Archive of Our Own ^beta

When Namjoon came home from a calming walk in the park on a Sunday afternoon, all he wanted to do was crash on the couch and binge-watch some anime. What he didn’t account for was opening his front door and seeing his boyfriend sitting at his dinner table. 

His boyfriend, who wasn’t supposed to come home for another month. His boyfriend, also known as Jin or Kim Seokjin; one of Korea’s most famous K-drama actors with multiple awards to his name. Jin, who was rumoured to have a girlfriend but he never confirmed anything as he was very secretive about his private life. Seokjin, Namjoon’s wonderful, amazing boyfriend whom he loved dearly but couldn’t tell anyone about.

Jin.

Kim Seokjin.

His boyfriend.

At his dinner table. In his house.

“Ah, you’re home,” Seokjin said, trying but failing to hide his smile as he turned towards a very stunned Namjoon who was still holding the door handle. 

“What? How … how are you home?” Namjoon closed the door behind him as he haphazardly toed his shoes off and hung his coat on a hanger without taking his eyes off his boyfriend, afraid it might just be an illusion.

“The project that I was supposed to do this month wasn’t what my manager or I had thought it would be, so I decided to be very generous and give the part to someone else. And I suppose it wouldn’t be that horrible to come home early to see my boyfriend.” He smiled cheekily. Namjoon huffed, blushing, “So you quit a job because you missed me?”

“Well, it wasn’t just that, but basically, yeah.” Their smiles grew wider until they were both laughing at each other, delighted to be in each other’s presence again after being apart for nearly half a year. 

“Come here.” 

Namjoon took a few big strides while Seokjin stepped forward to finally take his boyfriend into his arms. They kissed briefly but deeply and then held each other tight for what felt like hours but was in reality only a few minutes. 

“God, I’ve missed you so much,” Namjoon murmured into Seokjin’s broad shoulder. “Me too, I honestly didn’t quit the project just for you but I’m so glad I’m home. I don’t think I could’ve handled not seeing you for much longer. I never want to go this long without you anymore.”

“Well, I have you all to myself for the next four months. We’re gonna do all of the things we missed out on the last 5 months.” Seokjin looked up at Namjoon and grinned slyly. “Everything?” 

“Hyung, please, I don’t want the first thing we do to be sex. Let’s just catch up and have dinner, then we can have a sex marathon tomorrow if you’re up for it. I don’t have any classes to teach on Mondays anyway.” He smirked at the blush quickly spreading across Seokjin’s cheeks as he quickly tried to change the subject.

“I already looked through the cabinets and we definitely have to go shopping tomorrow but I think I can whip up some pasta.” 

“If you’re cooking, I think it will be amazing anyway, no matter what you make.” Seokjin smacked his boyfriend’s chest, “I can still leave if you’re going to be this sappy.”

“Shut up, you love it. You love me.”

