Chapter Text
“I think this is the stupidest decision ever!” Jungkook shouted as Sejin and Hobeom, his and his hyung’s managers, flinched.
“It’s done. Everything is signed and official. You need to please behave and stay calm!” Sejin said as there were collective grumbles.
They may be their managers but Hobeom and Sejin had been with the boys right from when they’d passed their audition so while there was respect they also treated the boys as their younger brothers.
“I don’t get it. Where’s Yoongi hyung?” Namjoon asked as the others looked about. “He’s on his way. He’s…um…he’s bringing Seokjin-ssi with him.” Hobeom said only for chaos to ensue as everyone began shouting in surprise.
“Yoongi hyung is in on this?” Jungkook asked, his scent reflecting betrayal. He never expected his Yoongi hyung to do this.
“Jungkookah…you need to talk to Yoongi okay. There’s more to the story.” Sejin said, sighing heavily as his phone went off. He then looked at Hobeom who excused himself.
“Yoongi hyung didn’t tell me anything.” Hoseok said his scent also reflecting betrayal. “He’s been busy and he’s been a bit secretive. You think that…” Taehyung asked only for an angry growl to erupt from Jimin. Of course Jimin would be mad. Jimin was Yoongi’s omega!
“Calm down please everyone. Yoongi hyung definitely will have an explanation.” Namjoon said as Jungkook sat down stewing in his anger. “He better because this is just wrong!” Jungkook grumbled looking out the window.
In the parkade some 14 floors below Yoongi stepped out of his car, rushing to the passenger side to open the door for the reason of Jungkook’s anger.
Kim Seokjin.
“Hyungie. This…” Seokjin started, gulping on seeing the opulence of the entrance from the parkade. “It’s going to be okay.” Yoongi said, reaching out to hold Seokjin’s hand, his hand covering the entirety of the omega’s fisted hand.Seokjin had scent blocking patches on which he was grateful for because he was confident he would stink up the place.
“Seokjin-ssi. Welcome! I'm Song Hobeom. I will be your manager.” Seokjin heard, watching as the beta smiled at him warmly. “Annyeonghaseyo.” He replied, bowing to 90 degrees. Trembling at the thought that this was his new ‘controller’ .
Hobeom on the other hand was shocked on seeing the idol. Not because of how beautiful he was. Because that was a given. Kim Seokjin was a beautiful beautiful omega even under these circumstances. But what Hobeom saw was the obvious signs of abuse. Seokjin seemed undernourished. His trembling had changed to him shivering. He had poorly concealed eye bags. He was pale.
Hobeom understood why Yoongi had done what he’d done. He already knew of Yoongi’s connection to Seokjin and now he understood why he’d risked his neck to get the omega to their company ASAP.
“Seokjinah. Relax please.” Yoongi said gently as he put his jacket over the omega. “So-sorry.” Seokjin mumbled looking down, his fist almost turning blue. “Trust me. Okay?” Yoongi said taking his hands in his own and warming them up before Hobeom handed Seokjin heat-packs that he was very grateful for.
As they entered the elevator Yoongi begged any God that was listening to make the next task of introducing Seokjin to the others go smoothly.
Was Seokjin the devil incarnate? Why was he being treated like this?
Seokjin was a diamond. A diamond that would shine and have people in awe. A diamond so beautiful he made everything else dull in his presence.
Seokjin was indeed beautiful. Tall with broad shoulders and a tiny waist. Lean with curvy hips. His face was art. The perfect golden ratio. He was a vision artists would kill for. Beautifully arched eyebrows with a straight nose and soft cheeks. Eyes that could be so soft but so alluring. Then came his lips. Plump to perfection making many an alpha’s want to break decorum rules to steal a kiss.
However, though beautiful one must remember that diamonds are formed from under a lot of pressure. Seokjin too was put under tremendous pressure. His spirit cut and cleaved. His control taken away from him. His life practically ruined. All of this covered by a varnish of perfectionism by his ex-company. They’d gone as far as to make Seokjin look like a diva. Supporting the gossip that he was a brat, a spoiled rotten idol, a snobbish little omega!
Unfortunately for Seokjin, he was still under a lot of pressure. That’s what differentiated him from a diamond. For once formed and shaped a diamond is left alone. In Seokjin’s case his ex-company still tortured him.
