Work Text:
It happens like this:
One minute Jungkook is sipping his beer and soju, cackling at Seokjin who is testing how many watermelon gummies he can fit in his mouth before he chokes to death, the next he’s being dragged down their dorm hallway by Taehyung and shoved into a closet. A closet that has Kim Namjoon in it, who looks just as confused to be there as Jungkook, but with a kind of resignation to his fate about it, like he understands and accepts that being shoved into closets at random is just a part of his life.
“What–” Jungkook starts as he whirls around on Taehyung, but Taehyung gives Jungkook a shove that sends him stumbling backwards into Namjoon and then shuts the door on them.
Jungkook blinks. The door is violently yanked open again and Taehyung sticks his head back inside.
“Jungkook wants to suck your dick, you’re welcome, have fun,” he yells into the cramped space, and then he’s gone and the door slams shut with a bang, followed by the distinct sound of a lock clicking in place.
“What,” Namjoon says.
“Oh my fucking god,” Jungkook says, crumpling down to his knees and banging his head against the wood of the door.
This was a nice evening. Jungkook was having a good time. He was pleasantly buzzed and minding his own business, talking and laughing with his friends and sneaking looks at Namjoon in between. The usual. Now he’s going to have to murder his former best friend Kim Taehyung. Jungkook was having a good time.
“Uh,” Namjoon says from behind him, closer now, and then a hand is touching Jungkook’s shoulder carefully.
“Haha,” Jungkook says, trying to subtly lean away from his touch. He clears his throat and uses the doorknob to pull himself up off the floor, which now that he looks down at it is kind of disgusting. He gives the doorknob a try and feels it jam against the lock. He doesn’t know what he was expecting. He’s going to murder Taehyung with his bare hands.
“Jungkook?” Namjoon says, and right, Jungkook is going to do damage control, and then he’s going to get out of here, and then he’s going to murder Taehyung.
“Haha,” Jungkook says again, squeezing his eyes shut tightly. “Sorry, hyung, Tae is just joking around. He’s had half a drink, you know how he gets.”
This isn’t the first time one of their friends has teased Jungkook about his planet-sized crush on Namjoon in front of Namjoon–it’s a running joke within their friend group, at this point–but it is the first time someone has locked them in a closet for it. Why the fuck does their dorm have a janitor’s closet that locks from the outside? That has to be a safety violation of some kind.
“Oh,” Namjoon says, “yeah, I know. No worries.”
Right. Of course Namjoon would tell him not to worry about it. He’s been kind enough to pretend not to notice how Jungkook feels about him for the better part of two years now, and Jungkook has been anything but subtle about it, sometimes more intentionally so than others. Getting locked in a windowless room together while their friend yells obscene suggestions at them wouldn’t change that.
Jungkook rattles the doorknob again. It’s definitely locked, but it’s one of those shitty indoor locks that only keep the knob from turning. Jungkook can probably kick it open if he gets his aim right. Either that or he’ll put his foot clean through it. “I can probably kick this open,” he says, trying to sound in control of the situation. “Step back, hyung.”
“Wait, Jungkook, just–wait a moment,” Namjoon says, his hand on Jungkook’s shoulder again. Jungkook lets out a small sigh, his shoulders slumping a little as he tries to muster the courage to turn around and face his crush of a lifetime Kim Namjoon.
When he manages, Namjoon is looking at him with a pained smile that radiates so much obvious awkwardness Jungkook legitimately almost bursts into tears. God, an unrequited crush really isn’t something to cry over, but Jungkook’s a little drunk and he desperately needs Namjoon to at least like him as a person and not think he’s weird or pathetic, and Jungkook will never forgive himself if he’s made Namjoon feel like Jungkook is uncomfortable to be around. He swallows down the lump in his throat with considerable effort.
“Hyung, seriously, it was just a bad joke, I’m so sorry,” he says, but it still comes out all choke-y.
Namjoon’s eyes widen and he reaches out to Jungkook, so careful again, his fingers just a breath away from Jungkook’s forearm. Jungkook can’t bring himself to pull it out of reach.
“It’s okay, Jungkook, seriously,” Namjoon says softly, and Jungkook can barely look him in the eye. He trains his gaze on Namjoon’s chest instead. It’s so broad. Even if he will never get to rest his weary head on it, there’s something comforting about it.
