Work Text
It’s a joke at first.Something so surreal and strange that Seokjin has to pause to re-read the question. He’s hosting a AMA livestream to celebrate the completion of Eat Jin’s newest season, trying to play coy about knowing all the memes people make on the show, all the ways people ship him and his co-host and best friend Taehyung, and diligently try not to give away too many spoilers about who’d be making any cameos. Or at least, that’s how these things usually went—he wasn’t aware that along the way, his video series somehow accrued lore.<<What does Jin-hyung think of the fan theory that TaeTae-hyung is a demon?>> One person, [eatjinfan420] types into the chat.<<Oh my god don’t tell him about the fan theory!>> another fan, [tAetAeBaBy69] chides. A flurry of comments start to swarm the stream, either for or against. Seokjin has to to pause the chat itself to try and reread the question.“I’m sorry?” Because...uh, what. They have a sister show on the same network, UNSOLVED, which usually deals with out there conspiracy theories and true crime. His show is about eating out with his best friend at three restaurants in three different areas at three drastically different price points. They don’t deal with the supernatural at all—mostly due to the fact that Seokjin is terrified of it (so is Namjoon but somehow he’s the one running UNSOLVED which feeds into Seokjin’s theory that maybe Namjoon’s a masochist but it’s neither the time or place for that). The fans are still debating about the merits of making him aware of this deep fandom lore that has somehow escaped him completely.“Very funny guys—wrong show. Taehyung-ah isn’t a demon.” Seokjin remarks to the camera, if only to stop the debate from taking over the livestream chat. He makes sure to wink playfully as he adds. “My co-host is devilishly handsome though.”It’s kind of a low blow to play into the fanservice when he’s been trying to abstain (he and Taehyung are usually fine with it, others have remarked it’s a little concerning how porous their personal boundaries are)—it does the trick.Immediately the chat is filled with hearts and speculation about dinner dates instead, talk of Taehyung being a demon seemingly forgotten.---Seokjin looks it up later on his phone, mostly so he can laugh about it with Taehyung. He expects some badly photo-shopped pictures and a few terrible in-joke youtube vids—what he’s not expecting is whole tumblrs and twitters dedicated to documenting ‘evidence’ that maybe Taehyung is in fact some supernatural being. Long videos set to somber music with a detail to attention that would make Namjoon proud, clips for every season woven together—there are whole playlists of ‘evidence’.Most of said evidence is clearly done for laughs first off. (Seokjin winces at someone’s tweet showing a fuzzy screen-cap where Taehyung’s eyes flash red—he knows for a fact that it’s more a scathing indictment of Eat Jin’s early budget and lack-thereof than anything else. Being integrated into a vlogging network has done so much for them—is sadly all the takeaway he gets). No one seems to really think Taehyung is a demon. Though, there are a few that seem a bit too devoted into screen-capping Taehyung’s movements and mannerisms.It takes a weirder turn when Seokjin realizes that the whole Taehyung is a demon that eats casual brunch with him, usually goes hand in hand with Taehyung is secretly in love with him and “totally using his demon powers to keep Seokjin close to him” (not his words, he’s really wondering if this is a specific kink). There’s this picture that everyone who talks about this theory paints that Seokjin is some delicate mortal and Taehyung is the masculine, virile otherworldly being in love with him—it’s both a little insulting and a little hilarious.Instead of maybe being concerned, maybe considering what it is about him that makes him, the older one, the one who started the video series in the first place—that projects he needs some demonic boyfriend to sweep him off his feet—he texts it to his friends.<<LOL FANS AMIRITE>> is all he adds on the subject as he links a tumblr devoted towards documenting Taehyung’s supposed demonic instances.<<Instead of showing off the fanfic about you and Taehyung can you pick up groceries, it’s your turn.>> Yoongi, his roommate, texts into the thread in response. <<Save that for your own time Hyung.>><<OH IS THIS A NEW THING FOR JIN-HYUNG>> Because all his friends miss the point and are once again taking the time to make fun of him because they’re no fun at all. Seokjin can even picture the shit-eating grin on Hoseok’s face. <<YOU LIKE ROMANCE NOVELS DON’T YOU>><<SEE IF I TELL ANY OF YOU ANYTHING AGAIN>> Seokjin should have figured it would go down like this, no one except Taehyung ever shares his sense of humor.