Till Yoongi.
Which wasn’t the whole truth. But that’s for another time.
Right now Seokjin stood still as a growl ripped through the room. Him, Yoongi and Hobeom had reached where the others were. Though he had scent blockers on Seokjin could still smell the others and oh he smelled the unwelcome in the air.
Unfortunately it was from everyone. One in particular smelled disgusted by him. The scent of lemongrass. Seokjin would remember that. He didn’t know who it was because he was staring at his shoes too scared to look up. However the most overpowering scent with defined hatred for him was coming from the omega who smelled like marshmallows, burnt marshmallows .
“Calm down Jiminah!” Yoongi said, coming to stand in front of Seokjin who reached out instinctively and held the back of Yoongi’s shirt. An action that only angered the omega more.
“Back the fuck away from him!” Jimin growled at Seokjin who bit his lip so hard it bled a little. “Jiminah!” Yoongi warned again but the omega charged ahead making Yoongi physically restrain him while Hobeom stepped in to cover Seokjin.
“How dare you!!? What is he? Your side piece? Is this why you’ve been so busy!? So secretive because you’ve been secretly fucking him!!?” Jimin spat as Seokjin bit a whimper, covering his own mouth not wanting too be loud.
“Don’t you fucking act, you bitch!” Jimin shouted but Yoongi had enough and he said as much growling a deep and loud, “ENOUGH!” His eyes rimmed red as he glared at Jimin who’d never seen this side of him.
The others had also not seen this side of Yoongi. In fact no one ever had. So they rushed to pull Jimin away as Yoongi turned around, taking Seokjin by the hand and walking out of the room.
Sejin and Hobeon, who were left behind, only looked at the five with disappointment before they followed Yoongi and Seokjin.
“Hyung…Suga hyung…”
“Go away.”
“It’s me Jungkookie!”
“I know exactly who it is.”
“Then why are you scolding me?”
“Be grateful that's all I'm doing ! Leave me alone please!”
“But hyung…”
“Jungkookah seriously I'm not in a forgiving mood!”
“Is he…is he there with you?”
“Tell Jimin to stop feeding you questions!”
Jimin who had in fact fed Jungkook that question scowled at the door but before he could hammer it Hoseok pulled him back.
Then finally Namjoon cleared his throat before saying, “Yoongi hyung…we need to talk! C’mon!” Only for Yoongi to ask, “Are you guys willing to listen?”
Hence here they were, the six in one of the offices as Hobeom walked in with refreshments. “I took Seokjin-ssi home.” he told Yoongi who nodded his head only to quickly look at Jimin who swallowed the growl he was about to let out.
“Let me preface this by saying I'm not going to tell you guys everything, because I don’t have the permission to.” That got collective grumbles plus Taehyung asking, “From who?”
“From Seokjinah. I don’t have the right to tell you his story but I'll tell you the parts I can share.” Yoongi clarified as the others looked among themselves.
“I’ve actually known Seokjin since my school days.” Yoongi said, making the others gasp and Hoseok quickly ask, “You never behaved like you knew him before!”
Yoongi took a moment before he said, “Do you remember how his manager used to behave? Not letting him hold conversations with others. Not letting those who approached him stay for more than 30 seconds. Yes they’d shove him at others, alpha’s especially, when they wanted to gain advantage from that interaction but truth is Seokjinah didn’t have any autonomy.”
“As I said, I have known Seokjinah since school. He was always super shy and timid. Very quiet and usually liked staying in the background. But he came from a family of renowned singers. Not popular on a national level but singers who were naturally gifted. The kind who sing in choirs and catch everyone’s attention. Much like Seokjinah’s voice.” Yoongi continued as Jungkook tried not to roll his eyes.
“I don’t think he ever intended to gain this fame. I remember it was our music teacher who’d persuade him to sing and when he did everyone just got mesmerized.”
Yoongi wasn’t wrong. Seokjin was a nightingale. His voice so smooth and strong. His capacity to hit high notes really blew everyone’s mind.
His only downfall? His reputation.
“But then I ran away from home and came here. Never did I think I'd see Seokjinah again and then four years ago, when his company debuted him, I was just as shocked as everyone else. Not because of his talent. I knew of that but the ensuing gossip and the attitude and behavior even put me off.”