“Yeah, I do.”

~~~

It had been one week since Seokjin had come home, and it had been the best week of Namjoon’s life. They couldn’t go outside much, they only went when it was late at night and there weren’t many people who could recognise Seokjin. He still wore a hat and a mask, to be sure. 

They had gone shopping on Tuesday and they’d visited the local park a few times to walk around and enjoy the sunset or even the stars, that time they had a picnic in the middle of the night.

During his classes, Namjoon constantly wore a dopey grin and had trouble staying focused, which his students definitely noticed. He couldn’t feel sorry for them though, not when his beautiful boyfriend was at home waiting for him.

Namjoon was sitting at his breakfast bar while Seokjin made them breakfast, singing along softly to the music coming from his phone when the doorbell rang. Namjoon walked to the door hesitantly, he hadn’t made plans for his parents to visit, and who else would visit him on Sunday morning?

He heard multiple voices outside of his door but couldn’t make out who they belonged to. Namjoon opened the door to a loud group of friends, his loud group of friends, standing there.

“Hyung, you’re alive,” Taehyung yelled in his face, briefly hugging him and then pushing past him to get inside, the rest of them quickly followed. 

“What are you guys doing here?” Namjoon got nervous, Seokjin was still in the kitchen and not even his friends knew about their relationship. Luckily the kitchen wasn’t visible from the front door, but it would be from the living room since they had an open floor plan.

“You haven’t talked to any of us all week and ignored all of our messages, we thought you’d died or something,” Jimin explained, “so we came to check up on you, we even brought snacks.” He held up a big plastic bag with a grin.

“The kids were worried, and so were we, are you doing okay? I have barely talked to you all week.” Yoongi put his hand on Namjoon’s shoulder, looking up at him with a worried look in his eyes. “Yeah, I’m good, really good actually. You guys really didn’t have to come, honestly.” Namjoon tried to hide his nerves by smiling.

“Why, is it not a good time? Do you have guests over?” Jimin asked.

Hoseok was about to say something but was interrupted by a voice coming from the kitchen.

“Joon, who was at the door? Also, how do you want your eggs?”

His friends all looked at him with wide eyes. 

“Now I get why you’ve been MIA, you’ve been with someone else. Who are they?” Hoseok wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Namjoon held his hands up in an attempt to calm them (and himself), “Guys, don’t freak out. Yes, I’m dating someone, but I need you to promise not to freak out, or freak him out, you can be quite overwhelming at times.” He looked at Taehyung pointedly.

“Why would we freak out?” Jeongguk asked. Namjoon didn’t know how to answer that so he just sighed and walked toward the kitchen, his friends following quickly after him.

“Jin-hyung, uh, my friends are here to visit, is that okay?” He rounded the corner and quickly walked towards his boyfriend, grabbing his hand and turning the stove off, just in case. 

“Oh my god. That’s …. he’s … oh my god … I think I’m gonna faint, Kookie please catch me.” Taehyung stammered, jaw dropping to the floor. The others were in a similar state of disbelief.

Seokjin stilled for a moment before regaining his composure and smiling brightly, “Hello, I’m Kim Seokjin. You can call me Jin, though, or hyung. Friends of Namjoon’s are friends of mine."

“What are you doing here?” Yoongi was the only one currently capable of forming full sentences and not gaping in silence at the superstar in Namjoon’s kitchen.

“Well, I was supposed to get here next month but I got to come home earlier than expected. I just finished filming a drama but I can’t tell you too much about that, it’s top secret.” 

Seokjin’s talk did nothing to reduce their confusion.

“Home? I … but why are you here, of all places? Why aren’t you at your own house?” Hoseok asked.

“Oh, but this is my house.” Seokjin looked to Namjoon for help, who gave him a slight nod. “Namjoon is my boyfriend.” He blushed as all hell broke loose. 

“Oh my god, you’re dating our Namjoon!?”

“There is no way, did Namjoon pay you to say this?”

“Did I hear that right? Kookie, pinch me, I think I’m dreaming.”

“Why didn’t you tell us, hyung?”

“I can’t believe this, we’re actually here with Kim Seokjin.”

Everyone was freaking out and so was Namjoon, Seokjin noticed and turned towards his boyfriend, who was fiddling with his hands and staring at the ground with a distant look on his face. 

