Chapter Text
[2022]
A jolt jarred him awake. He snapped his eyes wide open and winced at the brightness streaming from the round windows, tensing as the plane burned its wheels against the asphalt of the runway.
Landing was always so unpleasant. No matter how many countries he visited around the world, he would never get used to it. But there was always a relief at the end, when the plane stops moving, and it occurs to him that his trip is over.
This time, that relief eluded him. He knew why.
He was back home in South Korea for the first time in two years. His flight had landed in time; it was early in the afternoon of the 12th of April.
After picking up his backpack from the floor, he shuffled across the aisle and disembarked the plane. He mindlessly followed the signs across Incheon International Airport, weaving through autowalks and submitting himself to scans.
Finally, he arrived at an immigration counter.
“Kim Seokjin,” the officer read out loud, eyes widening as they flicked from his passport to his face.
Seokjin smiled and wondered if the officer would have recognized him if he didn’t check his name. That ID photo was taken nine years ago when Seokjin was a bright-eyed and chubby-cheeked 22-year-old, fresh into his debut as an idol. At 31, he’d lost most of his youthful glow with age, his features maturing; he doubted the light in his eyes was still as bright.
But he liked to think he was more handsome than ever anyway. The media liked to agree with that.
The immigration officer returned his passport with a smile. “Welcome home, Kim Seokjin-ssi.”
With a polite wave, Seokjin passed through. Security guards led him across the airport, armed with his luggage, and led him to a private car through the back exit amid screams of fans and camera flashes.
And just like that, he was homebound.
—
It shouldn’t be a surprise that he’d returned.
After all, Jeon Jungkook was getting married in three weeks.
The rest of the former Bangtan Soneyondan members should be in Seoul as well. Seokjin hadn’t been keeping track of their locations, because some of them were really jet-setters, but he did know they were all still largely based here.
Especially Jungkook. As far as he knew, Jungkook barely left this city in the past years. So it wasn’t a surprise either, that he was holding the wedding in Seoul instead of his hometown Busan, or anywhere else. Certainly not California, where his half-American fiance spent her younger years.
And so here Seokjin was. Back in Seoul. The city he’d moved to after spending his childhood in Gyeonggi; the city he’d called home for 15 years before he up and left, right after serving in the military for 18 months.
Seoul was the same. Same old view from the car window, same pleasant spring days, same draining traffic. There was that same street that held his favorite noodle shop, that same park he liked to spend time at before he became famous, that same winding road leading to that same luxury apartment complex he used to live in.
Hannam The Hill.
In all honesty, Seokjin didn’t think he’d actually be back here. He’d been surprised to learn that the unit that he and the rest of the BTS members used to live in was still maintained for them. As far as he knew, no other member ever went there anymore.
Until now.
Apparently, he wasn't the only one returning here — Namjoon, who’d gotten in touch with him earlier, told him everyone was going to be staying in the apartment in the week or so leading to the wedding, and that he should, too. The arrangement was so they could help Jungkook with the last minute grind or whatever.
And so that they could throw a bachelor’s party.
Being physically together had always been the easiest way to coordinate and mobilize all of them. It was a reasonable request, so Seokjin agreed. Hannam was a big place anyway. And it saved him from his mother’s nagging about visiting the other members during his stay.
The nerves started to make itself known the moment Seokjin stepped out of the car and lugged his belongings up the elevator. Fifth floor. Not too high, not too low.
By the time he was standing in front of the door, his stomach was in knots.
It had been so long since he’d seen any of the members, so he wasn’t sure what reception he would be getting. There had been a lot of hurt feelings among them in the past years. Even their last conversation together via online call was a bit awkward.
But family was family, right? The love never went away, and will never go away. Wasn't what why they were all here?
Seokjin didn't have the keycard anymore, so he had to ring the doorbell.
Namjoon opened the door. Despite only having one inch over Seokjin, he still towered, his bulk filling the doorway.