“Uh-huh,” Jungkook says, forcing a smile onto his face. Maybe it’s enough, knowing that a person like Namjoon exists in this world, and even if he decides he no longer wants Jungkook in his life, Jungkook would feel thankful–honored, even–that he got to spend this time with him as a friend.
“Uh, while we’re... on the topic, though,” Namjoon’s chest says, and Jungkook’s eyes snap back up to his face. Namjoon’s still grimacing, even more so than before, and oh god, this is really it, he’s finally done humoring Jungkook’s juvenile crush, he’s going to turn Jungkook down for real and he’s going to be so fucking gentle about it, and Jungkook is going to cry–
Namjoon sighs. “I know you and Tae and the others... I know you’re just kidding, and like I said, it’s fine, don’t get me wrong–I’m not offended, or anything, it’s just…,” he trails off, and Jungkook has stopped breathing since Namjoon started talking so he really hopes he finds his words soon.
“I know it’s just jokes to you," Namjoon mercifully continues. "But to me… I’m actually into guys, you know? And you’re–well, I mean, look at you–no, wait, sorry, that makes it sound like–god, Namjoon, what are you saying–I mean, you’re hot, sure, like very, but you’re also sweet and kind and wonderful. So for me, it’s getting to a point where the joke isn’t that funny anymore, if you know what I mean.”
Jungkook does not know what Namjoon means. Jungkook has no idea what the fuck Namjoon is talking about.
“What,” he squeaks. Jungkook also hasn’t been breathing for a full two minutes. He sucks in a wheezing breath. “I’m into guys,” he gets out once his lungs stop burning, a little frantically, because Namjoon said it like Jungkook wasn’t, and that seems like kind of a big one.
Namjoon frowns at him, tilting his head. “Oh. Oh, wow, sorry, I assumed you were straight just because you have a girlfriend, ha. Damn you, internalized biphobia,” he says with a self-deprecating smile, shaking a fist in the air half-heartedly.
Jungkook stares at him for a long moment. “Girlfriend,” he finally echoes. He doesn’t know if he feels dizzy from the lack of oxygen or the absolutely batshit wild turn this conversation has taken.
“Yeah, you’ve been together for a long time though, right? I think I’ve heard you mention Jimin at least a hundred times since I met you,” he laughs. “Long-distance can be hard. You must really miss her.”
Jungkook is having an out of body experience. “Hyung,” he says very slowly, “Jimin-hyung is my best friend in Busan. I miss him but he is not my girlfriend.”
Namjoon blinks rapidly at him. “Oh. Wow. Okay. Sorry.” He continues blinking.
“I’m very gay,” Jungkook says, because that feels kind of vital. “Like, really. I love d–guys.”
“Oh,” Namjoon says, pausing. “Then is Jimin–”
“Jimin is also not my boyfriend.”
“Oh,” Namjoon says, looking like he’s recalibrating. “Well, okay. Sorry. Glad we cleared that up.”
Did they clear something up? Jungkook feel distinctly less clear on like, everything he thought he knew. Namjoon thinks he's hot. Namjoon thinks he's joking. Namjoon thought he was straight.
"I've been gay around you," Jungkook says helplessly. Their entire friend group is queer. Did Namjoon think Jungkook was The Straight One? Jungkook has a Sailor Moon phone case.
Namjoon huffs out a laugh. "Yeah, I guess you must have been. It's my fault, Kook, I'm just... very dumb," he says. "In any case, it doesn't matter. I mean, it matters–of course it matters–and thank you for telling me! But you understand what I’m saying, right? I just want to be a good friend to you, and like, a hyung you can trust."
If Namjoon is dumb Jungkook must be, like, an amoeba, or something, because at least Namjoon seems to know what conversation they’re having.
“Hyung,” Jungkook croaks. His throat feels so dry. He’s so on edge he feels like he might pass out purely out of self-preservation if he doesn’t figure out what the fuck is going on soon. “Hyung, please, just–rip off the bandaid,” he begs.
Namjoon scrubs a hand down his face with a tired laugh. “Yeah, okay. You’re right.” He sighs. “Look, I really don’t want to make things awkward, and I swear I’ve been trying to see you as a dongsaeng and a friend only, but it’s been… difficult. And this is definitely on me! I’m not trying to blame you, or anything, but at this point I have to admit I’m kind of starting to develop a little crush on you, so–”
The sound in Jungkook’s head cuts out for a full second as his heart implodes. The closet, the dorm, the entire universe rearranges itself around him. "Oh my fucking god," Jungkook whispers.