It was true. For being a new idol who really became a hit with the masses, Seokjin had a horrible reputation. While he never did anything to disappoint his fans; within the industry he had no friends. He seemed to run on his own schedule. Coming as he pleased. Leaving as he pleased. Sometimes just being a no show.
Another thing Yoongi mentioned was also true, his attitude came off as rude and disrespectful. But he always got away with his antics. Even if it meant disrespecting older more tenured members of the industry. Something that personally rubbed Jungkook the wrong way because he was of the same age - technically older by months - than Seokjin and the one time he’d missed bowing to some industry legend he’d been reprimanded for weeks and had to publicly apologize.
Now this had also led to other rumors. Rumors of Seokjin making up for his transgressions in other ways. Namely sleeping around and being a slut for alpha’s to get favors. There were articles and stories about how alpha’s behaved around him. How his scent was always so enticing. How he was likely doing it on purpose to attract alpha’s.
“It was hard to reconcile the two versions. The ‘Seokjinah’ I knew and the ‘Kim Seokjin’ we saw. Yes I've seen people be two faced in this industry. I've seen people change drastically but with Seokjin something didn’t stick. In my heart I knew something was wrong.” Yoongi said with a far away look in his eyes.
“Then last year when I had my shoulder surgery I met him at the hospital.” Yoongi said as Jimin asked, “Why was he there?”
Jungkook noticed a shadow pass over Yoongi’s features but he didn’t answer the question, rather said, “That’s when he told me the truth about how he was being treated. About what his reality was like. I couldn’t...I couldn’t just leave him like that.” Yoongi said, going quiet for a bit before to everyone’s surprise he wiped away a tear.
“However, thankfully his contract was coming up for renewal. He thought he had no options. Thought he was trapped with those bastards forever. But then my contract was coming up for renewal too so I told our CEO that if he wanted me to stay he needed to get Seokjinah to this company and here we are.” Yoongi concluded.
“See I'm not asking for you to become his besties. All I'm asking for is common courtesy. Just please be decent. Not schoolyard bullies!” Yoongi admonished as the five looked down guiltily.
“And for your information he’s like a little brother to me so I expect an apology the next time you see him!” Yoongi said, looking right at Jimin who still looked chagrined.
That was the end of that. Everyone went about their day with Taehyung having to take Jimin with him because Yoongi was still not in a forgiving mood.
Jungkook however stayed in that office wondering what kind of puzzle Kim Seokjin really was.
He actually really did admire the omega when he’d debuted but then he too was put off majorly by everything else. He wouldn’t admit it out loud but other than his voice Seokjin himself had captured the alpha’s attention. He remembers the one time they’d made eye contact after Seokjin’s debut. The omega had smiled at him, a smile that made his eyes shine. That was the first time Jungkook’s alpha wanted to almost burst out of his chest only to posture and prance around the omega to impress him.
But then things had changed and the omega never smiled at Jungkook or anyone in the same way again. Even if he did it was forced like he just smiled because he had to. It never reached his eyes. Funny, in all these years Jungkook had never had a conversation with the omega. Right now Jungkook decided he didn’t really care anymore. His Yoongi hyung asked him to be decent so he’d be decent with Kim Seokjin.
That was it.
However Jungkook realized it was difficult not to be mad at the omega. The next day he coincidentally reached the company building at the same time as Seokjin and was annoyed when he saw the omega with his make up all done and his scent blocking patches on. As if he was trying to show he was better than everyone else. More put together.
Jungkook, who was dressed all the way in black with a face mask and goggles, hoped his lemongrass scent didn’t make his presence known but then he heard the omega sniffling like he had a cold, likely he couldn’t really smell anything because of that.
However, Jungkook was confused by Seokjin’s behavior. The omega bowed a full 90 degrees to the elevator operator and then to the receptionist and then to the security guard and finally to Hobeom who recognized Jungkook but on being indicated by Jungkook not to make his presence known just focused on Seokjin.
“Seokjin-ssi you don’t need to wear scent blocking patches if you don’t want to, you are aware of that right?” Jungkook heard Hobeom ask the omega who shook his head. “Just for now.” Jungkook heard the soft, honeyed voice reply.