Yoongi also saw this and ushered the yelling boys into the living room. “Guys, let’s go sit on the couches and give them some space, I’m sure they’ll explain everything in a minute.”

Seokjin smiled thankfully at Yoongi as everyone started moving except for Taehyung, who stood still in shock at seeing his favourite actor in his friend’s kitchen. 

“Come on babe, let’s leave them alone for a bit, you can properly meet him later,” Jeongguk locked his arms around Taehyung and pulled him away.

While everyone retreated to the living room, Seokjin slowly took Namjoon in his arms. “Hey, everything is alright. This might not be how we planned to tell them but they seem like lovely people and I’m very excited to meet them.” Seokjin spoke softly while he rested his chin on Namjoon’s shoulder.

“It’s just so overwhelming, they all just barged in without warning, not even a text. I don’t mind them knowing, I don’t even know why I’m upset.”

“Hey, it’s okay. This is a bit overwhelming for me too, but it’ll be alright. In a minute, we’ll join them in the living room and we will explain everything. They are very excited to meet me, and I to meet them, but if you don’t want to tell them anything, that’s fine too. I could leave for a while and you can tell them that we want to keep everything private. I’m sure they’ll leave it alone if we ask them.” Seokjin tilted Namjoon’s head up to look him in the eyes.

“No, I do want to tell them. I mean, they’ve found out already, it’d be mean to keep it from them.” Namjoon exhaled deeply before pressing a light kiss to the edge of Seokjin’s mouth. “Have I told you that I love you, lately?”

Seokjin smiled, “only about a thousand times every day since I came home. I love you too.” He kissed Namjoon again, this time longer and more lovingly. They stood there for a short while, just kissing and holding each other, in the calm before the storm that would be talking to his friends.

Yoongi, who had been silently watching them from the couch, smiled at his friend. For the last few years, they had all been a bit worried at Namjoon’s seemingly lonely life. Every time they suggested a date or tried to set him up on one, he refused and told them he was too busy with his studies or his work. They thought Namjoon didn’t think he deserved a partner, that he’d rather stay alone forever. But instead, he’d had a seemingly amazing partner all along. From the way Seokjin handled Namjoon’s panic and calmed him down, Yoongi felt like his friend was in good hands.

When the couple finally entered the living room, everyone looked up at them in anticipation. Namjoon immediately felt the nerves come back but Seokjin grabbed his hand and smiled at him. 

Everything would be alright.

As soon as they sat down on the loveseat - which was left empty for them - Taehyung asked, “are you guys really dating?”

“Yes.” 

“For how long?”

“Just over three years.” Namjoon blushed as everyone gasped at his answer.

“Three years!? Hyung, why didn’t you tell us? We wouldn’t have told anyone,” Jimin asked.

“That’s kind of my fault,” Seokjin smiled sheepishly, “in the beginning, we didn’t know if it would be serious enough to tell people about, and then I started to get bigger jobs and my manager, Namjoon and I agreed that it’d be better to keep it private. I don’t want Namjoon to be in the public eye, I know how ruthless the press and paparazzi can be. I don’t want that for him. We knew you guys wouldn’t tell anyone but accidents can always happen and the risk is just bigger if more people know.”

“So, who does know?”

“Just our parents and siblings.”

It was quiet for a while until Yoongi spoke up, “You said you came home, Seokjin, what did you mean by that? Don’t you have your own house?”

“I’m not home often so at some point last year, we decided to both sell our apartments and buy one together. Namjoon lives here all the time and I can come home whenever my job allows me to, or when I miss him too much.” Seokjin squeezed Namjoon’s hand as the latter added, “how did you guys think I could afford an apartment like this with the salary of a university professor?” 

“I’ve never thought too much about that. Also, you told us you got a raise and a good deal on the apartment.” Hoseok pointed an accusatory finger at Namjoon, who responded, “yeah, sorry about that, but I could hardly be honest. ‘Guys, I only paid for half of this apartment, the other half is paid for by Korea’s most famous and handsome actor who just happens to be my roommate and boyfriend.’ You’d have never believed me.” Namjoon threw his hands in the air in an exasperated manner.

Everyone chuckled and then it was quiet for a little while. Ultimately, it was Jimin who broke the silence, “so how did you guys meet?”

“Well, the story isn’t that amazing, but we’ll tell you.”

