laughs. 

Okay. Crisis averted. But Yoongi has a feeling this means…well. They’re probably gonna have to share the bed from here on out. It’s a king size mattress though, and all their belongings are in the room together. It makes sense. It might be easier to talk openly with each other if they’re alone too. 

Yoongi opens the email app on his phone, and opens the most recent message. BUDDY sent them their transcript, as promised. Yoongi starts to scroll through the PDF, reading over all of Jungkook’s questions and some of his own. He’s seen his own words written out like this countless times before, but this time it feels like a bigger deal. At least part of the words are an outright lie. Or are something true stated in a context where the meaning can easily be adapted to suit their circumstances. 

Jeon Jungkook - BUDDY Magazine, December Print

Question:  You have been known as the Golden Hyung since your debut. A lot of the time you reject the title of being good at everything. What is something you can confidently say you’re Golden at? 

JJK: Um…I don’t know. I try really hard at certain things, and practice a lot. A lot of people call me talented or gifted, but really I think I just feel the pressure to do good. 

Question: Could you pick something for us? What do you feel confident in?

JJK: I think I still have a lot to improve, but maybe my performance. I know I can get better at singing and work harder at dancing, but sometimes I see old videos of myself and think “Wow, I really did that?” So, maybe that. But it’s not easy no matter what.

 

Question:  We’ve all seen the video of you proposing to Yoongi on stage, but you weren’t using mics during the moment. We’ve all been curious. What did you say to Yoongi-ssi when you proposed? 

JJK: I know people want to know what I said. I wanted to share that moment with everyone we love. The members and ARMY. But Yoongi and I…our relationship is just between us, and there’s some things I only want him to hear. Also, I hardly remember that moment because all I was thinking about is if he would say yes or not. 

 

Question: Did you receive blessings from both your parents to get married?” 

JJK: Um, yes. Our parents have come to understand and support us.

 

Question: What is your sexuality? 

JJK: Ah, I wondered if you’d ask me this. Honestly, Yoongi is better at all this than I am. He taught me more about myself than I could ever learn alone. I don’t want to give a label to my identity. All I know is that, uh, Yoongi—Yoongi is my husband. He’s who I want to be with.

Jungkook did a good job, all things considered. Yoongi can tell a few places where Jungkook got stuck—questions he didn't have answers for. But he gave enough that anyone reading it would be satisfied. Yoongi is curious if their parents approved or not. Back home, his family is aware of his sexuality. They don’t completely understand Yoongi being bisexual, but they’re okay with it. Jungkook’s family though...Yoongi has no idea. Jungkook’s parents have always seemed to be loving and encouraging of Jungkook’s idol dreams, but there’s a chance they wouldn’t accept him dating Yoongi. Dating a man. 

Yoongi moves onto his own interview, wincing through it.  

Min Yoongi - BUDDY Magazine, December Print

Question: How have the messages in your music changed over the years? 

MYG: I think, initially, I wanted to come off as tough. Bangtan’s original concept was a lot more hiphop influenced, but we wanted to talk about the struggles of people our age. This included school and working hard but having older generations look down on us. Now I want to offer more introspective ideas and broader things that can relate to myself and to many others around the world. For example, loving yourself is important for anyone.

 

Question: What advice would you give to kids who want to come out, or are discovering their sexuality? 

MYG: Trust yourself, trust your gut. You know yourself better than anyone. You can never come out too late or too early. Please be safe, and find a community where you’re accepted.

 

Question: Is there something you’d like to tell Jungkook-ssi, that you have a hard time saying to his face? 

MYG: You work so hard. Please be with me for a long time. Thank you for always being by my side. And I love you. 

Question: You have a hard time saying I love you? 

MYG: Jungkook-hyung is better at that stuff. I still feel shy sometimes. He knows I love him, of course. But I should say it more.

Yoongi cringes inwardly at that. When he’d answered the question, he’d thought Jungkook was out of the room but it turned out he was simply out of view and had heard the answer. Yoongi has always found it hard to say he loves people. Platonically, mainly—since he’s never been in love. He’s not sure why, but the words carry a lot of weight to him. The sincerity in them is intense. Yoongi does love his members, very much so, but saying it out loud feels like bearing his soul. 

