[Flashback, four years ago]

Yoongi thought back to his last semester of university. He was studying law, as his father was determined to have a son who worked a respectable, stable, government job. At the time, Jimin worked in the campus library where Yoongi went to listen to and write music. They met when Yoongi's laptop malfunctioned - the track he composed in the music program was playing quietly out of his speakers despite the fact that the headphone jack was in use. Jimin heard the music that Yoongi worked on and it got stuck in his head.

While packing up his things, Yoongi heard the blond humming the tune to his song.

https://youtu.be/dxwjDgj5xx0

"What is that song?? I have those few bars stuck in my head and I need to look it up right now." Jimin demanded as he approached.

"Umm... It doesn't have a name yet." Yoongi said bluntly.

"Wha- You're writing it as we speak? Well, obviously, not as we speak, but you know - "

"I should be going." Yoongi sighed, annoyed that someone heard what he never considered sharing.

"O-okay."

That's how it started.

The following Tuesday afternoon, Yoongi returned to the library to complete his assignments and work on his music. Jimin hopped over the check-out/return counter to spy on him under the guise of shelving books. Yoongi caught him, "Give up! I'm not going to share any more - you weren't supposed to hear in the first place."

"If it's so top-secret, then why don't you work on it at home?" Jimin retorted.

"Because... I have no privacy at home" confided Yoongi, "If you don't cut it out, I'm going to have to choose a different place to work."

Jimin backed away, not wanting to irritate the older any further.

By Thursday, though, his curiosity again outbid his judgment and he wandered over to the dark-haired boy again - this time with an order of coffee as a peace offering. "Do you have too many roommates or something? Is that why you have no privacy?" he inquired as he sat across from the older.

Yoongi begrudgingly took the coffee and stared at the boy in disbelief, "No, I live with my father. My parents didn't really support my interest in songwriting when I was growing up. They, my father particularly, ridiculed me, telling me to look at our lives - all through my childhood we were struggling. There was no time to waste on a hobby. He still feels that way and would probably have an aneurysm or worse if he knew how much time I spend doing this."

"I see. You owe me, by the way," Jimin said, his voice sing-songy. He acknowledged the older's dumbfounded expression, and explained, "For the coffee and the mini therapy session. Your total will be.... letting me listen to that song again."

When Yoongi popped one of his earbuds out of his ear and held it out to the blond, Jimin let out a little surprised squeal. He hopped out of his seat, making little excited fists and scurried to Yoongi's side of the table. Fucking adorable, thought Yoongi.

Day by day, Jimin convinced the Yoongi to let him listen to more of his songs. Yoongi couldn't say no to the younger when he pouted. It got to the point where Jimin came into the library when it wasn't his shift so that he could sit with Yoongi and listen to his music.

Weeks later, they sat on one of the large black couches in the corner of the library, sharing a set of earbuds. 

"Play this at my funeral please," said Jimin, eyes closed with an earbud in his right ear. "It's so beautiful, it'll help me haunt some of these bitches."

Yoongi smirked. Getting to know Jimin over the course of five weeks, he learned just how dramatic he could be. "Cheer up, Jimin. You might have hecklers in your dance classes right now, but in a few years you'll be looking down at them -"

"Thanks, hy-"

"From your step-ladder."

"Shut the fuck up." Jimin smacked Yoongi's arm and closed his eyes again, listening deeply. After a few moments, he sleepily half-whispered, "Hyung, have you ever written any love songs?"

[End flashback]

https://youtu.be/cXrd_IQzCtM

[a/n play it now, you fools! no offense intended -  i'm just excited! listening to RM's Spotify rn and veered off into Khalid. I would love to see Hobi dance to this]

"Hey!"

Yoongi snapped back to reality and saw Hoseok before him with the same bright smile and an outstretched hand. Yoongi just stared at it for a moment.

"Aish. C'mon!" Hoseok rolled his eyes as he grabbed Yoongi's hand and led him to the studio floor.

Yoongi felt the warmth of Hoseok's hand around his own, his fingers curling around the underside of his palm. But before he could fully appreciate the sensation, their short walk down the hallway was over.

Hoseok ran to the middle of the huge room and spun around with his arms outstretched. "This is it!"

Yoongi peered at the space. It was huge, with beautifully polished floors, an entire mirrored wall, some neatly stored materials, sound equipment - and a piano.

Yoongi made his way toward the piano without hesitation. He ghosted his fingers over the keys with a sharp inhale. His father sold the piano left to him by his grandmother back when he started university. He wouldn't have music distracting his son from his studies. Yoongi's hand coiled into a fist.

Hoseok rummaged for a cable to connect his phone to the sound system. "Do you play?" he called out to Yoongi.

Yoongi ignored the question, "This bench is the only seat in the whole room. You don't expect me to just stand here do you?"

"No, I expect you to stand over there. You will dj while I warm up." Hoseok said playfully, "Today!" he clapped twice for emphasis, then pointed to where his phone was connected to the sound system.

Yoongi made his way to where Hoseok indicated. The brown-haired boy caught his eye as he passed and winked. Keep it together, Yoongi thought as his cheeks turned pink.

Yoongi scrolled through the music. There were too many options so Yoongi finally decided that his best option was to give up: 🔀 shuffle.

Better by Khalid began playing.

Yoongi watched as Hoseok stretched slowly, his neck winding in a slow half-circle. Suddenly, his limbs seemed to be flowing to the music and his eyes gave an intense and concentrated stare into the mirrored wall.

♫ You say that we're friends but I swear when nobody's around... ♫

Yoongi's heart rate accelerated, his eyes following the boy's form across the studio. All of the air escaped Yoongi's lungs as Hoseok did a body roll. Shit.

Hoseok shuffled toward him and took one of Yoongi's hands in each of his.

"No - no, really. I don't know how to dance" Yoongi sputtered.

"Well, look who you have here in front of you! A dance teacher! C'mon." Hoseok encouraged. He continued to dance, pulling Yoongi out into the middle of the floor with him.

Yoongi's heart raced. "Absolutely not." But, embarrassingly, his body followed.

"Listen: Khalid is so helpful, he gives instructions." Hoseok soothed. He pulled Yoongi closer, hands resting on either side of his waist. [a/n 2:14]

He started singing along, "Now, left, right, left, right," and coaching Yoongi to move his feet.

♫Take it back, bring it side to side/ Like that, like that, ayy ♫

They stepped back together when Hoseok tapped Yoongi's waist to signal that they would move left.

♫ Ooh, now, left, right, left, right/ Take it back, bring it side to side/ Like ♫

Yoongi was watching his own feet the entire time. He was terrified that if he looked away he would fuck everything up.

He risked a glance to the mirrored wall. Yoongi saw himself and the younger boy fluidly moving together by some impossibility. He also realized that Hoseok was not looking into the mirror nor down at his feet.

Yoongi lifted his gaze to see Hoseok with his eyes fixed on him, wearing the same bright-as-the-sun expression and softly singing along, "Nothing feels better than this/ Nothing feels better / Nothing feels better than this."

For a moment, Hoseok's light blotted out all of Yoongi's loneliness, all of his pain, all of his past.

♫ Nothing feels better than this/ Nothing feels better / Nothing feels better than this ♫

[a/n thank you RM for sharing your spotify playlist, leading me to play this song while writing! 💜]