~~~ flashback ~~~

Namjoon walked into his favourite coffee shop for the first time in weeks. He usually tried to go there multiple times a week but his thesis had been kicking his ass and he often overslept, barely making it in time for his lectures and meetings. Today he had finally woken up on time to get his favourite, slightly overpriced coffee. He couldn’t really afford it but the delicious coffee was worth it, and he liked supporting local businesses instead of the big corporate ones. 

He got up to the counter and ordered the drink he had been craving for weeks. He paid and waited for his order with a smile on his face - he had missed this place and he was glad he was back here. Once he received his coffee, absolutely nothing would be able to ruin his day. Or at least, that’s what he thought.

The barista called his name when his coffee was done, Namjoon excitedly grabbed it, thanked her, turned around, tripped over his own feet, and spilt it all over the shirt of the person standing behind him.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going, I’m so sorry.” Namjoon was filled with horror at what just happened. 

“Don’t worry about it, I shouldn’t have been standing so close, it’s just as much my fault as it is yours,” the guy said. 

Namjoon finally looked up and promptly forgot how to breathe, he was handsome . Like, one of the most beautiful people he’d ever seen - now with a shirt full of coffee, which was Namjoon’s fault. Oh god.

“I’m so sorry about your shirt, I’d wash it for you but it’s probably ruined. I could buy you a new one?”

“Please don’t bother, this was quite expensive,” he said, pulling lightly at his shirt. “You seem like a college student, they tend to be quite broke. I should know, I was one only a few years ago. I’ll buy myself a new one, and I have a spare hoodie in my bag so I’ll be fine,” the guy smiled at Namjoon. Just when he thought this guy couldn’t get more beautiful, he did it anyway.

Someone behind them coughed pointedly so they moved to the side to let other people through.

“Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?”

“You could buy me a coffee? I’m Seokjin, by the way.” The guy - Seokjin - held out his hand for Namjoon to shake.

“I’m Namjoon, it’s nice to meet you. I’ll buy you a coffee, whichever one you want. I just,” he looked at his watch, “oh shit, my meeting starts in ten minutes, I have to leave now if I want to make it in time.” Namjoon looked lost for a moment, not wanting to miss his class but also wanting to buy Seokjin his coffee.

“Maybe we can get coffee another time? If you give me your number, we can set it up,” Seokjin smiled shyly.

Namjoon’s head snapped up. “Like a date? I hope I’m not reading into this the wrong way, I-”

“If you want it to be a date, it can. I haven’t been on a date in a while and you seem quite nice. I’d like to go on a date with you, if you want to, of course.” Seokjin cut him off, not wanting him to ramble on anxiously for no reason.

“I’d like that.”

They smiled dumbly at each other for a few seconds until Namjoon remembered his meeting, “shit, I really have to leave now. It was nice meeting you, Seokjin.”

Before Seokjin could answer, Namjoon bolted out the door and towards his university. It wasn’t until he slipped into the room at the last second and sat down, that he realized he didn’t get his coffee after all. And it wasn’t until about 10 minutes into the meeting that he realized that, in his sudden take-off, he’d forgotten to get Seokjin’s number. He groaned silently and put his head in his hands. He had somehow scored a date with the hottest guy he’d ever seen and now his own chaos had ruined it.

He decided to just focus on the rest of the meeting and try to meet Seokjin again later today or tomorrow in the coffee shop. 

When the meeting ended after ninety minutes, he packed his bag and made his way out of the building. He decided to head to the coffee shop to see if Seokjin would still be there, he deemed it a small chance but he could try nonetheless. And he really wanted his coffee, since he hadn’t ended up drinking the one he bought that morning, instead spilling it all over a handsome stranger.

He arrived at the coffee shop and was relieved yet surprised to see Seokjin still there, now wearing a light pink hoodie while occupying a table in the corner. He seemed to be quite engrossed in reading a bundle of papers - a paper or an essay of some kind, maybe? Seokjin mentioned that he wasn’t a student anymore but it could be for his job? 

He approached the table nervously, not sure if the man had been waiting for him or if he was just still there because he wanted to.

“Hi, Seokjin?” Seokjin looked up and smiled once he noticed Namjoon standing in front of his table, “I’m sorry for running out earlier, I really couldn't miss that meeting. I realised I forgot to give you my number, though, if you still want it?”