"It's nothing major, I promise!” Namjoon says quickly. “In fact it's very minor. I'm gonna get over it in no time.” He clears his throat. “But if in the meantime you could tone down the flirty jokes and the, like, looks and stuff, it'll probably... go faster.” He smiles a wry smile, claps his hands together, swings them back and forth, opens his mouth again. Jungkook realizes Namjoon is going to keep talking if he doesn’t say something soon, but Jungkook’s mind is still spinning like a Rubik's cube, a flurry of mismatched colors. “Just, uh. Be less cute, if you can. I know it’s lot to ask,” Namjoon laughs.
“I do want to suck your dick,” Jungkook says, and okay, that’s part of what he means, but it’s not the words he was looking for. Namjoon goes very still in front of him. Jungkook shakes his head, trying to get all the little cubes lined up. “I mean, it wasn’t a joke. None of–nothing I did or said to you was a joke, hyung,” he says, a little distraught, but he manages to look Namjoon straight in the eye as he says it.
Namjoon just stares at him, his brow slowly furrowing into a little maze of confusion. “But you’re–”
“Gay, not joking, and really, really into you,” Jungkook summarizes. He's suddenly very aware that this really isn’t any way to confess to someone. Even a moldy closet calls for something more eloquent, but Jungkook can’t risk it at this point. What if Namjoon think he’s straight again?
“So all those times you told me I looked hot...” Namjoon says slowly.
He's clenching his jaw while he processes in that way that is so attractive Jungkook has made a habit of looking away from it. He keeps his eyes on Namjoon’s face now and says, very seriously, “I was flirting with you.”
Namjoon’s brow unfurrows a little. “So then when you said I was your ideal type...”
“I meant you are my ideal type.” Jungkook feels his cheeks grow warm, perhaps belatedly.
There’s a small tug at the corner of Namjoon’s mouth, the hint of a dimple. “So when you sat on my lap and told me my thighs would look good wrapped around y–”
Jungkook's face is on fire but he perseveres. “I was very drunk and very horny and had been pining after you for over a year.”
“Oh,” Namjoon says, and then lets out a loud, relieved laugh. “Oh, good, because I was really downplaying that crush thing just now. I mean, whew! I seriously like you so much, Jungkook, you have no idea. Yoongi-hyung literally stopped talking to me for like, a week, because I wouldn’t shut up about you. And I don’t blame him. It was when you wore that yellow shirt? With the sleeves rolled up, and the jeans–I really wasn’t okay for a good while–”
Namjoon is talking and Jungkook is listening, but he is also reviewing his mental to-do list. Adds something. Edits. Rearranges the order. Comes away with a neat top three:
3. Throttle Kim Taehyung for locking him in a closet with his crush Kim Namjoon (who likes him back!)
2. Break out of the closet with his crush Kim Namjoon (who likes him back!)
1. Kiss his crush Kim Namjoon (who likes him back!!!)
Namjoon is still talking when Jungkook’s mouth crashes into his, but then he stops and lets Jungkook kiss him, and then he kisses Jungkook back, pushes him up against the door and kisses him deep and slow and careful. He puts his hands on Jungkook’s waist and slides his tongue against his, and every little touch and hum against lips is the best thing that’s ever happened to Jungkook. Kissing Namjoon is the best thing that's ever happened to Jungkook.
Namjoon kisses Jungkook for so long Jungkook feels tingly all over, a little less affected by gravity, like he might slowly float up to the ceiling if Namjoon lets go of him. He pulls Namjoon closer and kisses him more, until their mouths taste the same and it feels like they’re sharing one respiratory system, breaths coming in tandem. Jungkook’s head spins with it, so much that he can’t tell which way is up anymore, like vertigo but good somehow; like he’s tumbling, weightless.
He's tumbling but he's not weightless, because his back slams against a hard surface and when he opens his eyes he finds himself on the sticky linoleum of the dorm hallway with Kim Namjoon’s full weight on top of him.
“Ow,” Jungkook groans.
“I told you I am the best wingman of all time,” Kim Taehyung, the worst wingman of all time says from somewhere above them. “I present to you, exhibit A.”
Namjoon is scrambling up and patting Jungkook down for damage. “Kook? Fuck, sorry, Kook, are you okay?”
Jungkook feels like he just came out of the other end of a wormhole. He groans weakly, squinting against the bright hallway light.
“I’m like a modern-day matchmaker, you know? Honestly, people should be paying me. Hey, Jeon Jungkook, you owe me money,” Taehyung says, kicking at Jungkook’s leg.
