"So, how'd it go?"

"It. was. awesome!"

Taehyung chuckled on his end of the phone. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," Yoongi confirmed. He began to rattle on about the equipment and the music and helping Namjoon with his song. Taehyung listened patiently, not understanding much of anything Yoongi was talking about, but being excited for his best friend.

Once Yoongi had finished his spiel of what he'd done that day, Taehyung smiled. "I'm so happy for you, Yoongs."

"Thanks," Yoongi said, genuinely appreciating his friend listening to him babbling. "I just know I'm gonna be so happy there, Tae. I can't envision any scenario in which I wouldn't be."

"That's so great," Taehyung said. "Much better than the restaurant, huh?"

Yoongi laughed. "Much. Oh, but hey, I forgot to tell you what happened last night!"

"What's that?"

"Kim Seokjin came into the restaurant. And I got to serve him!"

"No way," Taehyung said disbelievingly. "You're serious?"

"Yeah! He's a super nice guy. Left me a huge tip, too. Then guess what I found out today! He's actually signed with my company. He's one of our artists! And according to Namjoon, he gets really involved with the behind the scenes aspect of things. If I ever get assigned one of his songs, I'll apparently get to work really closely with him!"

"Dude," Taehyung said. "What're the freaking odds?"

"Right?! Like, what is my life right now?!"

Taehyung laughed. "It's become everything you deserve, Yoongs. You've worked really hard to make it here. Relish in it."

"Oh, I am," Yoongi assured him. "I just feel like I'm living in a dream right now."

"Stay grounded, though," Taehyung said. "Don't lose yourself in all of this, okay?"

"What do you mean?" Yoongi asked.

"I know what you're like when you get really into your music. It becomes your life. You kinda stop taking care of yourself in order to throw yourself into it entirely."

"I – "

"Don't argue with me," Taehyung cut him off. "You know I'm right."

Yoongi sighed. "Okay, okay. But I don't think this new job will be like that."

"You're doing it for a living now, Yoongs. Of course it could get to the point where it would be like that."

"You worry too much," Yoongi argued. "I'll be just fine."

"Just don't ever work more than Namjoon or Hobi, okay?"

Yoongi scoffed. "What do their work schedules have to do with anything?"

"Just take cues from them on how much time to spend on your projects, okay? Don't get so hyper-focused that you can't separate yourself from it."

"Even if I did - which I don't - at least I'd be hyper-focusing on something I love."

Taehyung sighed. "But you do, Yoongs. I'm just saying to be careful, okay? Promise me you'll stay grounded with Namjoon and Hobi."

Though his friend couldn't see it, Yoongi rolled his eyes. "Okay," he conceded. "I'll stay grounded."

Taehyung smiled. "Good."

They chatted for a few more minutes before finally hanging up. Yoongi wanted to get to sleep early so he could be up early again. He wanted to spend a little alone time in his studio the next morning before Namjoon got there. He collected some of his things – some small trinkets, a poster or two, his lyrics notebook, his collection of his demos – to take and set up in his studio. He couldn't wait to make it truly his.

-

The week passed by quickly; in the blink of an eye for Yoongi. He soon found himself preparing to go to work the next day and be given his own song assignments. He would no longer be in Namjoon's shadow. This was his chance to prove himself.

He found that he was nervous, but also excited. He tried his best to keep calm and get some sleep, but found he was too wired to do so. He tossed and turned in bed, becoming a ball of anxiety. He kept telling himself not to get to that point, but he couldn't help it; he was just so nervous.

Namjoon visited him in his studio the next day as he waited to hear about his assignments.

"You ready?" Namjoon asked.

Yoongi nodded. "Yeah. I really believe I can do this."

Namjoon smiled. "You can. I have faith in you."

"Thanks," Yoongi replied. "I'm really glad to have you on my side."

"For sure," Namjoon said. "I'm definitely rooting for you. Keep me updated, okay?"

"Yeah, of course," Yoongi said. Namjoon then turned to leave. "Hey, Joonie?"

Namjoon turned back around, surprised at the nickname. He'd never actually heard Yoongi say it when sober before. He'd almost forgotten about it entirely.

"Yeah, Yoon?"

"Can we hang out outside of work sometime soon? We haven't done that in awhile."

Namjoon smiled. "I'd like that."

"Yeah?"

"Let's make a plan today at lunch, okay?"

"Okay."

"Good luck, Yoon. You're gonna do great."

And then he was alone in his studio, waiting for a phone call from the higher ups with information about what he'd be working on. He was so on edge, he nearly fell out of his chair when the phone actually did ring.

And he was off, with two songs to be working on and a new artist to be working with. He looked over the lyrics written out for one of the songs, and came up with some basic beats. And it only escalated from there.

Yoongi found himself to be completely in the zone, and it hardly felt like work at all. He scheduled a meeting with the artist and their manager, then got back to work on the songs. By the time Namjoon came to collect him for lunch, Yoongi was shocked at the amount of time that had passed.

"It feels like I've been working for hours, but then it feels like just a few minutes," he told Namjoon. "This is just all so crazy."

Namjoon grinned at him. "You're getting in the groove of things. It'll only get better from here."

"I believe it," Yoongi said. "I'm already loving all of it."

"Glad to hear it," Namjoon said.

"So," Yoongi said, changing the subject from work. "You wanna grab dinner or a drink or something sometime soon?"

"Sure," Namjoon agreed. "Now that we're gonna be spending less and less time together at work, we need to stay in touch outside of it!"

Yoongi chuckled. "For sure. What do you think about drinks this Friday night?"

"That works for me!"

"Do you want to invite anyone else?"

"You know," Namjoon said. "I'd honestly like for it to just be you and me."

Yoongi's heart skipped a beat. "Yeah?"

Namjoon nodded. He forced himself to meet Yoongi's eyes. "Is that okay?"

"Yeah, of course," Yoongi confirmed. "I'd like that, too."

Namjoon smiled. "Great."

"So, how's your stuff coming along?" Yoongi asked, knowing Namjoon had just received a new set of songs to begin work on. "Having any trouble?"

"Not as of yet," Namjoon said. "We'll see if that's still the case tomorrow, though." They both laughed.

"It sounds like things are really taking off for you already," Namjoon said. "I'm glad you're liking it."

Yoongi smiled. "I really do," he said. "I'm kinda full of inspiration right now. I just hope that continues!"

"It will," Namjoon said knowingly. "If something comes to you right off the bat like it has, you're in a good place."

Yoongi nodded as he sighed a contented sigh. "Does it ever get old?"

"Nah," Namjoon said. "It can get difficult, but never old. For guys like us and Hobi, music is in our blood. We'd just feel empty without it."

"That's for sure," Yoongi agreed. "I don't know what I'd do if I wasn't able to make music in some way, shape or form. It's just something I've practically always done."

"Same," Namjoon said. "And I'll always love it."

"Me, too."

"Well, you ready to get back?" Namjoon asked as they finished up their meals.

"Yeah, I've gotta get some new ideas written down."

"Well, let's get to it."

And the rest of the week passed by similarly, though sometimes Hoseok joined them for lunch. But Yoongi's first week on his own went by in a flash, and he was happy with and proud of the work he'd done.