Chapter Text
By the time Jungkook carries all seven of the couple’s matching designer suitcases into their suite (the nicest one on the ship), he thinks he might be in love.
The key word in that sentence is might – he’s only known them for about fifteen minutes, so he doesn’t want to get ahead of himself – but he’s got a really good feeling about this. It might seem like a bit of a coincidence that his first gay clients are the first ones Jungkook thinks he’s falling in love with, but he’s convinced that his feelings are genuine. He doesn’t know their first names, but that’s a minor detail.
The taller of the couple gives Jungkook an appreciative nod and then tucks a couple of bills into the front pocket of Jungkook’s uniform.
“Um, thank you, sir,” Jungkook says, and reaches out to tap the suitcases nervously where they’re stacked next to the door. He doesn’t want them to fall. Maybe he should reassemble them, just to be safe. Maybe he should unpack for them, while they settle into their suite and take long showers and unwind.
“I’m Seokjin,” the man says, and he slides a third bill into Jungkook’s pocket.
“Seokjin-ssi,” Jungkook nods. “If you have any concerns – any at all – I’m assigned to your suite and I’m always happy to assist. If you need anything. I can get you reservations at our Michelin-starred restaurant on board, or help you figure out which excursions to take at our ports of call, or–”
“What about activities on the ship?” asks the smaller of the two. He’s got high cheekbones and a foxy, cheerful look about him. “I have a lot of energy that I like to work off.”
Seokjin nods seriously. “Hoseokie can get bored without stimulation, whereas I understand how vacations work and will be lying on the bed like a slug for the next seven days. You will need to turn me over every few hours so I don’t get bed sores.”
Jungkook’s only been assigned to the high-level suites for a few months, but he’s never encountered occupants who were funny. Usually they just dismissed him with pinched looks on their faces, furious that the on-board wifi was too slow for them to manage hedge funds or scream at their assistants or do whatever wealthy, powerful men do.
He laughs. “Of course, sir, and I’ll have all your food blended so you don’t have to do the work of chewing.”
Seokjin turns triumphantly to Hoseok. “See! He understands me. I think I’m cut out for maritime life.”
Hoseok just pats Seokjin on the chest and then lets the hand linger, toying with Seokjin’s front pocket. His deeply tanned skin is striking in contrast to the crisp white linen of Seokjin’s shirt. Jungkook could stop himself from staring, but why would he? He might be in love. And now he knows their names!
“I could guide you in some exercises,” Jungkook blurts out before he can consider his words. Sure, it’s not exactly in the purview of his position. But he is required to make sure the guests have everything they need to enjoy the cruise, and this could certainly fall under the definition of ‘additional duties as assigned.’ He’s not even thinking about the fat tip this could net him because he’s too busy thinking about spending more time with Hoseok and Seokjin.
“Oh?” Hoseok chirps. His teeth gleam white and brilliant and he sticks a hand casually into the pockets of his tight khaki shorts that only come to midthigh. With a neon yellow cardigan tied around his shoulders and tiny pearl earrings clipped to his lobes, he looks like every hot preppy mom in the 80s American movies Jungkook’s seen.
“Yeah, I used to be a personal trainer before I worked for Voyager Cruises,” Jungkook says. He deploys his strategic hot boy pose, rubbing his hand on the back of his neck sheepishly in a way that shows off his bulging bicep. “I could take you to the gym on Deck Five, or maybe do a pilates session in the room?”
“That’s a very tempting offer, Jungkook,” Hoseok says. “I will absolutely take you up on that. Maybe we can even talk this one into joining!” He taps Seokjin on the stomach.
Seokjin groans in faux-anguish.
“Ah, he can just watch instead,” Jungkook says, and it isn’t until Seokjin winks at him that he catches the innuendo in his words. “I mean. Um. Yes. Like I said, I’m Jungkook and I’ll be taking care of you two, so please don’t hesitate to give me a call – speed dial one on the room phone – and I’ll be available for anything you need.” And then, because he can’t resist the lean confidence in Seokjin’s pose, he adds: “ Anything.”