Internally Seokjin’s voice made Jungkook’s alpha’s ear twitch. He sounded so sweet. So soft. So unlike what Jungkook thought he was. Was he always so humble? So well mannered? Or was this all an act? But then Jungkook wondered again why exactly was he wasting time thinking about Seokjin? So instead he went to his own studio to work before being called to one of the conference rooms.
It was lunchtime and Jungkook was a little hangry. So he didn’t want to attend any kind of meeting still he dragged himself to the conference room only to look about confused when the scene there pretty much resembled yesterday with Yoongi, Seokjin, Hobeom and Sejin being on one side of the room with the other four and soon five including Jungkook being on the other.
“Well yesterday since the introductions were interrupted…rudely…rudely interrupted.” Yoongi started, looking at Jimin pointedly, “I thought we should try again. So…” he continued, pausing as he looked beside him at Seokjin who finally moved his eyes from his shoes to look at the five. Bowing at 90 degrees to all - thus five times - before he said, “Annyeonghaseyo, my name is Kim Seokjin. I'm a new idol under your company. I promise to work hard. Please do take care of me.”
Seems like reconciling Seokjin’s image of the shy omega they saw now to the haughty omega they’d seen at awards shows was hard on the others as well because it took a firm throat clearing from Yoongi to make the others respond. Starting with Namjoon, then Hoseok, then Taehyung and then Jungkook who felt a very weird sensation rush down his spine when his eyes met with Seokjin’s. Much like the first time.
Finally it was Jimin’s turn. The omega stood taller, his chest out as he said, “I’m Park Jimin. Min Yoongi’s omega.” Making even Yoongi look at him with his mouth a little open. But all Seokjin did was smile a soft smile at that before Sejin informed them lunch was being served in the cafeteria.
Yoongi - who hadn’t joined the boys for lunch - had said the five didn’t have to be besties with Seokjin so when they got to the cafeteria the five got their food and sat at their regular spot. And maybe Seokjin anticipated that because he took his food and sat a few tables away.
“Didn’t even ask to join us.” Jimin grumbled looking at Seokjin’s back but then Taehyung interjected with, “Well neither did we!” as Jimin scowled at him.
They ate in silence for a bit but then there was a boisterous bunch of guys who walked into the cafeteria. Jungkook recognized them as a new band that was already shopping around for a new company. There were rumors of a brewing scandal but Jungkook didn’t think the company would want to take them on. Especially since they already signed with Seokjin. Seokjin, who Jungkook noticed, had curled within himself as if he wanted to make himself small.
But then one of the guys noticed him, immediately declaring, “Ah Kim Seokjin! What are you doing here, pretty thing?”
Along with Jungkook, the rest at the table also paused. Looking at three guys, all alpha’s, approach Seokjin who kept his head down. Pulling his tray closer, holding his chopsticks like a weapon. As Jungkook looked at the chopsticks he realized they were shaking. Then he realized the chopsticks weren’t shaking. Seokjin was shaking.
Jungkook didn’t understand what spurred him on but in the next second he was on his feet and pulling a chair right beside Seokjin. Placing his tray beside the omega who looked at him in surprise. Soon the others followed with all five occupying the table and Namjoon sitting on Seokjin’s other side.
The group of other artists slowed down before smiling at the men. Then one of their bandmates, an omega, pulled the others away.
No one said anything. They ate in awkward silence till they heard a soft, “Thank you.” from Seokjin who was staring at his plate. His plate that barely had any food.
“That’s not going to be enough!” Jimin declared suddenly taking a couple dumplings from his own plate and putting them on Seokjin’s. “Yeah you’re singing demos today you need to eat!” Taehyung said putting some steamed bok choy and barbecue ribs on Seokjin’s plate. “The kimchi is fresh, here have some more.” Hoseok said, adding some of his own to Seokjin’s place while Namjoon walked to the counter and got an extra bowl of rice. Jungkook didn’t say anything. He just slid his extra banana milk to the side of Seokjin’s tray.
Seokjin was grateful but he hesitated. Something that Namjoon picked up on asking, “You don’t like the food?” But instead Seokjin said, “No no. Sorry! I don’t mean to offend but I haven’t been given my diet outline yet. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to eat and what I'm not supposed to eat.”
Idols being on strict diets was common. Some folks even only ate ice cubes. At one point during their trainee days the five at the table also had to face food restrictions but that had changed when they’d individually and as a group gained success.