That finally plugs all of Jungkook’s brain wires back into their corresponding sockets. He seizes Taehyung’s ankle in a death grip. “Prepare to die,” he grits out through his teeth.
Taehyung yelps and clutches at Seokjin, who’s apparently been standing there the entire time, looking only mildly interested in the scene before him. “Seokjin-hyung! Save me!”
Namjoon gently peels Jungkook's fingers off Taehyung's ankle. "Kook, I'm sorry and I support you, but he’s a little bit right."
Jungkook stares at Namjoon. “Hyung,” he gets out, voice cracking at the betrayal.
Namjoon squeezes his hand apologetically. "No, I mean…,” his eyebrows turn a little sad, “do you think we'd have figured this out if we hadn’t been..." He gestures vaguely in the direction of the closet. "Prompted?" he settles on.
Jungkook deflates a little. "We'd have gotten there eventually," he says sulkily, although he can't say he really believes that. Namjoon thought he was straight.
"Maybe," Namjoon says doubtfully, "but I'm kind of glad we got here now." He smiles a small smile at him, and he looks very handsome and gentle and comfortable up there, sitting on top of Jungkook. Hm.
When Jungkook smiles back at him, Namjoon's smile gets bigger, big enough for his dimples to appear in their full glory, and that makes Jungkook smile so hard he knows his whole face is going kind of screwy, but he doesn't care. Kim Namjoon likes him back.
"Beautiful," Taehyung declares magnanimously from above, clapping his hands together. "Again, you're welcome, now move, I need the closet."
Jungkook glares at him. "You locked us in there!"
"Yeah, so you could make out, which you did, so now it's our turn." He flutters his eyelashes at Seokjin, who looks somewhat surprised by this announcement, but not unpleasantly so.
“Oh?” Seokjin says, voice oddly strained, “I thought we were here to laugh at Jungkook and then get this watermelon gummy out of my windpipe.”
“We are,” Taehyung replies in a sultry tone, waggling his eyebrows at him. He doesn't take his eyes off Seokjin when he stretches his foot out like he’s trying to push a particularly smelly pile of trash out of the closet doorway, rather than his human best friend’s legs. Jungkook revels in the agonized scream Taehyung lets out as the bottom of Jungkook’s boot smashes into his shin.
Namjoon pats Jungkook's arm soothingly and starts pulling him up off the floor before he can get another kick in, so Jungkook goes, grudgingly. “I’m still going to murder him,” he grumbles. His entire being is screaming at him to at least drape himself in the closet entrance like a human obstacle just to spite Taehyung, but Namjoon's hands are pulling him along like magnets and they're very effective.
“All yours, Taehyung,” Namjoon says, with a fondness Taehyung definitely does not deserve.
Taehyung is muttering something about how selfish Jungkook is for trying to deny him 'his rightful turn in the Makeout Closet', but then the door slams shut and it’s just Namjoon and Jungkook standing alone in the hallway, set to a soundtrack of distant party sounds and a muffled yelping coming from inside the closet. Namjoon takes Jungkook’s hand and holds it gently but firmly in his own.
“Do you want to go home?” he asks. Jungkook’s heart skips a beat. “With me, I mean,” Namjoon adds hastily. “We don’t have to do anything, we can do whatever, I just–”
Jungkook laughs, happy. “Yes. Yes, I want to go home with you and do whatever,” Jungkook says. “I like you so much, hyung,” he adds, because he doesn’t remember if he’s actually said those words out loud to Namjoon at this point, and they’re kind of the most important ones.
Namjoon beams at him and then he kisses Jungkook, and Jungkook’s heart skips two, three, maybe four whole beats, so he’s glad Namjoon has an arm around him to keep him from sliding back down to the floor.
“Let’s go,” Namjoon whispers as he pulls back.
They make it three steps before Namjoon stops abruptly, lets go of Jungkook’s hand and turns back around. Jungkook watches his crush of a lifetime Kim Namjoon walk over to the closet door and flip the lock, locking their friends inside in an act of absolutely perfect, spiteful revenge. Jungkook knows his mouth is still hanging open when Namjoon takes his hand again.
“There’s a bucket in there,” Namjoon says with a shrug when he sees Jungkook’s face.
“You’re the man of my dreams,” Jungkook says thickly.
Namjoon laughs like it’s a joke, but then he kisses Jungkook again, so Jungkook isn’t too worried about it.