---Taehyung takes the whole thing with a grace that is typical for him—he thinks it over then asks: "Is it cause they think I'm good looking?"This is why he loves Taehyung, Taehyung always laughs at his jokes, sometimes even enables them. Taehyung, finds this all deeply hilarious because Taehyung is his favorite actually. They’re waiting to tape an appearance on a talk show talking about the new season and the impact it’s hand on helping out restaurants with free publicity. Seokjin had caved within minutes, needing someone to laugh at it with him because it’s insanity."They think it's cause you have strange reactions to things." Taehyung's face falls, and ok now it’s a lot less funny. Seokjin can’t help but get a little defensive himself—he thinks Taehyung’s eccentricities are charming, always has since they first met in college years ago. Taehyung doesn’t act like an animal, he’s just from a small town—as funny as the ‘evidence’ is, it must sting a little. "I think the fans think it’s endearing—it is kind of rude though. I’m sorry, if it bothers you I can talk to them about I—”"No Jin-hyung, it's fine. They're just kidding." Taehyung shrugs, expression wry. “I am strange.”“I am too—we’re strange together.” Seokjin asserts, Taehyung’s smile blooms and Seokjin does the heterosexual and manly thing and flushes at it. “I’m kind of mad that you get to be the demon and I’m like your damsel in distress.”“Are you in distress?” Taehyung asks, expression coy.“Why can’t I be the manly demon—that is what is causing me distress.” Seokjin replies, huffy and aware how huffy he sounds. Anything to make Taehyung feel better.“I think Jin-hyung is plenty manly.” Taehyung says placating, still smiling. “Not as manly as me, but he tries. “Hey, I’m older than you.” Seokjin clips, even though he is crossing his arms and sulking. Taehyung lets out a deep-voiced chuckle, resting his head on Seokjin’s shoulder.“Are you sure?”Seokjin moves away, ignoring Taehyung’s noises of distress as he almost falls out of his chair.---“You couldn’t be a demon anyway Jin-hyung, you’re afraid of everything.” Taehyung says later, looking out the car window as Seokjin drives them back to the office. He sounds sleepy as he says it, words slurred together.“Not everything, I’m not afraid of you.” Seokjin retorts, switching lanes to pass the car in front of them, attention on the road ahead.Taehyung makes another noise of agreement, Seokjin doesn’t bother to look over at him. (From the corner of his eye, he almost registers the shadows that twist behind Taehyung’s seat. It’s nothing, it’s just the light of sunset fading in and out—Taehyung is loudly snoring against the window. )Seokjin keeps his focus on the road.---Seokjin stops by the office to check on the progress of the edits for Eat Jin, attending some meetings with Taehyung where their management tells them about future plans, as well as checking to see if they got any fan-mail (they have a lot, most of it is pleasant--there are a few recipe books that Seokjin leaves on his desk to bring home). By the time it reaches five in the afternoon most of the office, usually filled with content creators for their video network, has shuffled out.He checks in on Namjoon and Jimin, in between filming their newest season of UNSOLVED. Their set is a fake library, fake conspiracy theories tacked onto the cork-board behind where Namjoon usually sits to argue his case for the camera while Jimin politely debunks everything he says. They’re currently going over some notes on their newest case that sounds creepy from name alone and Seokjin refuses to listen to anything else about it.He offers up the theory about Taehyung and his supposed demonic origin, if only to distract Namjoon before he ends up incepting his investigation for the week into Seokjin’s mind and making it impossible for him to go to sleep without flooding the entire apartment with light. (Yoongi hates it whenever this happens, Yoongi almost always goes to yell at Namjoon and Jimin about their electricity bill after). The response that Seokjin gets however, is surprisingly lackluster."That's insane, even for our show." Namjoon says, looking up from his pages upon pages of research. Next to him Jimin nods along, in rare agreement for once, he’s tapping a pen against the prop desk to some unknown beat."I know—it's such a weird theory, obviously fake." Seokjin continues, still trying to get them to see the humor of it all. “I mean first off, why would Taehyung have to be a demon to date me I mean really—”"Then why tell us?" Namjoon interjects, even less patience for Seokjin’s musings than usual. Seokjin should feel a little guilty, Namjoon and Jimin only ever get to film in studio when its true crime, the rest of the time they’re exploring haunted locations, which are usually dirty and decrepit. Namjoon gets less time to film on true crime portions, even if they tend to stick with him longer mentally. Seokjin is literally wasting the little time he does have, to tell him about how some teenagers are writing fanfic about him and Taehyung.Emphasis on ‘should’ feel guilty, it’s never going to not be hilarious to him."Because it's funny." Seokjin answers, slightly put out."...Is it?" Jimin asks, because right Taehyung is his best friend after all. "It sounds kind of mean."“Well, I asked him if it bothers him and he said ‘no’ so I—” Jimin only doesn’t roll his eyes cause he’s not openly a little brat like Jungkook, but Seokjin gets the feeling he desperately wants to. “—What?”“These theories are usually about you and Taehyung being in love right?” Jimin questions, saying something without actually saying it.