It had changed when the boys realized that to be authentic with their fans they needed to be authentic with themselves. It had changed when they’d become so irreplaceable that the company didn’t care anymore.
It was already obvious Seokjin was irreplaceable even before his debut with the company. His fans and the way he drew in crowds was almost otherworldly. Also it would have taken a lot of money to get him on board so as they looked among themselves the five decided they’d not let him live in fear. Yoongi in not so many words had implied Seokjin had been abused by his ex-company and the five may not like him, yet, but they wouldn’t let him think that abuse would continue.
“There are no diets. You eat what you want.” Jungkook said, making Seokjin turn to look at him with his doe eyes. “Yeah! Jungkookah here once ate 25 racks of galbi!” Hoseok said as everyone laughed while Jungkook whined at him.
Soon the five conversed among themselves as Seokjin listened. Eating as he watched the conversation flow. Eating till his plate was empty.
“He really does sound good. Has the company decided if he’s being relaunched as a soloist or in a group?” Namjoon asked Yoongi after a few weeks. “Plan for now is a solo album produced by yours truly and then as per the response we’ll see what happens.” Yoongi said as Namjoon pouted at Yoongi who looked at him with a brow raised. “Can I help?” Namjoon asked, making Yoongi smile with a, “Definitely!”
In the past weeks the boys have been casual with Seokjin. Not besties but they greeted him when they saw him and if they happened to eat at the same time they would invite him to their table.
Jungkook, who largely didn’t talk to the omega, was beginning to see the characteristics that Yoongi had highlighted. Reserved, quiet, introverted, painfully shy.
Jungkook decided he’d talk to Seokjin - as in initiate conversation the next day - but alas Seokjin didn’t show up to work.
Though the five were curious they didn’t ask Yoongi and when they asked Sejin he said it was due to “personal reasons.”
“Why don’t you ask Yoongi hyung, Jiminshi?” Jungkook asked only for Jimin to almost start crying as he said, “We’re on a break.”
Taehyung said “What?” so loudly people likely heard it outside the building prompting Jimin to explain that Yoongi had said till he didn’t formally apologize to Seokjin for behaving the way he did on the first day they’d be on a break from their relationship.
“So just say sorry Jiminah!” Hoseok said but Jimin pursed his lips instead saying, “I’m trying but that boy never seems to have the time. Haven’t you noticed? He comes here, does his work and then goes home! Never hangs out with us, nothing. Tell me how do I talk to him?”
Jimin had a point. Seokjin would usually rush home right after he finished what he was at the company building for. He really didn’t live too far away. Jungkook knew where he lived because once Hobeom had made his driver drop Seokjin home and Jungkook had silently insisted on dropping Seokjin till the elevator.
“Maybe we should just drop in at his place?” Taehyung suggested but Namjoon shut that suggestion down. They didn’t know him that way yet.
However, exactly that happened another week later. This week everyone including Namjoon and Hoseok who generally were kind to Seokjin were pissed at him. He’d canceled out on coming to the office three out of the five days and the days he’d been there he’d rushed out almost within a few hours.
“Did this damn car have to stop working now? Really??” Namjoon groaned as they all - sans Yoongi - stepped out of Jimin’s rental when they’d decided to go home together in the evening. It’d been raining and everyone was in a bad mood as is. “Now what do we do?” Hoseok wondered, only for Jungkook to point out that Seokjin’s place was a few streets away.
“It doesn’t look nice.” Namjoon started but Jimin said, “It’s not like we have a choice.” With Taehyung adding, “I mean aren’t you curious hyung?”
Hence they ended up in Seokjin’s building with Jungkook pressing the number “7” in the elevator. “Why am I nervous?” Hoseok asked out loud as everyone passed a look among themselves. All of their hearts gripped by a strange anxiety.
However when they got off the floor it was quickly apparent other than one apartment the others were all empty. They all had those real estate locks on them. “But he can’t live here!” Hoseok whispered not because Seokjin couldn’t afford it but because all you could hear on the floor was the echo of a child crying. Loud and long, pained and frustrated.
The five looked at each other and then knocked on the door where the crying came from not knowing what to expect. Their eyes bugging out when the door opened and they heard, “Yooni sam…no…you no Yoonie samchon!”