Jungkook elbows him a bit, tilting his phone screen so Yoongi can see their Kakao chat with the members.

Hyung

Jungkook-ahhhh Yoongi-yahhhh

How did it go

Leader

Did you feel prepared? I hope you studied well last night

Jimin-ssi

Aish what if they accidentally embarrassed our Yoongi and Jungkook-hyung

Taehyung 

You think they had to kiss?? Ewwww

Hyung

Bet you ten million won they liked it

Hobi Sunshine

Maybe they were sent here to fall in love~

Leader 

Let’s not say such things

We need to worry about them getting back to their home safely and acting well while they’re here 

Taehyung 

Hobi-hyung that would be so romantic 

Leader

Everyone please don’t pressure them

“What’s my name in your phone?” Yoongi asks, not even bothering to comment on the silly conversation the members are having. Sent here to fall in love, hah.

“Ah,” Jungkook pulls his phone back, shutting it off. “It’s embarrassing.”

“You’re Yeobo in mine,” Yoongi shares. “C’mon. What is it? If Hobi is Hobi Sunshine, mine better be just as cute.”

“He’s Hobi- hyung to you,” Jungkook’s nose scrunches up as he teases Yoongi. 

Yoongi hardly refrains from sighing out loud. 

“What’s my name, yeobo?” Yoongi asks in a sickly cute voice.

Jungkook laughs, then taps the underside of Yoongi’s chin as he says, “Jagi, you have to ask more nicely than that.”

Yoongi sighs, giving up. “Fine then, don’t tell me.”

Yoongi can feel Jungkook staring at him, smiling with his adorable bunny teeth. His eyes are dark though, searching. He’s scheming or planning something devious like the maknae that he is in their universe. 

“Tell me you love me,” Jungkook demands suddenly.

“What?” Yoongi practically squeaks.

“I’m the interview you said you need to tell me you love me more, so do it,” Jungkook scoots even closer to Yoongi, truly trapping him between the window and Jungkook.

“Seriously?” Yoongi leans his head back against the cushions. “You’re annoying.”

“So impolite. At least call me hyung.”

“Jungkook-ssi.”

“Hey!” Jungkook snorts, grabbing Yoongi’s forearm as he laughs and shakes Yoongi a bit. “C’mon. Don’t you want to know what your name is?”

Yoongi does. He’s curious. If Jungkook were his husband, what pet name would he choose? And he meant what he said in the interview. Jungkook should know how much he means to Yoongi, all the members deserve to be told that more. 

“Jungkook, I love you.”

“Aw!” Jungkook clutches his chest dramatically, eyebrows raising as he gives Yoongi one of his rare grins. His brow piercing gleams, his eyes wide and innocent like Yoongi has always known them to be.

“Now what's my name in your phone?” Yoongi bats at the other boy’s shoulder.

“It’s Steamed Bun,” Jungkook deadpans, his face expressionless.

“What?” Yoongi must not of heard that right.

“It’s Steamed Bun. That’s your name in my phone,” Jungkook repeats. He opens up his contacts and shows Yoongi while beaming, completely amused.

And there it is. Right below a picture of Yoongi it says Steamed Bun.

“Unbelievable,” Yoongi mumbles.

“Jagiyaaa, don’t tell me you’re upset with me,” Jungkook pouts.

Yoongi doesn’t answer him, but a smile tugs at his lips anyway. 

“You guys seem just fine,” Sejin speaks up from the front seat. Yoongi had practically forgotten he was there. “Don’t know what I was worried about.”

Good, Yoongi thinks. We make pretty convincing husbands. 

~

It’s surprising how fun it is to act. In a way, it feels like they’re playing a giant practical joke on the other members and their staff. Throughout the practices Yoongi and Jungkook refer to each other fondly, share water bottles, and snicker at the expressions the members give them. They all know they’re acting, but the choreographer and dance instructors don’t. The backup dancers don’t. For all the staff present, Yoongi and Jungkook are that married couple Yoongi and Jungkook . 

