One Year Later

Hoseok anxiously watched as Yoongi waited beside the small stage, guitar in hand. Suddenly, an arm was slung around his shoulders.

"You look more nervous than he does," Namjoon said.

"This is the first time he's performing for someone other than you or me. And it's a room full of people! Of course I'm nervous. And I'm nervous because he's nervous. I'm just – "

"Nervous?"

Hoseok shot Namjoon a sharp look, but his friend just smirked.

"Take a deep breath. You and I both know he's going to do great."

"What if nobody pays attention to him?" Hoseok asked, looking around the cafe. "What if – "

"Once he starts playing, you know he'll get their attention."

Hoseok sighed, but couldn't argue with that. Yoongi, as he'd come to learn, was an incredible musician. And finally, after a year of nagging, Hoseok had convinced him to share his gift with others. But now that they were there, Hoseok couldn't help but feel anxious.

But then Yoongi glanced over at him and smiled one of his gummy smiles that Hoseok loved the most. And he knew Yoongi was calm. So, he did his best to calm himself down, too.

"C'mon," Namjoon said. "Let's sit. We've got a front row seat, after all."

Hoseok allowed himself to be steered toward the table where their other friends were waiting. There was an air of excitement amongst them. None of them had ever heard Yoongi's music - not even Jin or Jungkook. And after listening to Hoseok brag about it for a year, they couldn't wait to hear it themselves.

Yoongi's name was announced, and he quickly took the stage. There was a small smattering of applause around the room, but a loud chorus of clapping from the table front and center. Once again, Yoongi met Hoseok's eyes and smiled.

And then he began performing. And he was flawless, never missing a chord on the guitar or a note in his voice. If he was nervous, no one would have ever known. His voice was steady and pure, with no hint of shakiness anywhere. He was in the zone, exactly where he loved to be, and Hoseok wasn't sure he'd ever been more proud of him than he was in that moment.

And Namjoon was right; Yoongi had captured the attention of everyone in the room. Everyone seemed mesmerized. But Hoseok never knew, because he couldn't take his eyes off of his boyfriend. As soon as Yoongi was finished with his song, Hoseok was the first on his feet, clapping, though many others around the room also gave him a standing ovation.

Yoongi took a small bow, then made his way off the stage. Hoseok hurried over to him, grabbed his cheeks, and planted his lips on Yoongi's. When they broke apart, Yoongi grinned.

"That good, huh?"

"Nope," Hoseok replied. "Even better."

They stared into each other's eyes for a few long moments, until Hoseok nuzzled his nose against Yoongi's.

"I love you, Yoon."

"I love you, too, Hoba."