Then he’s darting out the door and down the hallway before they can see how bright red his blush looks against his pastel blue uniform shirt.
---
Jungkook isn’t really sure how to proceed. He’s never been in love with a client before – either as a personal trainer or as a cruise concierge. Yes, he very much does want to get fucked hard by the two men in the Honeymoon Suite, preferably out on their balcony so his moans will echo across the side of the ship and his come will end up splattered into the ocean, but he also doesn’t want to just… be a convenient hole for them to use and discard when the cruise is over.
Well, he does kind of want that, but just conceptually. Jungkook’s free use fantasies aren’t actually literal.
He wants to go on dates with them, is really what it is. It’s the second day of the cruise and he’s already seen them sipping coffee on the sundeck and teasing each other about their plans for the ports of call. They’ve got a multi-course tasting menu reservation planned the next night for one of the on-board restaurants. They’re clearly besotted with each other – Jungkook can see it in the easy fondness with which they reminisce on their college years and how they’ve always got each other in mind above all else.
(“He doesn’t like the pressure of competition,” Hoseok had said wistfully that morning when Jungkook had suggested they check out the trivia league happening on Deck Three that day.
“Ah. Well, I would’ve suggested the Newlyweds Game tonight, but…” Jungkook had shrugged.
“Oh. Oh! We’re not newlyweds.” Hoseok laughed. Jungkook blinked, worried he’d somehow completely misinterpreted their relationship and they were just friends. Hoseok beckoned him closer.
“We’ve actually been married fourteen years next week,” Hoseok whispered conspiratorially. “So if you have any anniversary suggestions, let me know, okay?”
Jungkook bit back what he wanted to say – “But you both look thirty?” – and nodded seriously. “Of course. I love romance.”
The approving smile he got from Hoseok was worth it.)
Normally, Jungkook is pretty indifferent to his job. It lets him see the world, sure, but he spends most of his time listening to bitter businessmen bitch about their wives and vice versa. With Hoseok and Seokjin as his clients, though, he finds himself actually caring about their experience on the cruise, which feels silly because they’re the most low-maintenance clients he’s had. They don’t bombard his line with whines about service or requests for special treatment and they always tip, handsomely , even when he does something as small as bring them the bottle of champagne that’s included in their package.
He finds himself lingering near the sundeck again on the third day of the cruise, hoping to catch a glimpse of them spending their morning together. He’s rewarded instead with something even better: a lone Hoseok in a loose tank top and tiny Spandex shorts doing sun salutations in the pale morning light. Jungkook freezes.
Hoseok’s ass is small but very round and Jungkook gets an incredible view of it from every angle with each bend of Hoseok’s body. His tank top barely stays on his torso whenever he folds forward, showing flashes of tan tummy and brown nipples to anyone who cares to see. Jungkook watches, entranced, as Hoseok finishes his set then plops down on his towel to swig some water and fiddle with his phone.
Jungkook’s work phone buzzes. He glances down to see he’s gotten a message from Hoseok: is staring part of your job description? :)
Jungkook jolts, blinks at least three times, then turns around and walks resolutely in the opposite direction, banging his knee on a towel rack as he does so. He hears Hoseok giggle behind him.
Later that afternoon, Jungkook is doing situps in his bunk when his phone buzzes again. It’s Hoseok, requesting a private pilates session in his suite tonight, if it’s not too much trouble. Jungkook rockets to his feet so fast he gets lightheaded, thumbs out a quick affirmative response confirming the time, and hops directly into the shower. He’s got plenty of time before their session but he’s going to spend every minute of it with his hand on his dick, remembering how sundrenched and expensive Hoseok had looked that morning.
With his dick vanquished and his muscles loose from the shower, Jungkook collects a couple of yoga mats and resistance bands and heads to the Honeymoon Suite. He expects to only see Hoseok, but through the doorway he can see Seokjin lounging on the bed with a face mask on, looking like somebody’s rich aunt.