The MMAs rehearsal was first, and thankfully Hoseok was there early to run through it with Yoongi and Jungkook. That performance had already been choreographed and practiced by them before Yoongi and Jungkook's miracle arrival, and they have to be caught up to speed quickly. They scrape by just barely, though with a fair amount of criticism from the performance director that they hadn’t memorized well. 

The MAMA practice goes much better, and Yoongi is startled by multiple slaps to his ass by Jungkook as he compliments Yoongi’s form. 

Jungkook mentioned he watched compilation videos last night, and Yoongi is beginning to wonder just how many. Does husband-Jungkook really smack husband-Yoongi’s butt that much? 

They make themselves instant ramen in the artist lounge after practice. They have a half hour to spare before the meeting for Jungkook’s music video. Namjoon and Jimin join them for food, and at the far back table of the lounge they give the pair a rundown on Jungkook's mixtape and the concept.

“Your Eyes Tell?” Jungkook repeats the name of the title track in awe. He meets Yoongi’s eyes across the table. “Back home we made that a group song.”

“Oh, good. I’m glad you know it,” Namjoon stirs his noodles vigorously. “That will help. You won’t have to record it or anything, all your tracks are complete. But you need to know the lyrics and have the ability to sing it if you have to.”

“Am I featured on it?” Yoongi asks, still not sure why he needs to be attending the meeting.

“You're not in the song but Jungkook-hyung really wanted you in the video,” Jimin explains. “I think the song is a bit about you. And, you know, he loves you a lot.”

“Right,” Yoongi swallows. 

“Hyung,” Jungkook points at Yoongi’s half-empty ramyeon container. “You gonna eat the rest of that?”

“Wow,” Namjoon laughs as Yoongi hands the leftover food to Jungkook. “You guys are almost exactly the same as our Yoongi and Jungkook-hyung.” 

~

As it turns out, Yoongi and Jungkook are going to have to kiss. For the music video. They’re filming it the day after the MMAs, right before they leave for Hong Kong where MAMA is being held. 

They read through the script casually. It was more of a scene breakdown than anything else. Yoongi didn’t even see his name in it until they flipped to the last page. There, clear as day: Jungkook walks through the crowd until he finds Yoongi in a spotlight. They share a kiss (5-15 second runtime) . Camera does a 360 around them. 

Yoongi rereads the lines a dozen times over as Jungkook asks the crew questions and they give him more details. It’s not like Yoongi won’t kiss Jungkook. He wouldn’t refuse. Still, kissing his groupmate doesn’t seem like the brightest idea. 

“And, um, about the kiss scene,” Jungkook hesitantly begins. Yoongi glances up, watching as Jungkook fumbles with the papers and gathers his thoughts.

“Yes, we finally got it approved. It did take down pushing, but they’re going to allow it,” the head writer says before Jungkook can even ask his question. “After all, it is your mixtape. They’re not supposed to touch your work.”

“Right,” Jungkook clears his throat. “Thank you.”

“I can already see the vision,” the director says, his hands air as he gesticulates. “The lighting, the CG, the whole transition to the roof—it’s going to be stunning. I think you’ll really like it, Jungkook-ssi.”

“I’m sure I will,” Jungkook smiles. Yoongi can’t tell it’s slightly strained, though the crew probably can’t. “Thank you for everything guys.”

“Of course, that’s all for today then,” the project manager at the head of the table closes his three-ring binder. 

Yoongi and Jungkook leave the conference room together, the rest of the staff flowing out the door behind them. Yoongi hugs the script to his chest, frowning.

“I’m sorry,” Jungkook apologizes out of nowhere. “I would have gotten them to change the scene but I think…I think it’s really important to the other us.”

“No, I know. I agree,” Yoongi shakes his head. “You don’t have to say sorry. It’s not a big deal. If they fought to get it pushed through, I wouldn’t want to mess this up for them either.”

“It’s weird,” Jungkook pushes the down arrow on the elevator and they stand side-by-side, waiting for it.

“What is?”