“Sort of? Depends on who’s writing them, usually they’re kind of cute but there are some that make it seem like I’m this damsel in distress and Taehyung is the big bad demon set to eat me or something.” Namjoon’s lip twitches, Jimin’s eyes sparkle.They are both laughing at him without actually laughing at him.“Ok I’m aware how this sounds—” “—Are you, Jin-hyung?” Namjoon asks, diplomatically keeping his face blank. “We literally argued about if an underwater Area51 exists and even this seems—”“Namjoon-hyung argued that an underwater Area51 exists,” Jimin corrects mildly. “But Jin-hyung, you may want to be more honest with your feelings.”There’s a lot to unpack there, Seokjin isn’t even sure where to begin. Lucky for him, Namjoon looks like he’s gearing up to rehash the underwater Area51 argument, so he sees himself out as the two of them start to bicker.---Seokjin occasionally gets nightmares.Images of paintings, a world swirling in red brush stroke, sitting at a table with his friends, so much red. He’s at the head of the table, holding up his glass in a toast and—Someone is saying something, he can’t make out what it is, only that it tingles like bad static in between his ears.When Seokjin wakes up, he feels like someone has been standing over his bed. Yoongi snores on the other side of the room, oblivious.Seokjin turns on his bedside lamp and leaves it on.He can’t shake the feeling someone is behind him, even with his back to the wall.---“I heard you told Namjoon-hyung and Jiminie.” Taehyung has red chili pepper paste all over his lips and it’s, really cute. Seokjin moves to wipe at it with a napkin, Taehyung lets him. “They think you should just ask me out instead of trying to justify it using our fans.”Technically they are filming, technically they are in public, technically Seokjin is still sorting out his feelings on THAT one. He wads up the napkin in his hand and stirs the soup in front of them.“Are you sure you’re not mad still? Jimin sounded more offended than anything.” It’s not exactly a misdirect, it has been bothering Seokjin the more he thinks about it. Taehyung laughs it off.“I’m really ok with it—any excuse to ‘eat’ Jin-hyung.” His lips twitch in a barely concealed mirth, clearly more amused by the situation than Seokjin was, Seokjin scowls.“Ok, I didn’t put it like THAT .”“Like what?” Taehyung tilts his head, similar to the way his dog does whenever Seokjin calls for it.“Don’t mock your elders.” Seokjin says if only cause he’s getting flustered again and he can tell that Taehyung can tell. It’s being filmed and then everyone will be able to tell.“I could say the same to you.” Taehyung responds, definitely smirking as he leans over to pick at Seokjin’s plate. “So rude, I could be thousands of years old.”“Ha Ha.”---"Maybe you're redirecting all your sexual tension and unresolved feelings about Taehyungie?" Hoseok speculates, Seokjin wants to ignore him on the principle that he is in animal onesie that is too tight for him. Yoongi, Hoseok, and Jungkook are filming their own show in the shared apartment or they were—they borrowed a cable from Namjoon to set up some elaborate LED display but as was typical with Namjoon’s things, it somehow broke as soon as they tried to unravel it. Seokjin doesn’t even understand why they’re filming there in the first place and not in the main office where everyone else films. Secretly, he’s grateful for the company—they’re having a long elaborate sleepover and his nightmares have been getting weirder and weirder."Jin-hyung should just admit his feelings already, I feel bad for Taehyung--it’s so embarrassing watching you two make eyes at each other over fried chicken.” Yoongi says, even though he is also in an animal onesie and clearly seems to be disliking it. Jungkook, is dressed as a carrot because sure, Seokjin doesn’t understand the DO DUDES in the first place so why start now. At some point in Seokjin’s life, he’s going to have to re-evaluate why all his friends are content creators for streaming services and not like, lawyers or doctors or something. Anyone rational, anyone rational who didn’t film themselves for the internet.“Jin-hyung is like a princess character in a dating sim, he’s got a high difficulty range. TaeTae-hyung’s going to have to keep going at it for a while.” Jungkook says like that makes any sense whatsoever.Hoseok nods along sagely while Yoongi snorts.“Just ask him out already.” Yoongi sighs, gesturing to all of Seokjin. “I know you have complexes, but this is getting ridiculous.”Seokjin’s opens his mouth, Yoongi’s eyes narrow.“Re-DICK-ulous you mean.” Seokjin interjects because he can’t help himself, Jungkook and Hoseok both laugh.Yoongi takes a deep breath in, meditative.“Ok, fine. Die alone Hyung.”--- Jin-hyung , a voice croons in his ear. Deep, soft, and sad. Jin-hyung, it's ok. I'm here now. Seokjin wakes up to the sensation of hands on his face, feels the phantom indents of finger pads over his eyelids. The lamplight is on, he can hear Yoongi, Hoseok, and Jungkook arguing outside the bedroom.He doesn’t remember leaving the couch.He doesn’t remember falling asleep.He doesn’t remember tucking himself into bed.The idea makes him break into a cold sweat, there are nerves dancing down his spine and he’s not even sure why but the hairs on the back of his neck are standing up. He thinks, he thinks he hears someone whispering something. Jin-hyung, Jin-hyung, I wouldn't hurt you — you know that right? When he tries to think on the voice, tries to recall what they’re saying it evades him, fading from his memory like smoke.