“Hi, Jungkookie!” Hoseok says, eyes sparkling. He gives Jungkook a mischievous look but mercifully doesn’t mention what he caught Jungkook doing on the sundeck. Jungkook smiles and lays out the pilates mats on the floor of the living area.
“Ah, should we close the doors to the bedroom?” Jungkook says in a hushed tone, glancing at Seokjin. “If Seokjin-ssi wants to sleep…”
“Nonsense,” Seokjin drawls from the bed. “Hoseok hasn’t done pilates in years, it’s my right as a loving partner to see what kind of mess this will be.”
Hoseok flicks a cheerful middle finger towards Seokjin, who blows a kiss back. Even so, Jungkook rushes to reassure Hoseok.
“You’ll be great,” Jungkook beams. He plops down onto his yoga mat to do some leg stretches, gesturing for Hoseok to do the same. “It’s easy to judge when you’re lying around on your ass.” He darts his gaze at Seokjin, making sure he hasn’t overstepped into true rudeness, but Hoseok breaks into a shower of laughter next to him.
“I always think I’ll have the time to practice, but I swear, it’s like I get hypnotized when I sit down to work,” Hoseok confides in Jungkook as he lifts his calves up dutifully. “It’s morning when I sit down and then suddenly it’s dark out and this one, ” he tilts his head towards Seokjin, “is wailing about being abandoned by a cruel, unloving husband.”
“I think it’s cool that you lose yourself in your work. My brain turns off like that all the time, too,” Jungkook says eagerly. He braces himself on one hand so he can use the other to guide Hoseok’s sacrum into the proper position. “Um, not that it ever turns off when I’m working. I’m always very focused.”
“Yes, we can tell you’re very attentive,” Hoseok winks. “I can’t help it that my designs are just that hypnotic.”
“You do fashion?” Jungkook tries to keep the awe out of his voice. People with a sense of style amaze him. His idea of getting dressed up is finding pants, and then finding a shirt, and then putting them both on his body.
“I do!” Hoseok lifts his hips to match Jungkook’s grip. “It feels amazing, to just be able to sit down and create something that transforms someone. I use a lot of color.”
“That’s amazing!” Jungkook replies, huffing out a little laugh. “I bet you could make me look so cool.”
“Aw, I wouldn’t have to try very hard, Jungkook.”
Jungkook feels himself turn bright red and decides to focus more on the pilates lesson.
Hoseok turns out to be a wonderful, if giggly, pilates student. Every adjustment Jungkook makes on Hoseok’s lithe torso gets a little wriggle out of him, and halfway through Hoseok explains that he’s ticklish, as if Jungkook hadn’t already guessed that. What Hoseok lacks in experience he makes up for in enthusiasm, throwing himself into crunches and back arches and leg lifts until sweat marks show through his tank.
“Hyung, it really is fun, you should try it,” Hoseok pants. “Though I can’t guarantee Jungkookie will go easy on you.”
“Oh, thanks but no thanks,” Seokjin says airily. He lifts his water to his lips, sipping daintily through the hole in his sheet mask. “I’m really enjoying the view, though, you two keep up the good work.”
Jungkook flushes at ‘you two.’ He doesn’t understand why Seokjin would look at him when Hoseok is right there, merrily sticking his ass in the air, but he’ll take the compliment.
Finally, Hoseok collapses on the yoga mat, begging for a reprieve. “Who’d have known our Jungkookie would be such a drill sergeant,” he moans, but he’s quick to ask Jungkook for a second session later in the week.
Jungkook gathers up the equipment and mentally prepares himself for a second, even hornier shower, but Seokjin waves him over to the bed before he can leave, a fat wad of bills in hand.
“That’s for your good work today,” Seokjin says, slipping half of the bills into Jungkook’s shorts pocket since his hands are full of yoga mats. The other half follow with: “And that’s payment in advance for making him do more of those ass-up stretches next time.”