“Knowing that I’m filming for a mixtape that isn’t even done yet.”

“Oh,” Yoongi steps into the elevator as the doors open and selects the floor with the dance practice rooms. “What floor do you want?”

“What are you staying for?” 

“I, uh, feel like I need to practice the MMAs stuff more. It’s soon and we’re behind everyone else.”

“I’ll practice with you,” Jungkook says and leans against the silver railings inside. “I’d feel better.”

“Okay.”

Yoongi is glad Jungkook comes with him. They leave their papers and sweaters in a heap on the wood floor, and then sit and watch back the MMAs choreography videos and start to run through them. It would be helpful to have Hoseok here, but the other members are all busy with their own schedules. 

They work together well. They monitor each other, record each other so they review their own moves. They even do a vocal run-through as they practice the moves. By the end of it they’re sweating and hungry. Exhausted. They shower in the locker rooms, and Yoongi enjoys hearing Jungkook sing from a few stalls down. When they’re clean, they get a car home together and discuss what to order for dinner.

It’s almost like they never left their universe. It’s almost like they’re home. 

Until it’s time to go to bed.

“Oh, I wanted that side,” Yoongi says when he walks out of the bathroom and sees Jungkook laying on the far right side of the bed. It’s the side nearest the wall, which has always been Yoongi’s ideal spot.

“Well, guess I beat you to it,” Jungkook looks up from his phone, taking one AirPod out of his ear. 

“I don’t care what universe we’re in, I’m still your hyung,” Yoongi comes over to the side of the bed, pushing aside the mesh curtains so he can climb on.

“Are you saying that means I have to give up this side of the bed? Finders-keepers is what I think,” Jungkook grins, looking back at his phone.

Yoongi snorts, then reaches out and snatches the phone from his hands.

“Hey!” Jungkook gapes over him. “Hyung, really?”

“Gimme the spot and you get your phone back,” Yoongi leaps off the bed so Jungkook can’t steal his phone back easily. 

“You’re mean,” Jungkook sighs, then scoots over to the left. He makes a grabby hand at Yoongi, asking for his phone back. 

“Hang on,” Yoongi says as he takes his slippers off. He turns off the main overhead light, the lamps still keeping the room warmly lit. He goes to the now-empty right side of the bed and shimmies through the annoying curtains. Yoongi lays down, sighing contently. The comforter is still a bit warm from where Jungkook was. 

“C’mon,” Jungkook pouts at him, sticking his open palm out.

Yoongi laughs, and as he starts to hand the phone over he catches sight of what’s on the screen. 

“What are you watching?” Yoongi asks. “Is this us?”

“Snoopy,” Jungkook finally manages to snag his phone and takes it back. “But yes.”

“More compilation videos?” Yoongi watches the side of Jungkook’s face.

“Yeah,” he admits. “There’s so many of them. And last night I was kind of panicking and started watching these because I realized I have no idea how to be in a serious relationship with someone. I have no idea how to be a husband. And I was voted Most Romantic Celebrity Husband!”

“They really talked you up, huh?” Yoongi mumbles, yawning and turning on his side to face Jungkook. 

“After watching lots of these, I can see all the stuff I have to do to maintain the image of the other me.”

“You know you don’t need to do all that, right?” Yoongi asks. Is Jungkook pushing himself too hard? Is he overwhelmed? “I don’t know how long we’re going to be stuck here, but I don’t want you to burn yourself out trying to keep up appearances. Just be yourself, okay? I’m sure the other me would say the same thing. We agreed to keep it simple with some pet names and maybe hold hands sometimes. You don’t need to actually fall in love with me, Jungkook.”

“I know you’re right,” Jungkook sighs. “I almost wish we were in love, then this whole thing would be a lot easier.”

Yoongi snorts, and Jungkook grins at him. 

“What’s the video you’re watching called?” 

“Um,” Jungkook taps on the screen, then laughs. “Oh, god. It’s called 10 times Yoongi and Jungkook forgot they’re on camera . The last one was worse. It was called Suga caught in 4K but it’s okay because he was checking out his husband. ”

Yoongi rolls his eyes. “See? All that is probably fans reading into shit. Even if they are actually married. Let’s just be ourselves, okay? Don’t stress.”