And then he smiled, erasing any possibility for intimidation. “Hyungnim.”
“Joon-ah.”
They hugged, gripping each other tightly, patting each other on the back. Seokjin’s heart swelled; he’d missed his old leader.
“We’ve been waiting for you. Got a bit excited when we saw in the news that you’d arrived — media broke it fast,” Namjoon said as they parted. He patted Seokjin on the shoulder. “They’re in the kitchen—”
“No, no,” a familiar voice called out from inside, “living room, let’s all hang out in the living room, snacks are ready!”
“Jimin-ah?” Seokjin abandoned his belongings outside and pushed past Namjoon to see Jimin, hands loaded down by bowls of chips.
“Jin-hyung!” Jimin was already grinning at Seokjin, hurrying over to set down the food on the coffee table in the living room. “Just in time!”
And then another voice dramatically said, “Jjwan!”
Seokjin whipped his head to the side, and automatically said, just as dramatically, “Jwehope!” He had enough time for a laugh before Hoseok threw himself at him in a hug. “Oof.”
“Hyung, it’s been too long,” Hoseok said, giving him a big squeeze before letting him go.
“Move over!” Hands pushed Hoseok to the side, revealing Jimin, who immediately embraced Seokjin. “Jinnie-hyung, I missed you so much.”
Hugging back, Seokjin earnestly said, “I missed you, too, Jimin-ah.”
He was starting to feel overwhelmed. All his previous worries faded, making him breathe a little easier.
Jimin cupped his cheek and inspected his face. “Still so gorgeous,” he observed. “But you look tired. Come in and rest.”
Seokjin nodded and turned back to fetch his things, but Namjoon was already wheeling his suitcase in, backpack over his shoulder. “I got it,” Namjoon said, shutting the door. “I'll put these in your old room.”
“Thanks, Namjoon-ah.” Seokjin toed off his shoes and slid them against the wall, where he counted six other pairs. As he let Jimin pull him towards the couches, he looked around.
Their apartment looked the same as it ever did — same furniture at the same spots, same pristine marble surfaces and smooth hardwood floors.
But it was devoid of the life it used to have. Namjoon’s potted plants were missing; that one red chair didn’t have a random jacket thrown on it; the rug was the same color, but it was clearly new because it didn’t have stains on it.
It made Seokjin feel quite sad.
When Jimin released him, Seokjin looked down and saw that there was already a bunch of food on the coffee table. Crackers, tteokbokki, japchae. “Is everyone else here?” he asked.
“Yes.” The low voice was Taehyung. Startled, Seokjin looked over, spotting him and Yoongi approaching with more bowls. “Jin-hyung, welcome home.”
“Taehyung-ah, Yoongi-ya,” Seokjin greeted automatically.
Yoongi nodded at Seokjin, avoiding eye contact. The knot reformed in Seokjin’s stomach.
Once Taehyung put down the food, he pulled Seokjin into a tight, warm hug.
“Voo, I missed you,” Seokjin said, struggling to speak the words due to the tight grip Taehyung had on him.
“I missed you, too, so much.” Taehyung let him go and rubbed his arms. The touch was the same, but Taehyung had clearly matured — and gotten infinitely more handsome, too. “Go take a seat, you’re probably exhausted.”
“Very,” Seokjin said with a sigh, shrugging off his gray Thom Browne coat, leaving him in jeans and a white sweater. He’d dressed up, knowing there’d be paparazzi at the airport. “I think the whole trip was 20 hours. There was a shitty seven-hour layover.”
He’d flown in first-class but it was still tough on him. Deciding he needed the rest, he let himself collapse on the couch with a sigh. The cushions were the same as ever, yellow and soft and bouncy — strangely enough, it did feel like home.
“How was Los Angeles?” Yoongi asked, surprisingly taking a seat beside him, daintily avoiding the coat. He was watching Seokjin from the corner of his eye, body stiff. The other members, including Namjoon who'd just returned, settled down around the room, clearly waiting for the answer.