“Can do, sir,” Jungkook replies cheerfully.
“I heard that!” comes Hoseok’s sulky tone, but his smile is huge when he gets up and walks towards the bathroom. Jungkook hesitates just a second too long, telling himself he’s making sure his clients don’t need anything else, and sees a flash of Hoseok shirtless in the mirror before the bathroom door closes behind him.
When Jungkook turns back to Seokjin, he can see one of those dark eyebrows raised even through the sheetmask, and he stutters out a goodbye and flees.
---
“Bro, I can’t believe you got such a good gig,” Jimin whines to Jungkook as they lie in the sun next to the employee pool. “Wanna trade? I swear I’ve run so many bingo games this week that I just hear fucking numbers and letters in my head all day when I try to sleep. I could die happily before I ever have to congratulate someone on winning a glorified game of chance ever again.”
“Mm, yeah, not sharing,” Jungkook replies. He pushes his sweaty bangs up off of his forehead and tugs his swim trunks down an inch to maximize his tanning potential.
“That’s just because you know they’d take one look at me and fall in love,” Jimin says, but Jungkook can hear that his heart’s not in it. Jimin talks a big game, but he’s entirely whipped for Taehyung, his boyfriend who lives near port.
“Definitely that. I can’t have you poaching them, they’re my first–”
“--sugar daddies?”
“Stop,” Jungkook says, smacking Jimin lightly on the arm. “They’re my first clients who haven’t driven me crazy.”
Jimin purses his lips but drops the subject and turns over onto his front. Jungkook’s work phone buzzes in his pocket, and he checks it to see a message from one of said clients.
Seokjin: Hoseokie ate approximately forty crab legs at the lunch buffet and he said if I made him go to a multi-course dinner tonight he’d actually divorce me :(
Oh no! Jungkook taps out. I’m happy to reschedule the dinner reservation for another night, although tonight’s the only themed night unfortunately.
He gets back a quick response: nah, I’m not missing pirate night. Can you do dinner at 7:30?
Jungkook pauses. He types out a quick yes but waits for his heart rate to slow down before he hits send. Then he quickly flops over onto his stomach too so Jimin won’t see how sweaty his face is.
---
Seokjin wasn’t kidding about not missing pirate night. When Jungkook arrives at the restaurant, he spots Seokjin through the crowd easily because he’s wearing a gold tricorn hat topped with a giant festive plume of feathers. Seokjin turns around and spots him impressively fast considering the black eye patch strapped over one eye.
“People are going to think you’re the employee and I’m the guest,” Jungkook jokes, gesturing to his own dark jeans and black t-shirt.
“Perfect!” Seokjin crows. “Because tonight you’re my guest. Please, after you,” he says as the host leads them to their table nestled next to a porthole. He pulls Jungkook’s chair out for him and pours him a glass of water. Jungkook notices the small stuffed parrot on Seokjin’s shoulder.
“I hope you brought your appetite, I think we’re staring down the barrel of something like fifteen courses,” Seokjin says with a glance at the menus laid out in front of them.
“Every meal should be fifteen courses,” Jungkook replies. “I’ll be fine.”
Seokjin snorts. “I’d ask where you put it all, but that shirt makes it pretty clear.” He waves an appreciative hand towards Jungkook’s biceps, which are admittedly putting up a fight against the seams of his shirt. Jungkook glances at his arms then blushes and looks down at his lap. He glances up through his bangs to see Seokjin’s mouth twisted in guilt.
“Oh– I didn’t, um. I’m sorry if that was a step too far,” Seokjin says in response to Jungkook’s silence, looking uncharacteristically hesitant. His one visible eye widens. “I shouldn’t have commented on your body like that.”
Jungkook keeps his face solemn for as long as he can, but eventually he can feel a grin twitching at the corners of his mouth.
“You pirates are all the same. Always chasing booty.”