“Okay,” Jungkook takes out his ear buds and sets them on the nightstand. “Goodnight, hyung.”

“Goodnight.”

~

It’s not that bad, really. Pretending to be married to Jungkook comes easier than Yoongi thought it would, especially since they’ve fallen into a routine that’s very common for them back home. In the mornings Jungkook has weight training and other workouts with his trainer in the morning so he’s gone before Yoongi wakes up. 

They continue to have performance rehearsals with all their members for at least five hours a day, sometimes longer. It’s crunch time—the MMAs are next week. Yoongi finds himself in his studio, Hoseok’s, and Namjoon’s, picking up lyrics and tracks that husband-Yoongi left behind. Yoongi recognizes one of the recent projects as Telepathy. It hasn’t been released yet. Likely because the pandemic didn’t happen in this universe, and so BE never happened. Or at least, hasn’t happened yet. He feels confident in recreating the track and lyrics, and has fun making it new and fresh with the other producers.

It’s always a bit strange to not be called hyung, but he gets used to it. A couple evenings in the week Yoongi has physical therapy, there’s some other random meeting that goes over his head but thankfully they’re with the other members and go smoothly.

He’s noticed that Jimin and Taehyung treat him almost the same as back home, but now they pair being annoying and troublesome with taking care of Yoongi like he’s their resident cat. Twice in the week Jimin brings him food while he’s in his studio, and Taehyung is always messaging Yoongi cute things or asking if he’d like coffee. It’s nice being taken care of like this. 

Hoseok and Seokjin keep asking questions about what Yoongi is like as a member of the hyung line. They’re very curious about all the differences between their worlds, and sometimes Jungkook is there to help indulge them in their questions while they eat lunch or dinner. 

On Saturday night they all go out for barbecue. They go to their usual place, with a secure private room, and just enjoy each other’s company. The members all feel like someone Yoongi knows but he hasn’t seen in a long time, and so there’s a lot to catch up on. 

Jungkook sits across from him at the table. He’s eating quietly despite being relentlessly teased all night by Hoseok and Jimin who are taking great advantage of the fact that Jungkook is the maknae in their home universe.

“You have tattoos and you’re the maknae?” Hoseok tsks. “Scandalous. Always rebellious, I see.”

“Of course I have them,” Jungkook frowns around the lip of a soju bottle. “Although, I have more here and they’re pretty cool.”

“You have more?” Yoongi asks, flipping the pork belly on the grill.

“Mmhmm,” Jungkook confirms.

“He can show you when we get home,” Seokjin says and claps Yoongi’s shoulder, “ in the bedroom.”

He laughs, and Namjoon chokes on a bite of kimchi and rice. Yoongi ignores their teasing. 

“I still can’t believe you’re not married in your universe,” Taehyung rests his cheek in his hand, a thoughtful gaze going from Yoongi to Jungkook.

“Why?” Jungkook grabs a bite of meat off the grill with chopsticks uninvited, not caring if Yoongi will chastise him. Yoongi doesn’t. Jungkook eating and smiling always makes Yoongi happy.

“You’re so good together. I know we joke a lot, and complain about our Yoongi and Jungkook-hyung being gross. Still,” Taehyung picks up his glass of water, “we see how happy you make each other. We wouldn’t have it any other way.”

The words are sweet. Mushy. And Jimin shoves Taehyung for getting too serious. They laugh it off, serve up the meat, and Yoongi starts cooking the next batch.

“You need to eat too,” Seokjin frowns. “Let hyung cook the rest.”

So Yoongi lets him take over, enjoying the food and drinking with the others. He settles back in the booth, listening to their conversations and smiling. In a way though, it makes his chest ache. They’re his best friends, but they’re not his best friends. He’s not home. The only thing here that really feels like home is—well.

Jungkook. Jungkook is the closest thing to home he has.