“Sure, I’ve kind of been waiting here to see if you would realise and return. But since you’re here now, we could have a coffee right now?” Seokjin folded his papers closed and gestured towards the chair across from him. Namjoon blushed, not at all prepared to go on a first date today, but very willing to do it nonetheless. “Sure, let me just order some coffee and then I’ll join you, what do you want?”

~~~

“And then, what happened after that?” Taehyung, who had been on the edge of his seat, urged them to continue telling the story.

“I’m not going to relay our entire date and everything after that, we’d be here for hours. I’ll just say that we went on a couple more dates before we made it official,” Namjoon answered, squeezing his boyfriend’s hand.

“You kids are so curious for people whose names I don’t even know,” the latter added.

The shock on everyone’s - especially Taehyung and Jimins’- faces was quite funny; in their surprise at seeing Kim Seokjin in their friend’s apartment, they had completely forgotten to introduce themselves.

“Oh god, we’re so sorry.” Jeongguk held Taehyung tightly, the latter looking like he might actually be going into shock.

“Don’t worry about it, I just want to know which of the stories Joonie has told me belongs to each face.”

“I’ll start, we’ll go from eldest to youngest. My name is Min Yoongi, I am Joon’s best friend and colleague and I will cut off your dick and sell it to the highest bidder if you ever hurt Namjoon.” Yoongi grinned with a dark look in his eyes, which Seokjin could only respond to with an evenly determined look. “I promise, I would never intentionally hurt Namjoon. I’d rather hurt myself than him, why do you think I’ve endured all those nosey interviewers and kept our relationship a secret? So he wouldn’t get hurt by the media. Is that enough evidence?”

Yoongi just nodded, trying not to seem satisfied with Seokjin’s answer.

Next up was Hoseok, “Hi, my name is Jung Hoseok but you can call me Hobi,” he said with a smile as bright as the sun, as usual.

“Are you the one who teaches dance at his own dance school? That’s very impressive, Namjoon’s told me lots about how great you are, even showed some videos.” Hoseok’s smile grew impossibly wider.

Seokjin just smiled and nodded at him as the next person started talking.

“My name is Park Jimin, I also dance, but I do contemporary and ballet whereas Hobi hyung does hip hop. I teach classes at hyung’s dance school but I also dance with a crew.” 

“And you and Yoongi are together, right? If I remember correctly.”

“Ah, yes,” the couple both flushed red. “We’ve been together for about a year now,” Jimin answered.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’ve also seen videos of your dance skills, you’re very good,” Seokjin smiled while Jimin positively beamed.

“Now, what’s your name? Are you Taehyung or Jeongguk?” Seokjin turned to Taehyung, who was still processing everything but snapped out of it when Seokjin’s attention was focused on him.

“Kim Taehyung. That’s my name, yeah. I’m Kim Taehyung, a big fan. Of you. I’ve seen all of your shows and movies multiple times and I love all of them so much. How you portray your characters, especially in-”

“Tae,” was all Namjoon needed to say to silence Taehyung, who looked a bit embarrassed at his sudden fanboy outburst.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it, I love meeting fans,” Seokjin smiled genuinely, making Taehyung feel a little bit more at ease. “You’re a kindergarten teacher, right?” Taehyung’s face brightened up at learning that Seokjin knew about him and his life. 

“Yes, that’s me, I teach a class of lovely students.”

“That’s awesome, I’d love to hear more about them someday.”

“Thank you. Oh, and this is my boyfriend Kookie.”

“Hi, I'm Jeon Jeongguk.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you as well, Namjoon loves talking about his friends.” Seokjin smiled fondly. “It’s great to finally meet you all, even if it’s a bit unexpected.”

They continued talking about their lives and their jobs some more until Hoseok turned their attention toward Seokjin once again, “but how does it work exactly, having a long-distance, secret relationship? If I may ask.”

Seokjin and Namjoon looked at each other for a second before Namjoon started speaking. 

“Well, it takes a lot of work and effort. It certainly doesn’t come easy,” he chuckled darkly. “And it hasn’t been easy for us, there have been times when we just couldn’t stand being so far apart for so long while also having to keep it a secret and we almost broke up a few times because of it. But we managed to reconcile every time and each time we came out stronger. There have been many ups and downs but I wouldn’t have it any other way because, in the end, they got us where we are today.”

Seokjin smiled fondly at his lover as they both remembered the difficult journey they’d had together. It truly hadn’t been easy but every moment was worth it in the end.