Seokjin blinks at him then throws his head back and cackles, with the stuffed parrot ending up a tragic casualty on the floor. Jungkook smiles wider and props his chin up on one fist – a move that just so happens to make his bicep bulge even more.
“Please, have mercy,” Seokjin says, so of course Jungkook brings up his other arm too.
They laugh and flirt and tease each other through half a dozen tiny dishes, each ostensibly pirate-themed (though not enough for Seokjin, who bemoans the lack of hardtack). They’re being served “roast kraken” (octopus) when Seokjin leans back in his chair and steeples his fingers.
“So, Jungkook. I know you’re excellent at pilates, excellent at customer service, excellent at checking out my husband. Tell me, what can’t you do?”
Jungkook chews the tip of his fork while he thinks. He notices Seokjin’s gaze dip down to his mouth.
“Remember to put on sunscreen?” he says after a pause. Then, because he’s full of good food and Seokjin’s gaze is making him feel all sorts of tender and overwarm, he drops his voice and offers up something a little more vulnerable: “Um, taking care of myself, I guess. I’m good at taking care of other people, especially my friends. But like, the last time I had my own apartment I had no bedframe, no TV stand… Everything just sat on the floor. I was a wired little weirdo chugging protein powder and refusing to admit that I was living like an animal.”
“Oh, Jungkook,” Seokjin says, voice rich. “You should always be taken care of.” He trails his fingertips forward along the tablecloth as slowly as possible, visible eye trained on Jungkook’s face for any hesitation. Jungkook meets his gaze and lets Seokjin continue his journey forward. He’s always considered himself to be open to new opportunities. Their fingers link, and Seokjin’s face relaxes into a brilliant smile.
They have to let go soon afterwards because another server has arrived with another dish, but Seokjin taps their feet together, and that keeps Jungkook happy throughout dinner. They plow their way through more courses (true to his word, Jungkook isn’t even winded by the end) and then, after the servers lead the dining room in a round of sea shanties, they get up from the table.
“I think I should help you get back to your room,” Jungkook says steadily. He retrieves Seokjin’s parrot from the floor and perches it on his own shoulder.
“To my captain’s quarters,” Seokjin nods, and extends a hand. Jungkook takes it and leads him down the halls, up the stairs, towards the suites.
They’re quiet on the walk, preferring instead to knock their hips against each other like squabbling children. When they reach Seokjin’s suite, he swipes his room key but pauses in the open doorframe, bangs falling into his eye (and eyepatch). Over Seokjin’s shoulder, Jungkook can see Hoseok, reading a book by the balcony. Hoseok glances up and smirks.
“Thank you for saving my evening, Jungkookie,” Seokjin says, just loud enough that Hoseok will hear too.
“It was my pleasure,” Jungkook replies. He sees Seokjin start to close the door and quickly steps forward so they’re chest-to-chest. He has a hunch about this, and Jungkook doesn't usually have hunches. This one must be important.
“Just for future reference, though,” he says softly, perhaps even fucking coyly if he does say so himself, “it’s standard practice to tip for good service.”
Seokjin wets his lips. “Come get your tip then,” he replies, and Jungkook tilts his head and fastens their mouths together. Seokjin tastes heady and decadent, tongue swiping against Jungkook’s, and if the kiss had gone on a second longer Jungkook would have been on his knees in an instant, public hallway be damned.
Instead, Seokjin imparts one final peck and then wishes Jungkook goodnight. When Jungkook glances past him, he sees Hoseok give a smug little goodbye wave.
Jungkook goes back to his own room and manages to make himself come before he’s even finished taking his jeans off.
---
The days that follow are the first days in Jungkook’s life that he’s ever been excited to wake up and do his job. Hoseok and Seokjin keep inviting him into their plans – the hot tub at sunset, a glass-bottomed boat excursion, a separate couple’s massage with each of them – and he eagerly accepts every opportunity handed to him. They ask him about his life and his family and tell him about their goals and achievements. It feels like being wooed, though Jungkook reassures himself that that’s a step too far. He’s painfully aware that their time together has a rapidly-approaching end date.