When they get back to the dorms nearly two hours later, Yoongi and Jungkook go straight back to their bedroom. Jungkook is definitely kind of drunk, which Yoongi finds funny. He’s a bit tipsy himself, but his stomach felt so full of food he couldn’t even drink more after a while. 

“I’m gonna shower,” Yoongi tells Jungkook as the other boy collapses on their bed. “Have some water, okay?”

“Uh huh,” Jungkook gives a lopsided thumbs-up.

Yoongi smiles fondly at how sleepy Jungkook has become, and then goes into the bathroom to shower. He keeps it quick, blow dries his hair, and then steps out in his pajamas to face a half-naked Jungkook.

“I was gonna sleep but I want to shower too,” Jungkook slurs a bit. “Are you done in there?”

“Yeah,” Yoongi drags his eyes up Jungkook’s body to his face. He wasn’t kidding when he said he has more tattoos. The tattoo sleeve now completely covers Jungkook's shoulder, words in cursive script curl beneath his collarbone, and then a massive,  black ink dragon that wraps around his ribcage. As Jungkook walks past him into the steamy bathroom, Yoongi sees that his lower back has tattoos too. Designs that creep into Jungkook’s sweatpants, and he assumes travel down his leg in a jigsaw puzzle of art.

“We could have showered together,” Jungkook says in voice that makes it sound like a complaint, “there’s two showerheads.”

He’s elaning half out the bathroom door, bare chest on display, frowning and with droopy eyelids. 

“Yeah, well, we’re not married,” Yoongi says back, buzzing. From the alcohol, of course.

“Don’t have to be married to shower together, hyung,” Jungkook says and then shuts the door louder than necessary.

Yoongi’s face feels hot. It’s time for water and bedtime. He goes to the kitchen, grabs two new water bottles from the fridge, and then returns to the bedroom. The shower is going, the distant hum of it almost like rain. He leaves water on Jungkook’s side and then crawls over to his own. He downs most of the bottle, then sets it on his bedside table. 

Yoongi turns off the lamp on his side. Jungkook’s lamp is still on—a soft orange glow bright enough for Jungkook to find his way back to bed. Probably needs it for how drunk he seems. 

He curls up on his side, hands tucked between his knees, and closes his eyes. The bathroom door thumps open eventually. Yoongi hears shuffling through a dresser drawer, and then steps drawing near the bed. Yoongi can’t help but smile to himself when Jungkook mumbles a thanks for the water, hyung under his breath. 

The mattress dips and the other lamp gets shut off. Yoongi snuggles a little more deeply into his pillow. Now he can sleep. Jungkook didn’t die in the shower. He’s drinking water. He’s okay.

“Oh, fuck!” Jungkook hisses suddenly, scaring Yoongi and making his eyes shoot open. He can only make out a vague dark shape where he assumes Jungkook is.

“What?”

“Ah, sorry. I spilled water all over my spot,” Jungkook whispers. “Ignore me.”

“Just scoot over to the middle and sleep,” Yoongi tells him, already moving a little further right to make room.

“Okay, thanks. I’m sorry I woke you up,” Jungkook apologizes. Yoongi feels him come closer beneath the blankets.

“You didn’t,” he reassures.

Their legs brush with Jungkook in the center; but it’s fine. They don’t talk after that, and Yoongi falls asleep quickly.

~

It’s the sun that wakes Yoongi up for once, not an alarm. They have the day off from dance practices to rest their aching muscles, and Yoongi plans to take advantage of the day to sleep in and—

His face is pressed into soft hair and skin. It smells like roses and spices. Yoongi opens his eyes. 

He’s tucked between Jungkook’s shoulder and his head, in the crook of his neck. Jungkook’s bare back is pressed close to him, warm and soft. Yoongi didn't know Jungkook went to sleep without a shirt on last night. 

Sleeping in bed together is one thing. It’s something Yoongi is totally fine with as long as everyone has their own space. But this? Jungkook, half-naked, and so close that all Yoongi would have to do to spoon him is put his arms around him? That’s too much. He should turn around and put his back to Jungkook. He should face the other way and go back to sleep. He should—

But Yoongi doesn’t. Instead he keeps his face buried there. Jungkook smells nice, and he’s warm. The late November weather makes the edges of the room chilly, and Yoongi doesn’t have the energy to get up and grab another blanket. His hands are cold. Maybe he could put them against Jungkook’s back. Just gently. While he’s sleeping still.