---Namjoon is showing off a new gadget for their ghost-hunting portion of the show. He’s carrying it gently, terrified of breaking it. Next to him, Jimin eyes the metal box with an indulgent skepticism that he usually has for Namjoon and the paranormal.“What does it do?” Seokjin frowns as Namjoon turns it over, showing off different dials and meters. Taehyung is standing behind him, peering over his shoulder. His breath tickles Seokjin’s ears in a way he will not focus on. Besides, he’s kind of used to it.“It’s an EMF reader you use it to find ghosts and demons. I’ve been asking for one forever, this will really add to our credibility, you know?” Namjoon does not see the way Jimin gives an impactful look at the word ‘credibility’, opting to turn on the device in his hands. The hands on the meter begin to wildly swing around, Namjoon watches them intently. He moves the metal box closer to Taehyung and Seokjin, the little metal hands on the reader blur with how fast they are moving. Jimin watches the proceeding with mild interest. “Very funny Namjoon-ah.” Seokjin says, while Taehyung chuckles behind him. For some reason the action makes the hair on the back of Seokjin’s neck rise again, proximity against Taehyung makes him feel, well, it made him feel a lot already, throwing the whole demon thing into the equation has only made things more confusing.Seokjin does the mature thing and redirects all this towards Namjoon."Must be busted." Namjoon claims, disappointed as he turns it off. He takes out the batteries, with a steady hand. Jimin doesn't say what he clearly wants to because he is smart enough to know what not to say to your crazy hyung about his belief in the supernatural. "I swear, it's supposed to work—there's science behind it. "What science?" Alright apparently there were limits to Jimin's patience.“You know, like paranormal science—”“—Such as?” Taehyung takes Seokjin by the hand and steers them towards the cafeteria, behind them Namjoon and Jimin continue to bicker.“Let’s get lunch.” Taehyung’s hands feel soft, his fingers are long and thin. There are no calluses or scars on them, somehow his fingers feel smooth. Seokjin swallows against the lump in his throat, for a brief moment, it almost feels like he’s holding onto claws.---“You’re not afraid of much, are you Taehyung?” Seokjin asks, stirring the expensive artisan coffee in front of them. They’re done filming for the day so they’re now getting to enjoy the eating portion of their meal.“I guess you’d think I’m brave.” It’s not unkind, Taehyung sounds wistful as he says it. It’s kind of ruined by the way his mouth is once again slathered in some kind of sauce, Seokjin moves to wipe it clean again, Taehyung leans into his touch, Seokjin tries not to think about the way his finger tips feel like they’re burning as they graze his lips. He’s not usually this messy an eater, Seokjin wonders if he’s playing to the cameras, dismisses it just as quick—it’s Taehyung. Taehyung didn’t seem to understand fan-service, he does things because he wants to, it’s always with intent.“Are you calling me a coward?” He’s half-joking as he asks it, eyes locking onto Taehyung’s mouth even though he’s done cleaning him off.“I think you’re plenty brave when you need to be.” Taehyung says, pleasant even if Seokjin gets that strange static sound between his ears. There’s something in the back of his mind, a question that Seokjin wants to ask but can’t seem to remember all of the sudden. “But I’m here now, so you don’t need to worry.”“My hero.” Seokjin quips, though he feels cold of all a sudden, those shadows are behind Taehyung’s back again. He tries to focus on them but they’re somehow too blurry to make sense off.“Something like that.” Taehyung agrees, in the light, Seokjin thinks he sees fangs.---The demon Taehyung theory is starting to seem less and less funny—it’s seriously affecting him, he’s starting to look for things that aren’t there—worse, he’s starting to actually begin to see things that aren’t there.It’s stress, he tells himself, stress—it’s his subconscious punishing him for wanting, wanting, wanting and being too cowardly to do anything about it. They’re both coming together to drive him crazy.The nightmares continue on, only they’re becoming more vivid, it actually feels like Seokjin is somewhere else, like he’s physically in a different world. The air around him feels like molasses, sticky sweet and cloying.At the table, holding up his glass, he realizes that he can feel goosebumps on his skin. The colors before him hurt his eyes, they keep swirling around him: red, red, red.At the table, he sees Taehyung smiling at him, placidly. There are giant black wings behind him, unfurled and taking up the space around him.At the table, he feels ashes in his mouth, tastes dead weeds and roots on his tongue. He feels like he’s been kissed, like someone’s pressed their lips to his, feels the phantom pressure of fangs against his mouth. ---Jin-hyung, I love you.