Nothing ever gets more physical than a goodbye kiss after each outing, even though all Jungkook wants to do is divebomb in the middle of their big bed, assume the position, and let them take everything they want. He just aches so exquisitely for them. He talks about it so much that even Jimin, known pervert, tells him to stop fantasizing and just go ask to suck their dicks already.
“I mean, you’ve already broken about a million other rules about proper interaction with clients,” he points out with an eyebrow raised. “Just go get fucked and be done with it.”
Jungkook frowns around the lip of his beer bottle. He always gets maudlin when he drinks with Jimin. “Tonight’s the second-to-last night. I don’t wanna, like… That feels so final. If we fuck. Then it’s over, you know?”
Jimin snorts. “It’s not over once you fuck. Stop being a romantic.”
“You cry every time Taehyung writes you a poem,” Jungkook points out, and he’s saved from being swatted by a loud buzzing emanating from both of their work phones. They dig them out of their pockets and stare down at the notification.
“Shit,” Jimin says with feeling, and Jungkook agrees.
---
Jungkook’s energy is off when he checks in on Seokjin and Hoseok in the morning on the sundeck, and Hoseok notices immediately.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” Hoseok pouts, tapping the deck chair he’s sitting on so Jungkook will join him. He’s in a giant floppy straw sunhat and a long orange caftan, and he looks like a rich dowager countess crossed with an elf twink. Jungkook sits at the edge of the chair and tries to keep his frown off his face.
“There’s a mechanical issue with the ship. We’re fine to get back to port, but they’re going to dock it and cancel next week’s cruise.” Jungkook allows a slight petulant quaver to enter his voice, because it is, after all, unfair that he’s being inconvenienced like this. He’s baby. He can’t carry this stress on his shoulders.
“Oh no,” Seokjin says.
“It’s really not that bad, I always stay with my friend Jimin when we have time off between sailings,” Jungkook shrugs. “It’s just he and his boyfriend can be – loud. And, um. I may also, just. BesadbecauseI’llmissyouguys,” he finishes in a totally chill, normal whisper.
“Well, we can’t have that,” Hoseok tuts. He slides slim hands onto the back of Jungkook’s neck and sets up a rapid pattern of kneads and rubs. Jungkook closes his eyes and leans back, barely able to hold in a whimper at how good it feels to just put himself into Hoseok’s capable hands like that.
He hears just the softest edges of a murmur pass from Seokjin to Hoseok, and then an eager noise of assent from Hoseok, and then he feels himself being tipped backwards gently until he’s lying back on the deck chair with his head in Hoseok’s lap. He looks up, feeling particularly small and soft.
“You don’t have to stay with Jimin, if you don’t want to,” Hoseok says gently. “We don’t live too far from port.”
“We have an extremely well-decorated, tragically under-used guest room,” Seokjin chimes in.
“And a rooftop pool,” Hoseok adds.
“And more snacks than you can imagine.”
Jungkook stares at them, feeling his eyes grow wider and wider. “You’d let me stay with you?” he asks, and his voice comes out tentative.
“Of course. We love spending time with you.” Hoseok pinches Jungkook’s cheeks to emphasize the point. Jungkook feels sunny and golden under their attention, feels like their best boy.
“Well. Okay. If it’s really not an inconvenience. And I promise it’ll just be for the week,” Jungkook says earnestly.
Seokjin rolls his eyes. “One: not an inconvenience. Really it’s the opposite. And two: you say it’s just for a week, but you haven’t seen our snack cabinet. You might decide you’ll never want to leave.”
Jungkook bites his lower lip, trying to keep his smile from taking over his entire face. He wants to ask again if they’re really sure, but he has a feeling Seokjin will get exasperated in that silly way he does and start squawking at him.
“Well… If you guys insist,” he says softly.
“We do,” they reply, and link hands over his stomach.