“Oh my god your hands are cold.”

Yoongi jumps back from Jungkook, heart racing. 

“Hyung,” Jungkook rolls over so he’s facing Yoongi, sticking out his bottom lip. “There’s other ways to wake me up.”

“Sorry, I wasn’t trying to wake you.”

“You want me to warm your hands up?” Jungkook asks.

“No, it's fine,” Yoongi tugs the sheets up further, trying to add a layer of protection between himself and Jungkook’s naked torso. In the morning light, the other man’s skin is golden and his tattoos prominent.

“Come here,” Jungkook finds Yoongi’s hands and pulls them towards himself, scooting closer so he’s now sharing Yoongi’s pillow with him. He puts his hands around Yoongi’s, cupping them, and then draws them in towards his chest to press his palms right over his pecs. Over some of his tattoos. One of them, peeking out under Yoongi’s fingers, is an ocean wave.

Okay. This is fine. Yoongi’s hands are getting warmer, that’s for sure. All of him is. Jungkook has shut his eyes again, face half-pressed against the pillow. His black hair is messy, and his lips parted slightly as he breathes.

Slowly, Yoongi allows himself to relax again. Jungkook continues to hold Yoongi’s hands, fingers curling around them to hold him gently. Yoongi let’s it happen. It’s kind of nice. Their legs are pressed together under the blankets, and now Yoongi is slipping further down and the top of his head brushes under Jungkook’s chin.

“Hyung, can I hug you?”

“Yeah,” Yoongi agrees without even thinking. 

Immediately, Jungkook wraps one arm over Yoongi’s side and the other snakes beneath him to drag him closer. Jungkook hugs Yoongi close, with Yoongi’s head now securely tucked beneath his chin. Yoongi’s nose is to his collarbones, his lips to Jungkook’s tattooed skin as he exhales in surprise at the intimacy.

“I’m sorry, I just…I’m so glad you’re here with me, hyung. I don’t know what I would do if I were alone,” Jungkook gushes, sounding upset. “Every morning I wake up and hope we’re back home but then we’re still here. I don’t know what we’re supposed to do.”

“I don’t know either,” Yoongi searches with one hand for Jungkook’s hair, and begins to stroke through it. “I want to go home too.”

“Hyung…”

“Yeah?” Yoongi squeezes his eyes shut. 

“Nothing,” Jungkook sighs. “Nothing. I just want to sleep longer.”

“Okay,” Yoongi continues to comb through his hair. “Sleep longer, then.”

Jungkook releases him somewhat, but he leaves one arm wrapped around Yoongi’s waist and his nose buried in Yoongi’s hair. 

Yoongi can’t complain. Whatever helps him feel better it helps Yoongi too. Even if Jungkook doesn’t look exactly like the Jungkook he knows, he’s still home.  

What would it have been like if the husband-Jungkook were still here, and Yoongi had woken up in this universe alone? The main reason Yoongi confronted the other members about what was going on was because Jungkook was with him, but if he weren’t here…maybe Yoongi would have tried to blend in as best he could all alone. Maybe he could have gotten Seokjin or Namjoon to help him still, but…Yoongi is one to keep his problems inside. He doesn’t like to burden people with his issues even if they always say it’s not a burden.

If husband-Jungkook were the one in bed with Yoongi right now, unaware of Yoongi’s true identity, how different would this all be? Would husband-Jungkook treat him like a dongsaeng, like a lover, like both? Would he kiss Yoongi? Would he touch him more than his own Jungkook is touching him now? 

Or maybe, husband-Jungkook wouldn’t be fooled by Yoongi for a minute. Maybe he’d take one look at him and know that his husband wasn’t the one staring back at him. That scenario seems far more likely.

Yoongi falls back asleep to the thought of husband-Jungkook innocently caressing his face and kissing him, not knowing it was all a sham.