“L.A. is L.A.” Seokjin let his head lol against the backrest to glance at Yoongi. His old roommate looked the same, but not. Kind of softer around the edges, but still thorny. “How are you, Yoongi-ya?” Seokjin asked softly.
Yoongi averted his gaze. “Just fine, hyungie,” he mumbled, less thorny now.
“Good.” Seokjin lolled his head back until it was slightly tilted up towards the ceiling. He let himself close his eyes, body unwinding. God, he really was exhausted. He didn’t look his age, he knew that, but his body was certainly feeling the strain. Perhaps he should take a nap.
But there was one more missing person, the one person he’d been trying to avoid thinking about all these years, and the one person who dragged them all back here.
“Where is he,” Seokjin finally asked.
“Present,” a voice behind him answered promptly.
Seokjin’s heart dropped to his stomach and his body was back to being tense, just like that. He kept his eyes closed, fearing that he wasn’t ready to see Jungkook again, no matter how much he’d been bracing himself for it.
The room was silent, as if everyone was holding their breath.
It was probably because the last time they were all together like this, Seokjin and Jungkook had a screaming match, throwing hurtful words at each other like it was a sport. It ended with Seokjin slamming the door without another glance back.
Even now, Seokjin didn’t like to think about it.
They didn’t part on the best terms. Only the members and probably their old managers knew that. And Bang Sihyuk.
But that was two years ago. Seokjin could stand to be civil for the duration of this week, especially since Jungkook was the groom.
Jungkook was getting married.
Seokjin could be petty, but he wasn’t cruel; he wouldn’t rain on Jungkook’s parade.
So he just lightly said, without opening his eyes, “Not greeting me first thing when you knew I’d be arriving? Rude.”
There was the sound of bare feet padding across the floor and then Jungkook’s voice, much nearer now, said, “Why are you so pissy already when you just got here? Don’t tell me you’re still mad just because I got mad that you were moving away two years ago.”
Seokjin’s eyebrow twitched in irritation and he pressed his lips together to stop himself from snapping. Here he was trying to be the bigger person and the brat had to drag out the past.
Seconds ticked by in silence, and Seokjin’s irritation only grew.
Just as his temper was about to flare up, the couch cushion dipped. That was Seokjin’s only warning before a weight crushed him, warm breath snickering into his neck.
“Get off,” Seokjin bit out as Jungkook’s familiar scent attacked his nose — same old soap, same old laundry detergent, same old shampoo. A hint of sweat and smoke, a sign that he had definitely helped with cooking.
“Nope.” Jungkook wormed his arms — thick arms, heavy arms, who was this monster? — around Seokjin properly and squeezed the breath out of him. “You can't be angry with the groom, Jin-hyung, that’s not allowed.”
“Groom or not you’re annoying,” Seokjin snapped. But he could already feel himself softening.
God, he’d missed Jungkook. So much.
“I’ll get off of you once you hug me,” Jungkook bargained, rubbing his cheek against Seokjin’s unstyled dark hair, still clinging like a koala. At least that little habit didn’t change.
Seokjin sighed, forcing out the irrational anger he was feeling. Then he raised his arms and hugged Jungkook back.
In no time at all, they were melting into it, as they were wont to do. Seokjin tightened his arms around Jungkook, and wondered when Jungkook got so big and strong as he no longer fit in his embrace like he used to. Wondered when Jungkook grew up, and why he wasn’t there for it. It made his eyes sting a little.
“Thank goodness,” Namjoon muttered, and the rest of the members tittered. “I thought we were going to have to prevent a bloodbath.”
Jungkook pulled away, and a part of Seokjin wanted to scream in protest. But then Jungkook leaned in and kissed Seokjin on the cheek, appeasing him. “Welcome back, hyung.”
Finally, Seokjn could say with all honesty, “Glad to be back.”