Chapter Text
Jungkook mindlessly scrolls through Twitter while getting his make-up done. It's been several months since B-SIDE's last comeback and promotions have long been over. However, the American Music Awards happen quite late in the year and the concept for their next album is on hold until their CEO finds a producing team he likes. So here they are in LA, doing another round of promotions for the same album. The maknae huffs, they've been behind other groups in comebacks since their debut, only having about one per year. Apparently their mystery member had left a file full of songs behind for them to use, but most of them required a rapper. There is quite frankly no one in the company to teach Jungkook and apparently skilled rappers are hard to recruit when it's known that they will be joining an idol group. Jungkook thinks it has something to do with street cred and all that, which in his opinion is stupid and the way underground or even professional rappers spit at male idols is all apart of the toxic masculinity in the culture. Fortunately, the songs they have used by their former mystery member, whom the company credits as SUGA, are indeed big hits.
Their fan base inflated upon their debut with "Luv in School" even though their first album concept was the cliche school boy first love. He's still amazed by how their SEASIDE fanbase grows with every long-awaited comeback. He doubts they would be where they are today, global stars, if it weren't for this SUGA person. Or Taehyung would sadly refer to him as, "Yoongi-hyung."
Jungkook never got to meet him, only heard his sobs and his voice when he said thank you before leaving. He thinks about it a lot, how Yoongi-hyung looks, if they would become friends, and how the empty space in their dorm, choreography, and meetings would be filled. He feels selfish for craving a reality that clearly would have ultimately meant Min Yoongi's unhappiness. Jungkook never even mentioned to Taehyung that he was kind of responsible for Yoongi leaving. The whole situation seemed too private to share so honestly that's not something he feels bad about. Nevertheless, Jungkook often finds himself wondering if Min Yoongi is happy.
The idol stops his mindless scrolling when he sees an update from SUGAKOOKIES on his timeline. He probably shouldn't have a favorite fansite, but well, they were his very first one. Whereas others post pictures and caption it with a reaction to his visuals, SUGAKOOKIES thanks him for his hard work, praises his performance, and always tells him to take care of himself. He always finds himself more flustered by their words then by anybody else's.
Jungkook looks at the post and smiles. He knows that fansites sell seasons greetings and other things to make money for airplane and concert tickets. So the fact that SUGAKOOKIES can donate almost half of their profits and still manage to go to their shows says a lot about their income. He doesn't quite care though, the sentiment is there.
"Jungkook," the youngest is brought out of his musings by their leader. Jin gives him a fond smile. "Don't tire your brain out before the interview. We are about to go on," he teases.
Like the adult he is, Jungkook sticks out his tongue. He gets out of his seat to go meet up with the others. Truthfully, he always tunes out during American interviews. He knows what's going on, but he doesn't know how to communicate. Usually he stays quiet until the other members signal him to listen so that he can answer. It's hard for them, none of them are fluent in English and translators never convey their sentiments well. However, Jin and Taehyung don't mind making themselves look like bumbling fools for their fans. Meanwhile Jimin and Jungkook have to practice endlessly before even attempting to speak.
Jungkook perks up on his own when he hear's the interviewer talk about kpop culture: the vocabulary, lightsticks, and fansites.
"Ah! Our Jungkook has the most fansites out of all of us," Jin exclaims.
Jungkook tries to avoid the interviewer's gaze but to no avail. "Well then Jungkook, why don't you explain to us a bit about fansites?
The brunette sighs to himself, knowing that this will be an answer he has to articulate to the best of his ability. "Well...In Korea, fansites are like photographers. They have very good equipment, more than me. They know my schedule better too. I think fansites help us to connect with fans across the globe. For the fans in the countries we haven't gone to, they can see us with fan cams and get a closer look with pictures."
"In the US, that concept is more similar to paparazzis. But there must be different boundaries, lines, and rules?"
Jungkook licks his lips, "Yes, fansites can go far. There hasn't been a huge problem. When there's a problem, they learn."
"So I've noticed that each fansite has their own brand. Do you recognize any?"
Jungkook can't help the embarrassed smile that tugs at his lips. "I know @sugakookies. They were my first fansite and have been with me since predebut. Some fansites I know by face, but not them. I want to meet them and thank them. They give me a lot of support and nice words."
~~~
Yoongi can feel his ears, nose, and cheeks go warm. 'What the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck.' He buries his head into Namjoon's chest, hoping that what he just saw was his imagination. Namjoon chuckles lightly at the older and grabs him by the cheeks, testing if it's possible to squish the cuteness out of Yoongi. They are in a hotel room in Little Tokyo, watching B-SIDE's interview on E!news. The trip is a fansite obligation for Yoongi and a fully-paid vacation for Namjoon. The plan was to come here, take pictures, look at some studios to organize an exhibition, and help Namjoon find some more inspiration. Things haven't been going to plan with B-SIDE doing a lot of last minute schedules like their appearance on Jimmy Kimmel.
Just because he has the ability to get information on B-SIDE's schedule doesn't mean he takes advantage of it often. He doesn't like to because private schedules or information often comes with it. However, Yoongi does have enough influence in the industry to stop anything about the members from being leaked. Although ever since that journalist was blacklisted for trying to publish a story about Taehyung nobody has tried to test him either. Being a fansite with morals comes with a price, so he had to scramble to get into the performance just like everybody else. Same thing goes with this interview, he had no knowledge of it and definitely wasn't expecting for the interviewer to ask questions with substance.
It's embarrassing, he never really thought that fansites would ever be properly acknowledge in American media. Yoongi also never thought it was a thing for idols to formally meet their fansites. He feels stupid because of course, fansites are there for so many fan meetings and concerts. It would be weird if idols never got to put a face to the site. Hiding has been kind of intentional, he never actually does the meeting part at fan meetings. Yoongi usually trades his slot so that he's in the last row and then leaves before it's his turn. He knows that Taehyung would recognize him instantly once he's within a fair distance. It makes him feel awkward just thinking about how that would go. It's not that he's afraid of seeing the boy again, in fact he misses the former model quite a bit. Rather, he would just prefer it if they didn't meet again in such a public way. Unfortunately, it's highly unlikely that they will ever see each other again if not through a fan meeting. But Yoongi likes to believe that one day they will find themselves singing together again.
Namjoon brings Yoongi out of his musing by tugging on his hair. He smirks, "Don't keeping him wating, your Kookie is waiting for some Suga," Namjoon laughs when Yoongi starts attacking him with small punches. He can't help himself as he wraps his long arms around his hyung, he's just too cute when he's pouty.